Starting July 21, 2016, Düsseldorf will be the third German city served by Singapore Airlines. The non-stop flights to and from Singapore will be operated with the new Airbus A350-900. We will be present on the inaugural Düsseldorf-Singapore flight of the latest addition to the Singapore Airlines fleet.
Airbus A350 XWB – a completely new aircraft
The A350 XWB family is the world's most technologically advanced passenger aircraft family. It competes with both the Boeing 787 and the Boeing 777. The A350 offers 25% greater fuel efficiency and, with the newly developed Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines, 25% lower CO2 emissions compared to current competing aluminum long-range models (Boeing 777).
The designation XWB stands for "Xtra Wide Body," the extra-large fuselage cross-section of 221 inches (5.61 meters). This makes the cabin six inches (15.24 cm) wider than that of Boeing's Dreamliner. As a next-generation aircraft, the A350 XWB offers passengers a new dimension of flight experience – from the moment of boarding. I'm particularly excited about the supposedly low noise level and the advanced climate control technology. Thanks to the unique humidity control, dry eyes and respiratory problems are finally a thing of the past.
Singapore Airlines – the most awarded airline
When Singapore Airlines was founded in 1972, its flight schedule served just 22 destinations in 18 countries. Today, it operates a modern fleet of 103 passenger aircraft (as of July 2016). One hundred more aircraft, including over 60 of the A350 family, are on order. The route network encompasses a total of 60 destinations in 35 countries worldwide. Based on passenger ratings, Singapore Airlines has been voted "Airline of the Year" by Skytrax several times. The most recent award includes the Business Traveller Award 2016 as “Best Airline for Business Travelers”.
Düsseldorf is the third German city in the Singapore Airlines route network. Starting July 21, 2016, non-stop flights to and from Singapore will be operated three times a week (in each direction) with the new Airbus A350-900. This makes Düsseldorf the second long-haul destination, after Amsterdam, to be served by the latest addition to the Singapore Airlines fleet.
Flight times
- SQ337: Tue, Fri, Sun 11:50 departure from Düsseldorf (DUS) – 06:15 (+1) arrival in Singapore (SIN)
- SQ338: Mon, Thu, Sat 23:30 departure from Singapore (SIN) – 06:30 (+1) arrival in Düsseldorf (DUS)
Product details Singapore Airlines A350
The Airbus A350s are equipped with the latest generation of cabin products. This includes the new Business Class (42 seats), a newly introduced Premium Economy (24 seats), and 187 seats in Economy Class. We will be testing the new Business Class extensively and will report on it both in the live blog and in a later detailed trip report report about it.
Short introduction: Business Class A350
The newly designed Business Class on the Airbus A350 is the most spacious of its kind. I was immediately impressed by the 86 cm wide leather armchair, which converts into a large, fully flat bed. Thanks to a 1-2-1 layout in the cabin, every guest has direct aisle access. Business Class is divided by the second door into a larger section (rows 11-18) and a smaller section (rows 19-22). For the outbound flight, I reserved seat 20A in the smaller and generally quieter cabin section. On the night flight back to Düsseldorf, I sat in row 11 (seat 11K).
Short introduction: Premium Economy Class A350
The travel class between Business and Economy was only recently introduced. Seat pitch is 96.5 cm, fifteen centimeters wider than in Economy. Furthermore, the backrest can be adjusted by up to 20.3 cm.
Short introduction: Economy Class A350
The Economy Class seats, with a seat width of 46 cm and a seat pitch of 81 cm, guarantee maximum comfort for all passengers. Singapore Airlines offers an LCD screen measuring up to 28 cm for personalized entertainment.
Preparing for a flight with Singapore Airlines
As a passenger, you can perfectly prepare for a flight with Singapore Airlines. In addition to the standard online check-in, every guest has the opportunity to discover the in-flight entertainment program before the flight and create a personalized playlist using the free SingaporeAir app. In Premium Economy, Business, and First Class, Singapore Airlines also offers the "Book the Cook" service.
Singapore Airlines Book the Cook service
With the "Book the Cook" service, guests can order their in-flight meals up to 24 hours before departure. Since the service isn't offered by all destinations, I'll test it on the return flight from Singapore to Düsseldorf (Overview of the destinations offered).
You can select your individual meal online using the "Edit Booking" function. The necessary input form can be found under "Meal/Special Meal." Depending on the length of the flight, you can choose one or two dishes. However, the menu is not very well organized and could, for example, be grouped by cuisine. It took me some time to make the perfect choice. For dinner, I opted for a grilled American beef fillet with asparagus, spinach, and crushed potatoes, served with a balsamic onion sauce. For breakfast, I initially wanted to try the offered US beef burger. In the end, however, common sense prevailed, and I opted for a poached egg served on hollandaise sauce with sliced lobster, asparagus, and roasted potatoes. You can find an overview of all available meals in Business Class from Singapore here. here.
Companion App – SingaporeAir app for in-flight entertainment
With the free smartphone app (available in Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store) you can browse the KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system before your flight and save your favorite series or films as favorites. On board (currently only on the A350), you connect your tablet or smartphone to your individual screen via Wi-Fi. You can now access your saved favorites, control the entertainment system with your smartphone, and view the current flight map on your mobile device.
Preparing for a trip to Singapore
During various trips (2015 or 2011) we've already established that the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore isn't just a necessary stop on the way to, say, Australia. We like to call Singapore "Asia for beginners," which is certainly partly due to British colonial rule. Our upcoming press trip is titled "Green Singapore." Before we give you an overview of the planned sights, we'd like to briefly point out the entry and customs regulations.
Entry requirements for Singapore
To enter Singapore, as German citizens, we only need a passport that is valid for at least six months. Upon entry, we will receive a residence permit for up to 90 days. Further information, especially regarding the strict customs regulations, can be found on the information page of the Federal Foreign Office.
Note: Legally binding information and/or information on entry requirements that goes beyond these instructions can only be obtained directly from the embassy or one of the consulates general of your destination country.
Green Singapore attractions
During the three-day press trip, we will visit Gardens by the Bay, Fort Canning Hill, and Chinatown, as well as take a trip to Pulau Ubin Island—the last remaining "village" in Singapore. Also on the itinerary is a visit to a Night Safari, where we will encounter over a thousand nocturnal animals after dark. My personal highlight, however, will be a visit to the Singapore Airline Training Center, home to the famous Singapore Girls.
Singapore travel guide
  | For the perfect city trip to Singapore we recommend this travel guideHere you will find not only a detailed city map, but also plenty of information about all the important sights. |
Participation in the trip is sponsored by Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board. Once again, we would like to express our sincere thanks for their cooperation and support. This article represents our free and independent opinion.
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