First flight: Singapore Airlines Business Class Airbus A350-900 to Singapore

At 06:10 on 22 July 2016, the Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 landed in the North Rhine-Westphalian state capital for the first time and was traditionally greeted with a water fountain. From now on, the renowned five-star airline will be connecting Düsseldorf Airport with its hub in Singapore three times a week non-stop. I was lucky enough to be on the inaugural Singapore Airlines Business Class flight in the Airbus A350-900 from Düsseldorf.

Check-in for the inaugural flight SQ337 to Singapore

The free shuttle bus from the Lindner Hotel Airport Düsseldorf, where I was staying, took me to the airport around 9 a.m. After a short walk, I reached the newly refurbished Singapore Airlines check-in counters 142–147. A crowd of press representatives had already gathered in front of them. Everyone was just as excited as I was to see the world's most modern long-haul aircraft up close. A long line had also formed at the economy class check-in. Fortunately, I was flying business class, so I had a choice between two empty counters.

First flight event at the gate

With a new airline, a new long-haul destination, and a new aircraft type, there were three pieces of news to celebrate. Due to space constraints, the maiden flight event took place not at the actual departure gate A79, but one floor higher at Gate A75. From there, I also had my first glimpse of the Airbus A350, unfortunately only through two panes of glass. Singapore Airlines had added the first A350-900 to its fleet to coincide with the maiden flight from Düsseldorf. It's easily recognizable by its registration 9V-SMA. The other four of the 63 aircraft ordered so far have the letters B, C, or D at the end.

Buffet with German and Asian specialties

A large buffet with German and Asian specialties was set up for the passengers of SQ337 and the numerous media representatives. There was also sparkling wine and other drinks. I made do with a double espresso and a water, as a lavish five-course meal awaited me on the plane.

Opening speeches

As befits an opening ceremony, several keynote speeches were delivered. In his welcoming speech, Mak Swee Wah, Executive Vice President Commercial of Singapore Airlines, highlighted the completely new capabilities offered by the Airbus A350 for multiple non-stop flights to long-haul destinations. "This will help us enhance the competitiveness of our route network and strengthen Singapore as a major hub. With the flights from Düsseldorf, we are also introducing the latest generation of our cabin products to Germany. This includes the award-winning Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class seats, as well as our advanced KrisWorld entertainment system."

After the welcoming speeches, the red ribbon was ceremoniously cut, and a large chocolate cake with a world map and the flight connection from Düsseldorf to Singapore was served. I treated myself to a small piece of this cake—it was very filling.

Boarding for the first flight to Singapore

Boarding began around 11 a.m. Local media representatives, politicians, and partners of Singapore Airlines were able to inspect the Airbus A350 before the passengers. I was one of the first passengers to board through door 2L (second door on the left in the direction of travel). This allowed me to photograph the almost empty cabin. I had already experienced Economy Class and Premium Economy Class in the Preliminary report briefly introduced for this trip.

Through the open cockpit door, I was lucky enough to observe the pilots preparing for the flight. The cockpit of the A350 looks very modern and no longer like the old "clock shop" of yesteryear.

For the inaugural flight to Singapore, I was booked into seat 20. This is at the rear and therefore smaller section of Business Class with only four rows of seats. When I arrived at my seat, 20A, I was warmly greeted by a flight attendant. The welcome drink was a choice of orange juice, water, or champagne. I thought it was okay to toast the occasion with a glass of champagne. Singapore Airlines currently serves Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve champagne in Business Class. Unfortunately, a bowl of warm mixed nuts was not served. For the rest of the flight, it was only available from a bag. I suspect that in the excitement of the first flight, it was simply forgotten. Because on the return flight, four days later, there was a small bowl with the champagne.

Farewell and start in Düsseldorf

Our takeoff from Düsseldorf was delayed by about 40 minutes due to the event and the intense media interest. Before our departure to Singapore, the airport fire department honored us with a final farewell with a water fountain. It was my first time doing this. At 12:38 p.m., the pilot lifted off the Airbus A350 from runway 05R, heading northeast.

What is the cabin and seat like in the Singapore Airlines Business Class Airbus A350-900?

Singapore Airlines' 1-2-1 seating layout (1 window seat, 2 middle seats, 1 window seat) in the A350 Business Class cabin ensures that every passenger has aisle access. No one has to step over their neighbor's legs, which is unfortunately still common practice on some airlines.

The A350 offers me, as a passenger, a significantly improved travel experience. The lack of overhead bins above the middle seats in Business Class makes the cabin feel higher and more spacious. Storage compartments with a payload of 45 kg are located only on the outer sides. However, there should be sufficient space for hand luggage even when the cabin is at full capacity.

The specially developed LED lighting creates a pleasant atmosphere. Programmed scenes, such as a sunrise or sunset, are designed to reduce the effects of jet lag. The cabin was pleasantly bright during boarding, and the Business Class seats provided a pleasant atmosphere with indirect lighting. The seat lighting can be turned off by the passenger if necessary, for example, to sleep.

Another positive aspect I noticed were the clear, understandable announcements on board. I've often sat on older aircraft and been unable to understand the announcements because of the tinny noise. Also new is the symbol for using your mobile phone. This is now displayed on a small digital screen next to the fasten seatbelt sign.

The seats in the newly designed Singapore Airlines Business Class on the Airbus A350-900, which is being used for the first time from Germany, face forward and are covered in leather. Each seat is either beige or purple. Once seated, I could have spent more than the 12-hour flight to Singapore. The upholstery is comfortable, and the large, fluffy pillow makes it really cozy. If I want to put my feet up, I have to bend down except in rows 11 and 19. My feet then disappear into a small gap, in my case towards the window. That was a bit unusual for me at first. There is also a footrest, which is continuously and separately adjustable. Like the backrest, you adjust this using the buttons on the side. The seatbelt with integrated airbag was also new to me. Hopefully I never need it.

The seat offers a variety of storage options of varying sizes for personal items. For example, there's a drink tray next to the screen, and above it, a small, illuminated compartment (load capacity up to 1 kg) that can be moved. I safely stowed my camera here during the flight. A practical feature, but probably especially for the ladies, is the mirror, which is covered by a screen. This saves you a trip to the airplane restroom to check whether your all-weather haircut is still holding up as promised after a 12-hour flight.

On the side facing the window is a small storage compartment, which originally housed Phitek's noise-cancelling headphones. The pull-out compartment next to it contains a sufficiently large and stable table. This is extended by pressing on the lid. When extended, the table can be moved or rotated in any direction. The height can also be individually adjusted. Standing up without unfolding the table is possible with some caution.

To the left of my seatback is another, larger compartment. It's perfect for storing a newspaper, magazine, or water bottle, for example. After takeoff, I used the compartment primarily to store my laptop. Right next to it are the personal ports for USB devices and power plugs (110V/60Hz). A standard European plug (Type C) fits here without an adapter.

The individual lighting, like much of the cabin lighting, is LED-based. In my seat, 20A, I had a three-part reading light on the right side of the backrest and a single one on the left. Using the button underneath, I could choose between two different brightness levels. Another nice touch was that I could hang my headphones over the individual light when I wasn't using it.

In Singapore Airlines' new Business Class, privacy is also ensured at every seat thanks to various privacy screens. From my seat, 20A, I could only see what my neighbor across the aisle was doing with the in-flight entertainment.

The new 71 cm wide business class seat on the A350 converts into a fully flat bed with a horizontal lying surface of 1.98 m. It's important to note that on Singapore Airlines, unlike other airlines, the seat is not lowered to its lowest position; instead, the backrest is folded forward. On the back of the backrest, there's a thin mattress or mattress topper, a blanket, and an extra pillow. The conversion wasn't that easy for me the first time. But the flight attendants are happy to help and prepare the bed.

One advantage is that you have a completely flat and, above all, wide bed. Singapore Airlines advertises that it's the widest bed in its class. I also think the way you fasten your seat belt while sleeping is a good solution. This isn't done with the standard, rigid lap belt, but with an additional belt. This is similar to the one in a car and moves with the passenger to a certain extent. This makes turning over in your sleep easier and more comfortable. A disadvantage for some passengers might be that you have to sleep at an angle to the direction of travel in this business-class seat.

What is available to eat and drink in Singapore Airlines Business Class Airbus A350-900?

Singapore Airlines also focuses on the highest quality in its cuisine in all classes. To delight even the most discerning guests, Singapore Airlines established the International Culinary Panel (ICP) in September 1998. It consists of award-winning chefs from the world's gourmet capitals. The dishes created by the ICP team are specially identified by a logo (a cloud with a fork) on the menus displayed at seated passengers.

Singapore Airlines strives to tailor its in-flight meals to the region of the destination, thus providing a taste of the destination's culinary culture. I was delighted with the delicious satay skewers of chicken and lamb, served in the typical Singapore style with onions, cucumbers, and a spicy peanut sauce. Incidentally, in a documentary about Singapore Airlines' caterer, SATS, I saw that 12,000 satay skewers are hand-turned daily in their kitchen at Singapore Airport. What a gigantic number!

For starters, I was served a Scandinavian seafood platter. It included gravlax, a prawn, smoked salmon, salmon roe, and egg salad. I accompanied it with a 2012 Bordeaux from Château Bellevue Cruz Bourgeois Haut Médoc. The drinks were constantly refilled during the service, so I never ran out of things to drink.

For the main course, I could choose between four different dishes, including both Western and Asian dishes.

Roasted veal loin with caper and licorice root sauce
Served with celeriac puree, asparagus and celery
Exclusively created by ICP chef Carlo Cracco from Ristorante Cracco in Milan.

Roasted lamb fillet in rosemary jus
With carrots, asparagus, cherry tomatoes and potato gratin

Rice noodle soup with seafood
Kway Teow noodles with shrimp, fish and vegetables in chicken broth

Gang Kiew Wan Kai
Thai-style green chicken curry with vegetables and steamed rice

I decided against Carlo Cracco's dish and opted for the lamb fillet. It could have been cooked a little less for my taste. But the seasoning combined with the rosemary jus was perfect.

As we reached the Black Sea, it was time for dessert. Here, you could choose between strawberry ice cream and cherry pie. Since I'm a huge ice cream fan, I opted for the Häagen-Dazs strawberry ice cream, served with a berry coulis. I couldn't go wrong!

To round off the five-course meal, there were select cheese specialties and fresh fruit from the serving cart. I was already full, but I couldn't resist a delicious piece of cheese and a few strawberries. Afterwards, I had a coffee and two chocolates brought to me.

Between meals, there are a variety of different treats that you can grab yourself from the galley or have served to your seat. These include various pasta specialties, sandwiches, and other snacks (nuts, chips, fruit).

The beverage selection in Business Class is very extensive. As I already mentioned at the beginning of this trip report, Singapore Airlines offered Charles Heidsieck champagne on the flight from Düsseldorf to Singapore. Incidentally, two champagnes are offered in First Class and the suites: Dom Pérignon and Krug Grande Cuvée.

The selection of red, white, and port wines includes internationally acclaimed wines from France, Germany, South Africa, and Australia, among others. I only tried a Bordeaux with the lamb fillet. But Singapore Airlines also offers alcoholic cocktails like the famous Singapore Sling or a Screwdriver, aperitifs (Campari), and non-alcoholic mocktails. I highly recommend the Midsummer Breeze. This is made with apple, orange, pineapple juice, and 7-Up. Very refreshing!

Those who enjoy a spirit will find a variety of spirits on board. Highlights include Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky and Imayotsukasa Jungmai Sale. Not to be forgotten is the international selection of beers. There are also coffee specialties from illycaffe and various international, Asian, and Chinese teas. So passengers won't be left high and dry.

For breakfast service, passengers can choose between a full breakfast and a continental breakfast. To ensure a longer, undisturbed night's sleep, passengers should indicate their preference for the continental breakfast before the onboard lights are switched off. This is served approximately 1.5 hours before landing and consists of freshly cut fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice, and pastries. Unfortunately, since I wasn't tired enough to sleep yet, I opted for the full breakfast.

Breakfast service began about two hours before our scheduled arrival in Singapore. First, I was given a freshly squeezed orange juice, with a choice of orange, apple, or tomato juice. This was followed by a colorful fruit plate, jam, a muffin, and a warm croissant.

For my main breakfast dish, I had the choice between a warm crepe, nasi lemak, or an egg frittata. I opted for the warm crepe with quark, sour cherry compote, and vanilla sauce. Simply delicious!

What is the service like on the Singapore Airlines Business Class Airbus A350-900?

The Singapore Airlines cabin crew was very courteous and friendly throughout the flight. I was constantly asked what I wanted. Between meals, the elegant and now famous "Singapore Girls" came by with a selection of snacks. They looked very elegant in their distinctive uniform, a traditional wrap dress, the sarong kebaya, with a batik look.

To celebrate the inaugural flight, each passenger received an exclusive gift bag. The highlight was a certificate acknowledging their participation in the inaugural flight, signed by Captain Paul Ho KC, Chief Pilot of Singapore Airlines' A350 fleet. They also received an SQ tie-dye suitcase strap, a luggage scale, and Singapore black tea.

Singapore Airlines does not distribute pre-packed amenity kits on this flight. However, the usual items like slippers, eye masks, and socks are distributed by the flight attendants immediately after takeoff. A razor, comb, and toothbrush were in a small drawer in the washroom. At first, I was disappointed, because a high-quality amenity kit is also a kind of collectible for me. But from an ecological perspective, waste is avoided because everyone only takes what they really need. For example, I prefer to use my eye mask, which I got from our Lufthansa First Class flight have.

What is the in-flight entertainment like on the Singapore Airlines Business Class Airbus A350-900?

If you don't want to sleep or work on board, you can stay entertained with the KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system on a 46 cm LCD screen. The A350 is equipped with one of Panasonic's latest entertainment systems. The picture and sound quality through the Phitek noise-canceling headphones was very good. The selection of films, series, and music was very extensive. I found the commercial break that was shown before the film or series started annoying. After watching a film, you can rate it from 1 to 5 stars.

As a flight enthusiast, however, the flight map and a glance out the window are usually enough to keep me entertained. Singapore Airlines' A350 doesn't have an onboard or tail camera.

The FlightMap offers a variety of different views and settings. For example, you can enjoy a virtual view from the cockpit window or a rotating camera pan around the Airbus. The FlightMap offers a great feature when used in conjunction with the wired hand controller. While watching a movie, for example, you can always see the remaining flight time and information such as your current position on the controller's smaller display. A useful second screen!

Since I was conducting a live blog about the maiden flight, I relied on a working internet connection. After takeoff, Wi-Fi was activated. Initially, I had massive problems logging in with my iPhone. I was constantly getting kicked off the network. Fortunately, it worked fine with my laptop.

You can choose between three different time packages. The cheapest for a 12-hour flight is the Full Flight Rate at USD 21.95. Payment can be made via PayPal or credit card.

After successfully logging in via my laptop, I had good internet speeds for the rest of the flight. Singapore Airlines' collaboration with leading network operator OnAir paid off.

Participation in the trip was supported by Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them once again for their co-operation and support. This article represents our free and independent opinion. Further information on journalistic independence can be found at Cooperation.

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