Yesterday (17th January) Manchester Airport received its first Airbus A350 service through the reallocation of Singapore Airlines’ Singapore-Manchester-Houston route to the Xtra Wide Body type.
The A350 aircraft, which is the world’s most modern and efficient, takes aviation to new heights for passenger experience, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This is also a regional, North West success story, with the Singapore Airlines A350 wings being assembled at Airbus’ £400 million factory in Broughton, Chester. The factory, which covers a total area of 46,000 square metres, employs more than 6,000 people mostly in manufacturing and the remainder in engineering and support functions.
Sheldon Hee, Singapore Airlines, General Manager of UK & Ireland said: “We are excited to announce our inaugural A350 flight from the UK and delighted to see this happening from Manchester Airport. The launch follows our recent announcement of new non-stop routes from Manchester to Houston and Singapore, and shows our commitment to the economy and people of the North West. It is great to see that by working alongside Airbus our A350s have helped support jobs in the North West and wider UK economy and also allowed this region to showcase itself as a hotbed of technological talent.”
Stephen Turner, Commercial Director at Manchester Airport, added: “The introduction of Singapore Airlines’ A350 is a historic moment for Manchester Airport, as we welcome this aircraft for the first time on a scheduled service here.
“The new direct services to Houston and Singapore are perfect examples of how Manchester Airport is connecting to global markets to the east and the west. The commencement of this new modern aircraft not only gives our passengers the latest technology but also an additional class when flying with Singapore Airlines. We know the A350 will prove popular with not only our 25m annual passengers, but also our aviation enthusiasts on site.”
When You Can See the A350 at Manchester
The non-stop Singapore-Manchester flight operates five times weekly and continues on to Houston. Flight SQ52 departs Singapore at 0235hrs and arrives in Manchester at 0900hrs. Flight SQ52 then departs Manchester at 1010hrs, and arrives in Houston at 1530hrs. The return flight SQ51 departs Houston at 2015hrs and arrives in Manchester at 1005hrs. Flight SQ51 then departs Manchester at 1135hrs, and arrives in Singapore at 0820hrs (all times local, and subject to change).
It’s important to note that one certain days there is a brief crossover when the A350s inbound from both Houston and Singapore are on the ground at the same time. This will make a great picture from one of the Manchester Airport spotting locations.
