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Singapore Airlines shops for world’s longest jet
The United States and European aerospace giants are vying for a coveted spot in the fleet of Singapore Airlines.
By the end of the year, the airline is expected to back one of the company’s designs, according to three people familiar with the campaign.
There’s a “pretty fierce campaign for this” order from Singapore, said one of the people.
At the moment, Boeing and Airbus planes exist largely as PowerPoint presentations that are being evaluated by engineers at Singapore Airlines.
Both planes would be the longest twin-aisle jets ever built and the biggest with just two engines. Nose to tail, they’ll be nearly the length of a football field.
Airbus’ A350-2000 would be nearly 258 feet long and seat 400 passengers. Boeing’s 777-10X would be 263 feet and hold 450, in standard arrangements. That’s about 30 and 50 passengers more, respectively, than the current largest A350 and 777X jets.
While both jets may earn the title of world’s longest, they won’t carry the most passengers. The four-engine Airbus A380 has the distinction of being able to hold more passengers than any other airliner, carrying about 550 people on two decks.
Boeing’s new design would put it within striking distance of the A380 and even its own iconic 747 jumbo jet. Both have suffered from slow sales and declining production.
Airbus cuts production of A380 super jumbo
And the new 777X would also have the advantage of being able to fit into airports that can’t accommodate the A380 and its gargantuan wingspan, while carrying nearly as many passengers.
The 777X wingtips will fold upwards after landing, so the plane will fit into the same gates and use the same taxiways as today’s 777s. The wingspan on the A350 is slightly smaller than the 777X. The first model in Boeing’s 777X lineup begins flying passengers in 2020. The A350 entered service in 2015.
Additionally, both designs would stretch the fuselages to make room in the cabin for more seats, and move galleys used for food preparation to under the passenger cabin floor.
The current versions of these Airbus and Boeing planes are priced at $355 million and $400 million, respectively, and the new, bigger jets will undoubtedly be more expensive. However, airlines get steep discounts from those published prices.
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