Singapore Airlines to up Kiwi comfort with introduction of spacious A350 on Christchurch services

A Singapore Airlines A350. The airline has 67 of the aircraft on order or delivered. Photo / Supplied

Singapore Airlines will use an A350-900 aircraft on its Christchurch route from early next year.

It will be the first time the airline uses the new generation aircraft on flights to this country and it will replace a Boeing 777-200 that has been used on the route. The airline flies daily, year round.

Cathay Pacific began a summer service from Hong Kong to Christchurch last year using an A350 but this is seasonal.

Singapore's new plane will arrive from January 7 and the airline says it will give passengers the chance to experience its all-new cabin, including premium economy seats for the first time.

The new aircraft will be a further boost to Christchurch Airport and the city's tourism industry, which is promoting itself as a destination rather than a gateway as more new hotels are opened.

Singapore Airlines general manager New Zealand, Simon Turcotte said the decision to operate the new plane to Christchurch reinforced the airline's commitment to Christchurch and the South Island.

Singapore Airlines first touched down at Christchurch International Airport in 1986, the first international long-haul carrier to fly to the Garden City.

"The introduction of Premium Economy will make Singapore Airlines the only long-haul carrier offering the cabin daily out of Christchurch on a year-round basis," he said.

The A350-900 has 253 seats, 13 fewer than the 777-200. The new plane has three classes, 42 seats in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy Class and 187 in Economy Class.

The flight will continue to operate as part of Singapore Airlines' and Air New Zealand's alliance partnership, with Air New Zealand codesharing on the service.

The A350-900 provides customers travelling to and from Christchurch with features such as higher ceilings, larger windows, an extra-wide body delivering more space and comfort as well as lighting designed to reduce jetlag.

Aircraft such as the A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner are up to 20 per cent more efficient than the aircraft they replace because they are lighter, have more modern engines and aerodynamics. These new generation planes make up more than 20 per cent of capacity flying to and from New Zealand.

Singapore Airlines has 67 A350-900 aircraft on firm order and have already taken delivery of 21 since the first aircraft entered the fleet in March 2016. It will use an ultra-long-range version of the plane on the Singapore-New York route later this year, which will overtake Qatar Airways' Auckland-Doha service as the longest in the world.