Inaugural Singapore Airlines Flight Makes U-Turn Over Pacific Ocean, Returns To Los Angeles

Singapore’s new nonstop ultra-longhaul service began last night from Los Angeles to Singapore. But thanks to a mechanical issue, the maiden flight turned out to be far shorter than 17 hours, 50minutes…

SQ37 left Los Angeles (LAX) at 11:24 P.M., already late. By 1:33 A.M. it was back in Los Angeles.

A Singapore Airlines spokesman told the Straits Times:

A decision was made to return to LA about 40 minutes into the flight after the flight crew detected an error with the engine oil meter readings.

After maintenance crews closely examined the Airbus 350-900ULR aircraft, it was deemed fit for service. The flight took off again at 4:41 A.M., reaching Singapore five hours late.

Daily flights between LAX and SIN will begin on Friday, November 9th and SIA will increase service to 10 flights per week on December 7th.

> Read More: Singapore Airlines Will Resume World’s Longest Flight by End of 2018

Singapore’s return of nonstop Los Angeles flights likely drove United to abandon its own nonstop service on the same route.

> Read More:

• United Airlines 787-9 Polaris Business Class Los Angeles to Singapore (Inaugural) Review
• United Airlines 787-9 Business Class Singapore to Los Angeles Review
• Singapore Airlines A340-500 Business Class Singapore to Los Angeles Review

I have reviewed both airlines on the nonstop route before in business class, though I am due for an update on Singapore Airlines.

CONCLUSION

Not a great start to the new nonstop service, but better safe than sorry when it comes to mechanical issues. Hopefully Singapore will do better on the new Los Angeles nonstop than United did.

image: Singapore Airlines