A345 seating changes?

[Kyo]

How are these flights doing now, going all business class. Would it have made more sense now to keep maybe a small cabin of economy seats given the situation today?

According to a green kebaya I spoke to not 10 days ago who plies the SIN-LAX route frequently, numbers did drop quite a bit.

[concept|infinit]

I can't remember where exactly (meaning which thread) and when (approx couple of weeks to a month ago) but one reported that there was a LAX-SIN flight one day with 13 pax and 14 crew... So yes, loads are low.

Yes, I came across that too here recently. If memory serves me right that was before the holiday season though.

Has anyone been on one of those flights in these last two months?

[N_Architect]

i've heard from some airline industry people that the loads are poor ... often less than 50% full. anyone can verify?

I can't remember where exactly (meaning which thread) and when (approx couple of weeks to a month ago) but one reported that there was a LAX-SIN flight one day with 13 pax and 14 crew... So yes, loads are low.

[andySYD]

Last time I checked with my TA, all-business class flights still carry around $1500 premium to the normal one. Has this changed?

[kkjay77]

i've heard from some airline industry people that the loads are poor ... often less than 50% full. anyone can verify?

Probably true as these flights are on sale.
IIRC, LAX-SIN nonstop is $5,500~$6,000.

[dttj0069]

How are these flights doing now, going all business class. Would it have made more sense now to keep maybe a small cabin of economy seats given the situation today?

i've heard from some airline industry people that the loads are poor ... often less than 50% full. anyone can verify?

[EWR]

Hmmm this is surprising given that the A345s will be replaced very soon. Then again, the expense of doing the cabin retrofitting will be more than offset by the possible returns from the all-Business seats. One thing I wonder though: I know there are always long waiting lists for J seats, but does this justify converting the entire aircraft to J? I thought retaining some Economy seats might be the better way to go.

How are these flights doing now, going all business class. Would it have made more sense now to keep maybe a small cabin of economy seats given the situation today?

[zvezda]

If I remember correctly, the B787 is supposed to be a mid- to long-haul aircraft, with the Airbus A350 as a competitor? Is it supposed to an ultra-long-haul jet like the A345 and B772LR? I hope I've not gotten my facts wrong?

The 787-9 is nearly exactly the same size as the A340-500 and optimistic expectations are that the former will approximately match the latter in payload/range performance, but at much lower cost. It is likely that the 787-9 will offer satisfactory, though not ideal, payload/range performance for SQ on the LAX-SIN and EWR-SIN routes. As with the A340-500, cargo capacity west-bound will be very limited.

[The High Flyer]

I like them too. However, I think you'll like the 787-9 even more. It'll be just a bit wider, even quieter, and have much better cabin air.

If I remember correctly, the B787 is supposed to be a mid- to long-haul aircraft, with the Airbus A350 as a competitor? Is it supposed to an ultra-long-haul jet like the A345 and B772LR? I hope I've not gotten my facts wrong?

[zvezda]

I love the A345s.

I like them too. However, I think you'll like the 787-9 even more. It'll be just a bit wider, even quieter, and have much better cabin air.

[The High Flyer]

That idea died because the resale value of the A340-500s is too low. The A340-500s will remain in the SQ fleet at least until 2011 -- unless SQ drop the SIN-LAX and SIN-EWR nonstops.

That's very good news for me! I love the A345s. That gives me 4 more years to enjoy these classic flights. Sadly, I have only been on SIN-LAX-SIN thus far. No chance to try the longer EWR routes.

[zvezda]

I thought there was talk that the A345s will be replaced by the B777-200LR?

That idea died because the resale value of the A340-500s is too low. The A340-500s will remain in the SQ fleet at least until 2011 -- unless SQ drop the SIN-LAX and SIN-EWR nonstops.

[The High Flyer]

Would that be with the new J seats in a 1-2-1 configuration?

Very soon? The only aircraft that SQ have on order that could replace the A340-500s is the 787-9 which is due to start entering the SQ fleet in 2011. I wouldn't call that "very soon." Four years is not too short a lifetime for a new seating configuration. The A340-500s entered the fleet 3 to 3.5 years ago and it's about time to replace the interiors.

I thought there was talk that the A345s will be replaced by the B777-200LR? I guess when I said the A345s would be replaced very soon, I meant that the airline doesn't intend to buy more such aircraft and the existing aircraft will not be retained for as long as, say, the B747 (13-15 years each).

[The High Flyer]

Noo.... I also want to fly A345 one day but of course no $ to go in J! Anyway if it were an all J plane it'd look more like an oversized Boeing Business Jet already right? The small cute 737 with 45 seats?

I've never liked the 737. Give me an Airbus A320 anytime. Then again, everytime I see a 737, it reminds me of a cute, gracious koi.

[zvezda]

I heard from several sources that SQ is planning to remove all Exec Y seats on the A345 by June of next year and replacing them with an all J cabin config.

Would that be with the new J seats in a 1-2-1 configuration?

Hmmm this is surprising given that the A345s will be replaced very soon.

Very soon? The only aircraft that SQ have on order that could replace the A340-500s is the 787-9 which is due to start entering the SQ fleet in 2011. I wouldn't call that "very soon." Four years is not too short a lifetime for a new seating configuration. The A340-500s entered the fleet 3 to 3.5 years ago and it's about time to replace the interiors.