772ER refitted J

[NZAKL]

Ahhhhh......the refit of aircraft on 281 and 282 is a subject close to my heart.....I was speaking to SQ staff in the AKL corporate office a few days ago and the news seemed less than positive - not able to confirm a definite date, and there was a comment along the lines of '....I'd be very surprised to see the re-fitted aircraft in the first half of the year.....' Oh dear.....

[bent]

from my sources, SQ 281/282 will NOT be getting the refit even through the whole Fy14/15

[SQ228]

I wonder if this has anything to do with the planned return to flying to ATH which will require more 772 refits than previously thought.

It almost seems like the wheels are falling off this project. Perhaps there has been a reassessment of exactly how many old planes it is worth spending money on refurbishing?

We've not really seen the flow on effects of two new 77Ws or so many new A330s. All the old SR* series are still flying around as well as SQF remaining full-time on CGK flights. There have been a few announced capacity increases, but nothing major.

Maybe some of the first crop of 77Ws are due for maintenance overhauls?

[ashgabata]

from my sources, SQ 281/282 will NOT be getting the refit even through the whole Fy14/15

nooooooooooooooooo

[EKCH]

9V-SVG is now flying as SQ478 (SIN - JNB)
It should be V8-BLB reregistred to 9V-SVG (old 9V-SVG leased to RBA untill they get their B787, they now have 2 B787) not 100% sure, but all information I can find confirm it.
V8-BLB (9V-SVG) arrived to SIN dec 05. 2013 so I think it is refitted.
V8-BLA arrived to SIN jan 11 2014.(This is old 9V-SVF)

[EKCH]

Copy from: Singapore Airlines - News Releases

16 January 2014 - Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have agreed to form an alliance enabling Air New Zealand to fly the Auckland-Singapore route again and Singapore Airlines to operate the Airbus A380 to New Zealand for the first time.

The A380 would be operated daily by Singapore Airlines between Singapore and Auckland, progressively replacing an existing daily service with the smaller Boeing 777-300ER (A380 operations would initially be on a seasonal basis. The B777-300ER would be used during off-peak travel periods). Air New Zealand would launch daily services between Auckland and Singapore using newly refitted Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, taking over five flights currently operated by Singapore Airlines and adding two more weekly flights, increasing the frequency to daily.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the carriers would aim to boost their existing capacity between Singapore and New Zealand by up to 30% year round over time.

Singapore Airlines’ daily Singapore-Christchurch service would continue as part of the alliance.

The parties are seeking approval for the alliance from the Competition Commission of Singapore and the New Zealand Minister of Transport. Pending approval, flights could commence as early as December 2014.

[9V-JKL]

Erm... Its NZ's refitted 772ER rather than SQ's

[SQ228]

Erm... Its NZ's refitted 772ER rather than SQ's

True, but it does explain why suddenly there don't seem to be any more plans to place SQ 772ER refits on the AKL route...

[bent]

True, but it does explain why suddenly there don't seem to be any more plans to place SQ 772ER refits on the AKL route...

coz they know they have a monopoly on that non-stop flight market so no reason to upgrade? but now that Air NZ is in the picture...hmm.

[SQ228]

coz they know they have a monopoly on that non-stop flight market so no reason to upgrade? but now that Air NZ is in the picture...hmm.

No, I think it's far more precise than that.

The way I read this press release, SQ 281/282 will cease to operate if this agreement goes ahead.

SQ will still operate SQ285/286 but be allowed to operate an A380, presumably something they are not currently allowed.

NZ will effectively take over SQ 281/282 by operating a daily flight at those times with their craft, increasing from 5x weekly.

My assumption would be that an SQ customer wanting to fly AUK-CDG-AUK, for example, would be offered SQ286/334 over to Paris and SQ333/68xx for the return journey, and fly the last leg with NZ codeshare rather than have to wait 13 hours in SIN for SQ285.

Perhaps SQ management have reconsidered operating refitted 772s on SQ281/282 if they are to terminate the flights before the end of 2014?

[ashgabata]

i guess akl is not getting retrofitted?

[SQ228]

I'm not aware of any more 772ERs undergoing refits. 9V-SVO has been out of service a few days now and I wonder if now that it has hit the 10 year mark that its lease may have expired and it's on the way out of the fleet.

Anyone with any news about whether SVF may reappear?

[CarbonMan]

I have just booked SQ297/298 to CHC for the family in early August. SQ's website shows that it uses the refitted 772ER. Does anyone know if it's a certainty barring ops issues? Thanks.

[SQ228]

I have just booked SQ297/298 to CHC for the family in early August. SQ's website shows that it uses the refitted 772ER. Does anyone know if it's a certainty barring ops issues? Thanks.

Yeah, refits have been flying to CHC for a while now. You should be fine

[EKCH]

Anyone with any news about whether SVF may reappear?

I can see there is now a 9V-SVF on CAAS's list: "Singapore Aircraft Register as at 28 February 2014".