SQ A345 withdrawal thread

[Airbus SAS A340-500]

Does anyone know about the future of these five frames? Has any other operator committed themselves to acquiring them?

Also, does anyone know what is going to happen to the EK, EY and TG (excluding TG's lone HGW) frames? SQ, EK, EY and TG together operate all A345s in commercial service that are of the -541 version, and all seem quite eager to have them out of their fleets.

Hi-Fly (operated for Arik Air) and AZAL Azerbaijan's A345s are of the -542 version, and it somehow seems that they are quite content with theirs now. More so for AZAL, since they acquired theirs quite recently — directly from Airbus...

[jul247]

Does anyone know about the future of these five frames? Has any other operator committed themselves to acquiring them?

Also, does anyone know what is going to happen to the EK, EY and TG (excluding TG's lone HGW) frames? SQ, EK, EY and TG together operate all A345s in commercial service that are of the -541 version, and all seem quite eager to have them out of their fleets.

Hi-Fly (operated for Arik Air) and AZAL Azerbaijan's A345s are of the -542 version, and it somehow seems that they are quite content with theirs now. More so for AZAL, since they acquired theirs quite recently — directly from Airbus...

EK is currently storing one of their A345 and scrapping one to keep other A345s flying. A6-ERF (cn 394) was flown to Ras Al Khaimah airport on 27/8 to be scrapped. Thai Airways' A345 sales transaction fell through and are still stored at DMK.

[dj_jay_smith]

According to this http://www.businesstraveller.com/new...top-us-service

... Airbus has agreed to take back SIA’s five A340-500s in part exchange for new planes it has ordered. But whether Airbus can sell them on or is forced to scrap SIA’s special A340s remains to be seen.

[Jumbojet Lover]

It was a smart move by SQ getting Airbus to take back the A340-500s as part of the deal for new aircraft, given the low demand for those heavy 4-holers.

[eminere™]

It was a smart move by SQ getting Airbus to take back the A340-500s as part of the deal for new aircraft, given the low demand for those heavy 4-holers.

How nice that you can trade in your old aircraft towards a new purchase, like you would a mobile phone!

[SQ228]

9V-SGC seems to be the next one to be wound down. Not seen any action for a week now. Three planes would be enough from this point to cover all flights and provide a spare?

[MAN Flyer]

Thai Airways' A345 sales transaction fell through and are still stored at DMK.

As I posted on another thread, I have seen TG's A345's at BKK a couple of times recently, including one a few weeks ago. Granted they were near the maintenance hangars at the North of the airfield rather than at gates.

[Airbus SAS A340-500]

It seems like all five of SQ's A340-500s are going back to Airbus and then onwards to Aerolineas Argentinas. For an aircraft that so often transverses the northern hemisphere, it would definitely be a new experience on them when they ply the southern hemisphere.