A350 Deliveries and Routes

[wlgspotter]

As per MainlyMiles, SQ is relaunching SIN-TPE-LAX from 25th Aug, using standard LH, 3-class A350-900's, operating 3x weekly. It seemed that this will be the 1st time SQ is operating the A350 on a regular, scheduled, basis into TPE. Also, with this flight the SIN-TPE turnaround (flown using their 787-10s) will be scaled back to 4x weekly, thus keeping SIN-TPE on a 7x weekly basis.

What is interesting with this new flight though is that pax can only either do SIN-TPE, or TPE-LAX, but paxs can't travel SIN-TPE-LAX on it as Taiwan appararently still doesn't allow transit paxs.

Link to article: https://mainlymiles.com/2021/08/11/s...eedom-flights/

[Zlamba]

SQ24 SIN-JFK (Aug 15) took the unusual route over the pole today instead of the North Pacific routing.

[9V-SPL]

SQ24 SIN-JFK (Aug 15) took the unusual route over the pole today instead of the North Pacific routing.

Could be to do with a tropical depression over the Pacific. SQ607|15AUG (ICN-SIN) and SQ637|15AUG (NRT-SIN) took a circuitous routing, avoiding the area near Taiwan.

[Not You]

SQ24 SIN-JFK (Aug 15) took the unusual route over the pole today instead of the North Pacific routing.

Could be to do with a tropical depression over the Pacific. SQ607|15AUG (ICN-SIN) and SQ637|15AUG (NRT-SIN) took a circuitous routing, avoiding the area near Taiwan.

Many flights were avoiding volcanic ash in the area following the eruption of the submarine volcano Fukutoku-Okanoba.

[MainlyMiles]

SQ8200/A359 (9V-SMW) operating a charter today from Singapore non-stop to Boise, Idaho, USA. It will stay there for about 27 hours before returning via SFO as SQ8201.

Four further flights planned on the same SIN-BOI-SFO-SIN route in Aug/Sep.

Anyone know what these are for?

[truncated]

SQ8200/A359 (9V-SMW) operating a charter today from Singapore non-stop to Boise, Idaho, USA. It will stay there for about 27 hours before returning via SFO as SQ8201.

Four further flights planned on the same SIN-BOI-SFO-SIN route in Aug/Sep.

Anyone know what these are for?

My money is on SAF charter — the RSAF has a base in Idaho: https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal.../11oct19_news1

[flyguy]

Do agree that its for the RSAF charter. On its return leg, it needs a refueling stop in SFO and possibly pick up some pax as otherwise it can make a tech stop in Anchorage for fuel.

[MainlyMiles]

Do agree that its for the RSAF charter. On its return leg, it needs a refueling stop in SFO and possibly pick up some pax as otherwise it can make a tech stop in Anchorage for fuel.

Yes military charter makes sense. Probably transferring personnel since the schedule shows the following pax/cargo operation:

18/19 Aug
28/29 Aug
7/8 Sep
SIN-BOI Pax & Cargo
BOI-SFO Cargo
SFO-SIN Cargo

24/25 Sep
30 Sep/1 Oct
SIN-BOI Cargo
BOI-SFO Pax & Cargo
SFO-SIN Pax & Cargo

[jul247]

I read somewhere MSN 485 and MSN 494 will be delivered before MSN 460 but could not find the source now. I think Airbus offers SQ a discount for MSN 460 frame for testing usage.

MN 460 confirmed to be 9V-SJE, according to https://www.abcdlist.nl/a350f/a350f.html

[Not You]

SQ is sending an A359ULR to Sydney as SQ8103 on a Australian Special Forces Chartered Flight. Aircraft will return as SQ8102 with a stop over in Paya Lebar Airbase.

[flyguy]

Interesting as the SAF chartered a ULR with limited seating. Must be some very VIP passengers as otherwise the RSAF can easily use their A330 MRTT.

[9V-SPL]

SQ is sending an A359ULR to Sydney as SQ8103 on a SAF Chartered Flight. Aircraft will return as SQ8102 with a stop over in Paya Lebar Airbase.

Operated by 9V-SGG.

[Zlamba]

Interesting as the SAF chartered a ULR with limited seating. Must be some very VIP passengers as otherwise the RSAF can easily use their A330 MRTT.

Think currently with the ULRs only serving daily services to SFO and JFK, there would be 2 aircrafts idling at Changi. Seems to be a more viable option at the moment tapping on the ULRs as charters, load permitting, rather than the stretched operations of the main fleet.

Believe the MRTT are on a tight schedule this week as well supporting exercise Wallaby in Brisbane, and the situation at Afghanistan.

[sbs2716g]

As per MainlyMiles, SQ is relaunching SIN-TPE-LAX from 25th Aug, using standard LH, 3-class A350-900's, operating 3x weekly. It seemed that this will be the 1st time SQ is operating the A350 on a regular, scheduled, basis into TPE. Also, with this flight the SIN-TPE turnaround (flown using their 787-10s) will be scaled back to 4x weekly, thus keeping SIN-TPE on a 7x weekly basis.

What is interesting with this new flight though is that pax can only either do SIN-TPE, or TPE-LAX, but paxs can't travel SIN-TPE-LAX on it as Taiwan appararently still doesn't allow transit paxs.

Link to article: https://mainlymiles.com/2021/08/11/s...eedom-flights/

9V-SMZ did the first SQ36 flight.
And was welcome by the water canon at taoyuan.
There is a YouTube video in Chinese though

https://youtu.be/PNFL5zt76nw

[wlgspotter]

I've noted that last night's SQ297 SIN-CHC is operated by 9V-SHP. Searching through FlightRadar24's records over the past year, the only other day which SQ297 SIN-CHC got a Regional A350 is 27th May, so it does look like this is a "unique" situation. Not too surprising given (pax) loads are expected to be light I guess - the plane would probably be pretty full of cargo, especially ex-CHC I would have thought. And given its relatively light loads in these times I guess the Regional A350s would have no problem covering that distance...