A350 Deliveries and Routes

[SQKevin]

9V-SME has completed 2 test flights.

First Flight on 6 July.


Second Flight on 15 July.

[leops1984]

Hopefully SQ's A350s are better labelled than the CX ones.

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/e...SocialNewsfeed

[alian]

Hopefully SQ's A350s are better labelled than the CX ones.

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/e...SocialNewsfeed

Quite hilarious but also quite sad to the passengers for the delay ...

[SQ228]

With MAN and MUC parting ways and MUC rumoured/announced (not quite sure!) to be a daily terminator using A359s, that would mean by 30OCT they would need the following number of craft, effectively:
3x for SIN-AMS-SIN-SFO-SIN as a cycle
1x for 3x weekly to DUS
1x for 3x weekly to JNB
2x for daily MUC

Is SMG a possibility by 30OCT or is it more likely that MUC will keep using the 77WR for a while longer?

[leops1984]

With MAN and MUC parting ways and MUC rumoured/announced (not quite sure!) to be a daily terminator using A359s, that would mean by 30OCT they would need the following number of craft, effectively:
3x for SIN-AMS-SIN-SFO-SIN as a cycle
1x for 3x weekly to DUS
1x for 3x weekly to JNB
2x for daily MUC

Is SMG a possibility by 30OCT or is it more likely that MUC will keep using the 77WR for a while longer?

Possible, but challenging. SMG will be MSN 62. Right now the highest MSN number that's been completed is MSN 45. However, there are four MSN numbers in between that SMG will probably leapfrog in delivery:

- the A350-1000 test frame (MSN 59)
- three ex-UL birds, now white tails (MSNs 52, 55, and 60)

That means there are a dozen birds in front of SMG that need to be completed, their cabins fitted, and tested. Usual warning: it's almost certain that the production order will not be in exact MSN sequence. This is just a rough number to indicate how much work is in front of SMG.

Airbus has just over three months to work on those twelve planes. However, in all of 2016, they've only delivered four (or more) A350s in a month once. That was in March, after two months of no deliveries.

To get back to your question, at current production rates end of October is doubtful. End of November might be more likely. However, Airbus is making the right noises about ramping up production (and yelling at their suppliers).

July looks to be a good month for deliveries with 3 already done, and more along the way (including 9V-SME). If the pace in July can be sustained, then SMG will be ready by October 30.

[vinvinz]

With MAN and MUC parting ways and MUC rumoured/announced (not quite sure!) to be a daily terminator using A359s, that would mean by 30OCT they would need the following number of craft, effectively:
3x for SIN-AMS-SIN-SFO-SIN as a cycle
1x for 3x weekly to DUS
1x for 3x weekly to JNB
2x for daily MUC

Is SMG a possibility by 30OCT or is it more likely that MUC will keep using the 77WR for a while longer?

I just received this

We would like to inform you that flight SQ327 MUC-SIN 05 Dec 2016, originally departing at 1300 hours, has been rescheduled to SQ327 MUC-SIN 05 Dec 2016 departing 1220 hours.

[SQKevin]

9V-SME has just completed her CAF and is parked at the Delivery Centre. Delivery should be next week.

[SQKevin]

With MAN and MUC parting ways and MUC rumoured/announced (not quite sure!) to be a daily terminator using A359s, that would mean by 30OCT they would need the following number of craft, effectively:
3x for SIN-AMS-SIN-SFO-SIN as a cycle
1x for 3x weekly to DUS
1x for 3x weekly to JNB
2x for daily MUC

Is SMG a possibility by 30OCT or is it more likely that MUC will keep using the 77WR for a while longer?

It is indeed challenging to have SMG delivered by 30 October. She's currently undergoing outstanding work with painting, cabin fit and flight testing to complete before she can be delivered. The 3 production stages typically take a total of 3.5 months to complete.

There are still 4 A350s ahead of her that have yet to be painted including the 1st A350-1000. With 3 paint hangers, SMG could go into paint next month. Going by current production rates, a delivery before 30 October is doubtful. November is more likely.

SME will be delivered most probably next week with SMF possibly in October.

[jaywell]

Does anyone know what routes the regional A350s will operate? I'm also excited to see what the new regional J will look like. Hopefully, all seats will have aisle access and are fully lie-flat. I presume Y will be the same as the current one on the long-haul A350?

[alian]

There is no confirm routes for the regional a350 but I'd expect the current a330 routes would be the contenders. I'd reckon Australia would be first to get and I hope BNE would get a refresh soon. BNE always gets the shorten of the stick

An article from AUSBT http://www.ausbt.com.au/singapore-ai...10-airbus-a350

[FN-GM]

There is no confirm routes for the regional a350 but I'd expect the current a330 routes would be the contenders. I'd reckon Australia would be first to get and I hope BNE would get a refresh soon. BNE always gets the shorten of the stick

An article from AUSBT http://www.ausbt.com.au/singapore-ai...10-airbus-a350

Was BNE first to get the A330's? Might be an indication for the first A350's. Also BNE is the longest regional route so that also another reason.

[9V-JKL]

Was BNE first to get the A330's? Might be an indication for the first A350's. Also BNE is the longest regional route so that also another reason.

Yes, BNE was the 1st official A330 destination.

[FN-GM]

Yes, BNE was the 1st official A330 destination.

Ah thought so Thanks for replying.

[MAN Flyer]

Yes, BNE was the 1st official A330 destination.

Around half a dozen members of this board were on the inaugural flight, along with Mr Chew...

[SQKevin]

9V-SME has had her final registration applied. She should fly home to Singapore on Thursday, July 28th and depart TLS at 3.00pm LT as SQ8895.