A380 - Product launch and delivery

[Nick C]

SQ221 (9V-SKD) diverted to MEL this morning as SYD shut down due to fog.

[kelvgoh]

ah ok. i'm seeing it more in the way of having to leave central london at about 2plus pm, and arrive singapore the next day at about 3pm - to my mind it did seem like an entire day wasted on both ends.

as compared to 317 which takes one london day away, but gets you start your singapore day at 8am.

the point about hotel check ins is a good one though.

[jjpb3]

for 319m leaving at 6pm london time, and arriving at 3pm singapore time doesn't make much sense for many travellers, business or leisure.

For this leisure traveller, it certainly does make sense . Often I end in Singapore or want a stopover on the way to the destination (for example, to sample what The Great Singapore Sale has to offer). Leaving at 6 pm means the mealtimes are at my accustomed hours, and arriving in Singapore in mid-afternoon means my hotel will be ready for check in; I can use the daylight to begin adjusting my bodyclock; and I get a chance to have a relaxing wind down before dinner.

I'm happy for 319 to remain available for redemptions for a bit longer.

[zvezda]

So when are the next two (I presume SKE and SKF) expected to be put in service?

9V-SKE and 9V-SKF are scheduled for delivery in June and July respectively. Then 9V-SKG and 9V-SKH both in early Q1 2009.

[kelvgoh]

I am hoping that at least one LHR flight stays non-A380 for as long as possible. Two would be even better.

same here. I like the upper deck spacebeds anyway

i think 308/319 will stay a 744 until the second tranche of 380 deliveries. its in/out timings aren't great in terms of asia-pac connections.

for 319m leaving at 6pm london time, and arriving at 3pm singapore time doesn't make much sense for many travellers, business or leisure.

[MAN Flyer]

I am secretly hoping that as soon as LHR for example goes all-A380 (whenever that may be), they will lift the embargo on FFP redemption for those flights.

I hope I'm wrong but I wouldn't count on the lifting of the embargo any time soon.

I am hoping that at least one LHR flight stays non-A380 for as long as possible. Two would be even better.

I can understand the Suites, but the J redemption embargo is bloody annoying. It would even be 'sort of' understandable if they just allowed their own KF members awards but not partners, but they won't even do that.

[stargold]

So when are the next two (I presume SKE and SKF) expected to be put in service?

Actually, I'm quite excited that SQ seems to be getting more and more of the A380... I am secretly hoping that as soon as LHR for example goes all-A380 (whenever that may be), they will lift the embargo on FFP redemption for those flights.

[zvezda]

What a pity. Is the second wave on and after the 7th one? (SKA, SKB, SKC, SKD, SKE, SKF) so SKG?

There should not be any further delays to 9V-SKG and 9V-SKH. They are already built and in preparation for flight testing. I'm not sure what you mean by second wave, but 9V-SKI will be the first SQ WhaleJet to be certified under the production certificate.

[Singapore_Air]

What a pity. Is the second wave on and after the 7th one? (SKA, SKB, SKC, SKD, SKE, SKF) so SKG?

[zvezda]

But it would affect SIA's second wave of deliveries wouldn't it?

If the rumors are true, then yes, it would delay deliveries of SQ's second tranche by roughly about 3 to 6 months.

[Singapore_Air]

But it would affect SIA's second wave of deliveries wouldn't it?

[zvezda]

More rumors from Aviation Week

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...d&channel=comm

Note that the WhaleJet at risk of slipping from 2008 to 2009 would be for EK or QF, not SQ.

Wirthschaftswoche means Business Week.

[kelvgoh]

Sorry if this is being discussed in another thread - but what is the next proposed destination/flight for the SKE (i.e. after the NRT flight)? When is it being delivered? Would it be one of the LHR flights, or one of the USA flights?

I think PEK and HKG are the best bets so far.

The A380 service from SYD reverts from SQ 220 to SQ 222, so SQ is probably switching to the true kangaroo route from 5th May. i.e. the aircraft that operates SQ 222 will operate either NRT or LHR as its next departure. so no more fixed allocations to specific routes (i.e. SKA/B to LHR and SKC to SYD. indeed SKC has been making regular appearances in LHR lately. and for that matter, SKD operated SQ317 out of LHR today- 3 may)

This might also mean that SQ could use SKE as an alternate aircraft and wait for SKF to arrive before announcing SIN-HKG-SFO, which has always been their intended first destination in the US.

Allocating an A380 to serve SQ 318 / SQ 321 to complete the kangaroo route for the peak summer holiday season (for europe) is theoretically possible, but as most might suggest, highly unlikely.

so many possibilities. ha.

[stargold]

Sorry if this is being discussed in another thread - but what is the next proposed destination/flight for the SKE (i.e. after the NRT flight)? When is it being delivered? Would it be one of the LHR flights, or one of the USA flights?

[Nick C]

No, SQ's first tranche is 9V-SKA through 9V-SKJ (ten WhaleJets ordered March 2001) and their second tranche is 9V-SKK through 9V-SKS (nine WhaleJets ordered December 2006).

Opps. I meant wave 2. Been researching on the Eurofighter the whole week for one of my papers.