Airbus confirms A380 delays for 2008 & 2009

[Lie_flat_seatlover]

Well, I guess it's official now, although nothing new and expected w/ all the leaks lately on the subject matter.

So can we assume SQ won't be affect till after 9V-SKH?

Here's the link

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/fl...rms-fresh.html

[SQflyergirl]

Says 12 this year , instead of 13. Who was the 13th meant to go to?

[Lie_flat_seatlover]

EK or QF, but if memory serves..QF

[zvezda]

It looks like no impact on 9V-SKE and 9V-SKF with little or no impact on 9V-SKG and 9V-SGH. The production ramp up will not be as rapid as envisioned after the fourth delay.

I expect Airbus will eventually ramp up to three per month rather than four per month. WhaleJet sales levels do not justify a ramp up to four per month. The only year in which Airbus ever sold more than 36 was 2001. The only other year in which they ever had net sales of more than 24 was 2003, so even three per month is optimistic.

[KeithMEL]

EK or QF, but if memory serves..QF

This article seems to suggest that QF will still get all 3 planes this year:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-23349,00.html

[Lie_flat_seatlover]

This article seems to suggest that QF will still get all 3 planes this year:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-23349,00.html

I believe they were to get 4 this year originally.

[zvezda]

It turns out that 9V-SKE and 9V-SKF will be delivered a month later than previously announced. So, it looks like 9V-SKE will have just a few weeks in service before PEK service starts, with the result that earlier WhaleJets can be taken out of service, one at a time, for a few days of MX. 9V-SKF will join the fleet just about the time that WhaleJet service to PEK service ends, so there will be two aircraft to start the next route.

[MegatopLover]

It turns out that 9V-SKE and 9V-SKF will be delivered a month later than previously announced. So, it looks like 9V-SKE will have just a few weeks in service before PEK service starts, with the result that earlier WhaleJets can be taken out of service, one at a time, for a few days of MX. 9V-SKF will join the fleet just about the time that WhaleJet service to PEK service ends, so there will be two aircraft to start the next route.

So it appears that the next upguage could occur as early as August. Wonder how long we'll have to speculate about whether it goes on an additional Heathrow frequency or goes on SQ 1/2 SIN-HKG-SFO.

Operationally, which makes more sense for two new aircraft joining the fleet?

Depending on the time of year, SQ 002 departs SIN around 5:00 pm and the same aircraft will arrive back in SIN on completion of SQ 001 around 12:00 noon two days later. That seems like it's pretty well-timed for two aircraft to fly in rotation continuously (leaving aside scheduled mtx).

What is the rotation timing for LHR? Would rotating another one through LHR better complement the existing rotations to LHR, SYD, NRT?

[MegatopLover]

FWIW, the Chairman of EADS is on BBC right now explaining the conversion of A380 production from a bespoke system to a more routine industrial system. He also said that they're sourcing more components from dollar or dollar-pegged economies or asking suppliers to accept pricing in dollars, all in an effort to allign more of their costs with the currency in which their product is sold.

[zvezda]

So it appears that the next upguage could occur as early as August. Wonder how long we'll have to speculate about whether it goes on an additional Heathrow frequency or goes on SQ 1/2 SIN-HKG-SFO.

Operationally, which makes more sense for two new aircraft joining the fleet?

Depending on the time of year, SQ 002 departs SIN around 5:00 pm and the same aircraft will arrive back in SIN on completion of SQ 001 around 12:00 noon two days later. That seems like it's pretty well-timed for two aircraft to fly in rotation continuously (leaving aside scheduled mtx).

What is the rotation timing for LHR? Would rotating another one through LHR better complement the existing rotations to LHR, SYD, NRT?

Yes, I expect the next WhaleJet service to start in August within a day or so of the end of PEK service.

Here is what we have now (departure from SIN to arrival back in SIN):

NRT: 23:40 17:35+1
SYD: 20:35 21:40+1
LHR: 23:30 07:45+2

So, the current four day rotation is SIN-NRT-SIN-SYD-SIN-LHR-SIN with 16 hours for MX between rotations.

SQ318/SQ321 could be added with just one more WhaleJet at the expense of giving up the time slot for MX at SIN and having only the 9.5 hour period at SYD. That's not sustainable for a long time (would involve occasional substitutions) but it doesn't matter because 9V-SKF should arrive within about six weeks of 9V-SKE.

SQ1/SQ2 on the other hand would definitely require the sixth aircraft.

[Singapore_Air]

The sixth which is not coming until September now.

[kelvgoh]

SQ318/SQ321 could be added with just one more WhaleJet at the expense of giving up the time slot for MX at SIN and having only the 9.5 hour period at SYD. That's not sustainable for a long time (would involve occasional substitutions) but it doesn't matter because 9V-SKF should arrive within about six weeks of 9V-SKE.

SQ1/SQ2 on the other hand would definitely require the sixth aircraft.

How about doing this rotation instead

Day 1

SQ0322/317 2320 0745+2 (6 hour layover in LHR)

Day 3

SQ0318/321 1245 1830+1 (5hrs LO in SIN, 3hrs LO in LHR)

Day 4

SQ0221/222 2050 2140+1 (2.5hrs LO in SIN, 9hrs LO in SYD)

Day 5

SQ0638/637 2340 1735+1 (2hrs LO in SIN, 4hrs LO in NRT)

--------------------------------------------

it works out to be about 31hrs idle time out of approximately 100 operational hours. that's a pretty good ratio isn't it?

i've always believed that SQ 1/2 would be the most probable next upgauge, but given the new delivery gap between SKE and SKF, perhaps it is possible 318/321 will be temporarily upgauged to complete the kangaroo route for the summer peak travel season?

[zvezda]

kelvgoh, that's exactly the rotation I had in mind to operate 2xLHR, NRT, SYD with five aircraft. The utilization is a little on the high side, but should be sustainable for a month or two. The biggest challenge is that the longest MX periods are all away from home.