Possible cancellations in next few months for low loads

[MAN Flyer]

Did today SIN-PVG (773).

Load was 5 (five) people in J and don't think anyone was in F.

I was told that some of the days that were cancelled only had 20-30 advanced pax bookings Y and it's prior to start of Uni.

This is not good at all, and you can see why so many flights are getting canned.

I know this recession was going to hit everyone regardless, and no airline was or is going to escape feeling it, some pretty badly. But I just can't help wondering how much SQ is feeling it a little more than they should, due to the previously loyal pax they managed to alienate in the last couple of years.

It was said at the time of the PPS changes that this could come back to haunt them, and that while everything at the time is all fine and dandy, all it would take was something out of the blue, like 911, SARS, Bird Flu or the like, and the planes wouldn't be bursting at the seams again and they may be wishing they still had those pax.. Nobody could have forseen the speed and depth of this recession, which came out of the blue.

I don't keep specific records of my travel for fear of depressing myself, but I did a very quick back-of-a-fag-packet calculation of last years travels last week. I seem to have done 20-25% more flights in 2008 than 2007, but my paid travel on SQ was down by about 70-80%. Despite this, I still managed to requalify for TPP under the PPSV system.

It just makes you wonder how many people they could have still had flying with them if they hadn't been as nasty and as arrogant as they have in the last few years. I know I am far from alone in those who cut back significantly on SQ flights (and I am talking also about people I know who do not frequent these sort of message boards), and I find that quite sad, especially for all the wonderful crews who remain a joy to fly with.

As the saying goes ; remember people on your way up, as you never know when you may need them again on the way back down.

[kras]

These cancellations are due to the declining global passenger traffic.

I was told that some of the days that were cancelled only had 20-30 advanced pax bookings Y and it's prior to start of Uni.

Indeed it is... failed to mention that in my post, sorry

Specifically, I was commenting more on the fact that they're temporarily cancelling this flight only after the school hols / CNY / uni hols rush have taken place.

Anyway, I reckon 3 flights is comfortable for SYD. It was great to have 4 - but would've preferred that last flight to be a overnight one (all because SYD airport has something called a "curfew" in place... darn it!)

[kras]

It just makes you wonder how many people they could have still had flying with them if they hadn't been as nasty and as arrogant as they have in the last few years. I know I am far from alone in those who cut back significantly on SQ flights (and I am talking also about people I know who do not frequent these sort of message boards), and I find that quite sad, especially for all the wonderful crews who remain a joy to fly with.

As the saying goes ; remember people on your way up, as you never know when you may need them again on the way back down.

Couldn't agree with you more...

To put it bluntly, I am saddened, even rather disgusted, at how SQ has somewhat destroyed their PPS programme by screwing around with the dynamics that had once made it a great success. Using PPSV as a measurement was certainly not the brightest idea coming from the SQ Loyalty Marketing guys, that's for sure...

Just as I had put it in another post, the PPS blunder really did it for me in terms to giving up PPS altogether, and now choosing to keep my EG instead.

Service level quality over the past few years haven't been all that great either, and it's a problem over the entire shop (flight attendents, call centre staff, ground staff, you name it!) To be fair, the word "inconsistent" would probably best describe this particular situation... not all bad, but some experiences being borderline "unacceptable".

And this new preferred seating pricing scheme for emex row seats... I was shocked to learn they actually pulled this one out of their "bright ideas" hat. Simply unbelievable!

[MAN Flyer]

To be fair I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever with the crews and the inflight service. They are still the best around imho. I think they know better than to mess around with that side of things.

It's what the have done 'off board' that caused the most annoyance, which started with the PPS programme changes and has continued with the way they are killing KF off by not allowing redemptions on the new products (which are good, but not that good..) and up to the stunningly ridculous entry policy for TPR, which again is good, but not that good.

As I said, it's a shame as it leaves a bit of a sour taste after all the great work the crews do.

I blame Temasek.

[LionCity]

Did today SIN-PVG (773).

Load was 5 (five) people in J and don't think anyone was in F. No idea about Y. Crew served lunch a-la-carte. Great flight and service.

N_Architect, we must be twins! I was on the flight SIN - PVG, it was zero in F & 5 in J. Almost one to one service. I am sure some of the crew were concerned with the load factor...can't have it everyday.

[Bitterroot]

To be fair I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever with the crews and the inflight service. They are still the best around imho. I think they know better than to mess around with that side of things.

It's what the have done 'off board' that caused the most annoyance, which started with the PPS programme changes and has continued with the way they are killing KF off by not allowing redemptions on the new products (which are good, but not that good..) and up to the stunningly ridculous entry policy for TPR, which again is good, but not that good.

As I said, it's a shame as it leaves a bit of a sour taste after all the great work the crews do.

I blame Temasek.

Agree, and I'd add that some policies make no sense whatever in this market....foremost being the refusal to offer even minimal "A" inventory on A380s. That's marginal revenue that goes straight to the bottom line: *A tickets, or SQ FEZSQ fares: it's all discretionary travel, it's still there even in a depression, and all it needs is a little incentive. A few sales in discounted first make up for quite a few less cheap Y tickets.......

[Russ]

9V-SGx not flying much these days. Many cancellations. And some left with as few as 5 passengers I was told. Possibly there was a better return load. Switching from 64C/117PE to 100C coudl not have been worse timed than this, but they made the decision before this present situation.

Having said this, the 77W Houston flights are pretty full I was told

[LionCity]

9V-SGx not flying much these days. Many cancellations. And some left with as few as 5 passengers I was told. Possibly there was a better return load. Switching from 64C/117PE to 100C coudl not have been worse timed than this, but they made the decision before this present situation.

Having said this, the 77W Houston flights are pretty full I was told

Oil money I am sure helped on the Houston flights. But been in the oil industry, we starting to see more oil rigs lying idle waiting for the next job speaks volume. It was 98% utilisation not more than a couple of months ago.

Yeah, it wasn't the brightest of idea to check to 100C considering the US economy was already going badly downstream before the introduction. They did the same thing messing up by changing the PPS Sector to PPSV and reducing related benefits. Perhaps they expected good times to roll on forever.

[flyguy]

did question earlier why SQ didnt reduce its direct non-stop A345 flights to US and now SQ will cut its frequencies :
------------------

single-class flights
By KARAMJIT KAUR


SINGAPORE: National carrier Singapore Airlines’ non-stop, business-class-only flights to the United States have become the latest casualties of a global downturn in travel.

A drop in passengers has prompted the carrier to axe four of the 14 such services it offers to Los Angeles and New York weekly.

From Feb 17 to March 25, there will be no flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. What happens after will be subject to review, the airline told The Straits Times.

According to some travellers, the 100-seat Airbus 340-500s used on the routes were flying with over 70% of their seats empty on some days.

Details of the Singapore-US flight cuts come more than a week after it was revealed that SIA is cutting 214 other flights, mainly regional services, until the end of March. This follows a marked downturn in global travel sparked by the financial crisis.

According to the latest data compiled by the International Air Transport Association, demand for first- and business-class seats fell 12% last November, compared with the same month in 2007. Overall demand fell 5% during the same time. --

[allmotor_2000]

did question earlier why SQ didnt reduce its direct non-stop A345 flights to US and now SQ will cut its frequencies :
------------------

single-class flights
By KARAMJIT KAUR


SINGAPORE: National carrier Singapore Airlines’ non-stop, business-class-only flights to the United States have become the latest casualties of a global downturn in travel.

A drop in passengers has prompted the carrier to axe four of the 14 such services it offers to Los Angeles and New York weekly.

From Feb 17 to March 25, there will be no flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. What happens after will be subject to review, the airline told The Straits Times.

According to some travellers, the 100-seat Airbus 340-500s used on the routes were flying with over 70% of their seats empty on some days.

Details of the Singapore-US flight cuts come more than a week after it was revealed that SIA is cutting 214 other flights, mainly regional services, until the end of March. This follows a marked downturn in global travel sparked by the financial crisis.

According to the latest data compiled by the International Air Transport Association, demand for first- and business-class seats fell 12% last November, compared with the same month in 2007. Overall demand fell 5% during the same time. --

They need to drop the price to $3500 RT and it will start filling up! The plane is sitting idle when its not flying this route

[Kiwi]

This is not good at all, and you can see why so many flights are getting canned.

I know this recession was going to hit everyone regardless, and no airline was or is going to escape feeling it, some pretty badly. But I just can't help wondering how much SQ is feeling it a little more than they should, due to the previously loyal pax they managed to alienate in the last couple of years.

It was said at the time of the PPS changes that this could come back to haunt them, and that while everything at the time is all fine and dandy, all it would take was something out of the blue, like 911, SARS, Bird Flu or the like, and the planes wouldn't be bursting at the seams again and they may be wishing they still had those pax.. Nobody could have forseen the speed and depth of this recession, which came out of the blue.

I don't keep specific records of my travel for fear of depressing myself, but I did a very quick back-of-a-fag-packet calculation of last years travels last week. I seem to have done 20-25% more flights in 2008 than 2007, but my paid travel on SQ was down by about 70-80%. Despite this, I still managed to requalify for TPP under the PPSV system.

It just makes you wonder how many people they could have still had flying with them if they hadn't been as nasty and as arrogant as they have in the last few years. I know I am far from alone in those who cut back significantly on SQ flights (and I am talking also about people I know who do not frequent these sort of message boards), and I find that quite sad, especially for all the wonderful crews who remain a joy to fly with.

As the saying goes ; remember people on your way up, as you never know when you may need them again on the way back down.

Well said. At the time PPS changes were announced I said it would only be a matter of a couple of years before the next major disruption to loads and yields. It is no pleasure in being right. It is never good to alienate good customers needlessly.

My own travel on SQ has dropped by more than 90% (with increases on other airlines as I'm still flying lots). None of my > 100 ticketed future flights are on SQ. A couple of years ago more than half my ticketed future flights were on SQ.

Even amongst non-SQT/FT people I know who fly a lot it is also the case that SQ gets very little or none of their flying now.

[N_Architect]

Something more on the issue of light loads, as a large number of my colleagues were flying from DXB to PVG last Fri/Sat.

Load on the EK flight was 'pretty average' in Y & J as I was told, whereas load on the QR flight to PVG (from DOH) was three (3) pax in the J cabin (A330-200/300)... My colleague, a Qatari citizen, was told by the FAs that this particular flight used to usually be quite full, and they were quite surprised to fly with so few pax.

[Russ]

Yup, SQ are paying dearly for messing up their PPS progamme. Whilst other carriers welcome more and more loyal customers, SQ decided to devalue this loyalty. I used to clock up 80 sectors a year because of the LPP possibility. But now, I split my flights between QF and SQ, but if I lose my TPP status, or if they devalue it even more, I will switch fully to One World whenever I can... basically I now fly 50/50 SQ/QF instead of 80/20.

QF keep adding more and more lounges to keep up with their growing base of loyal customers. SQ instead gives some lame excuse about lounges being too full etc - well, then add lounges....

I still maintain my TPP but plan it so that i just qualify and then turn my attention to my QF Gold - I am already quite near Lifetime Silver, and will be Lifetime Gold in a few years.

Now, given the weak premium loads, lets see what they will do to get us back.

[SQ LPP]

The previous posts may have this information here. But can not resist to post this one.




28 January 2009


SINGAPORE AIRLINES MAKES FURTHER CHANGES TO ROUTE NETWORK

Singapore Airlines is making further adjustments to its route network, to better match capacity with demand.

In the current operating environment, Singapore Airlines remains committed to providing customers the highest standard of service, while ensuring capacity is allocated carefully to match demand across the global network. Where demand falls, capacity adjustments will be made, and this process will continue going forward.

The changes, listed below, will take place progressively and will apply for the rest of the Northern Winter schedule (ie till end-March 2009).

On India routes, Hyderabad-Singapore services (SQ439 and SQ438) will be reduced from four to three times weekly, with the suspension of the Saturday service from 21 February. There are no changes to flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

SQ405 and SQ406 will be reduced from a six times weekly service, to five times weekly service, between New Delhi and Singapore from 10 March to 24 March 2009, as flights on Tuesdays during that period will be suspended.

Services SQ421 and SQ422 operating between Mumbai and Singapore, will be progressively reduced from five to four times weekly services, starting 27 February 2009. Flights on Fridays will be suspended.

In Southeast Asia, services between Singapore and Bangkok (SQ972 and SQ975) will be suspended from 2 February until the end of the Northern Winter Schedule. Despite this reduction, Singapore Airlines will continue to operate 25 flights weekly to and from the Thai capital.

Frequency on the all-Business Class Singapore-Los Angeles and Singapore Newark routes will reduce by two flights to five weekly flights on each route. The Tuesday and Wednesday services, where demand is lowest, will be suspended.

In Europe, SQ308 and SQ319 operating between Singapore and London Heathrow airport will be suspended on Mondays and Thursdays between 9 and 23 March 2009. Frequency on the Singapore-London route will reduce from 21 to 19 flights per week.

Services operating between Singapore and Zurich (SQ342 and SQ341) will be reduced from daily to five times weekly, from 9 March 2009. Singapore Airlines continues to operate 12 times weekly to Zurich.

In the Middle East, Singapore Airlines will commence four times weekly services to Kuwait, via Abu Dhabi, from 15 March 2009. With the introduction of SQ458 and SQ457 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, Singapore Airlines will fly between Singapore and Abu Dhabi daily, up from the existing three times weekly service.

From 12 March 2009, Singapore Airlines will increase flights between Singapore and Cairo from three times a week to four. The four flights (SQ 492 and SQ493) will operate via Dubai. Frequency between Singapore and Dubai will be 16 per week.

Changes to capacity throughout the network will continue going forward, in an effort to better match capacity with demand, in view of the economic downturn. Where changes are made, customers will be informed at the earliest opportunity, and rebooked on alternative flights.

[taipeiflyer]

as obama's spiritual advisor rev. jeremiah wright proclaimed, "the chickens are coming home to roost!" let's hope SQ gets their heads out of their rear-ends.