SQ cuts capacity 11%

[Verbal]

A WhaleJet can fly SFO-SIN empty, but not with an economically viable payload.

Superjumbo has a range of 8200nm
Boeing 773ER has a range of 7930nm

So how is it possible for the Boeing product to:"A 777-300ER would be severely payload restricted flying SFO-SIN nonstop." and the Superjumbo needs to go empty when it beats the Boeing range by 270nm.

[Verbal]

Here is a photo of the 11th A380 Superjumbo for SQ making it's way to FAL:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scalino/3400888673/

The predictions/wishes of those who want SQ to defer the 11th Superjumbo seem to be misplaced.

[taipeiflyer]

Superjumbo has a range of 8200nm
Boeing 773ER has a range of 7930nm

So how is it possible for the Boeing product to:"A 777-300ER would be severely payload restricted flying SFO-SIN nonstop." and the Superjumbo needs to go empty when it beats the Boeing range by 270nm.

well, first off.... the 77W holds a 100+ fewer passengers... so yea, the a380 could make the flight, but why would SQ want a flight where they have to mark off 100+ seats from being filled? fully loaded, and the a380 would definitely be pushing the envelope safety wise

[zvezda]

well, first off.... the 77W holds a 100+ fewer passengers... so yea, the a380 could make the flight, but why would SQ want a flight where they have to mark off 100+ seats from being filled? fully loaded, and the a380 would definitely be pushing the envelope safety wise

There would be more than 100+ empty seats. SFO is not well-configured as a departure airport for ULH operations because San Bruno Mountain sits right at the end of the 28s. A heavily-laden WhaleJet cannot safely climb over San Bruno Mountain, so it has to immediately make a turn in the wrong direction. This is the same reason why more fuel is required to fly identical 747s SFO-SYD than LAX-SYD. If SFO were to get the mooted new (longer) runway 4300 feet north of 28R, then SFO-SIN nonstop might be economically feasible in a 777-300ER or, if demand were much, much higher than it is today, even in a WhaleJet.

[Verbal]

well, first off.... the 77W holds a 100+ fewer passengers... so yea, the a380 could make the flight, but why would SQ want a flight where they have to mark off 100+ seats from being filled? fully loaded, and the a380 would definitely be pushing the envelope safety wise

Uh no. Fully loaded the Superjumbo beats the 77W by 270nm.

[Verbal]

A heavily-laden WhaleJet cannot safely climb over San Bruno Mountain, so it has to immediately make a turn in the wrong direction.

Non sequitur.

then SFO-SIN nonstop might be economically feasible in a 777-300ER or,

77W has a range that is 270nm LESS than the Superjumbo. If anything flying the 77W is a dead end on this route.

[Nick C]

Pilots asked to take leave
SINGAPORE Airlines, which is parking planes and slashing capacity amid a business downturn, has asked pilots to take up to four days' no-pay leave every month.

The president of the Air Line Pilots Association-Singapore, Captain P. James, said that captains are being asked to take three days off, and first officers four days.

No agreement has been reached, he said.

SIA spokesman Stephen Forshaw said only that discussions were ongoing.

The proposal made to the pilots is the latest in a slew of measures taken by the carrier to cope with the crisis.

More than 1,400 employees have already volunteered to take no-pay leave.

The majority of those who took up the company's offer were cabin crew, and for periods of less than a month.

Senior management are already on a shorter work month scheme, which will also be extended to all managers from May 1.

They must take a day off a month, either from their annual leave or as no-pay leave.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_359336.html

[N_Architect]

"...Senior management are already on a shorter work month scheme, which will also be extended to all managers from May 1..."

pretty radical measures taken in S'pore, I guess, didn't expect to see that

[zvezda]

Non sequitur.

Your ignorance of field operations does not make a non sequitur.

77W has a range that is 270nm LESS than the Superjumbo.

Depends on payload.

If anything flying the 77W is a dead end on this route.

Now that's a real non sequitur as no one -- SQ or any other airline -- operates SFO-SIN nonstop with a 777-300ER or any other equipment.

[N_Architect]

British Airways Warns Outlook Is Getting Worse

From today's WSJ.com, on the continuing recession and global cutbacks:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123896821504090735.html

LONDON -- British Airways PLC warned Friday that ongoing layoffs would mean a bigger-than-expected operating loss for the fiscal year just ended, while continued pressure on traffic and yields will push revenue lower than foreseen.

The British flag carrier now predicts an operating loss for the year ended March 31 of £150 million ($222 million), in line with its previous outlook, but that doesn't include severance costs of about £75 million.

British Airways has been offering voluntary layoffs in response to the downturn hitting the global airline industry. Last October, some 450 of the 1,350 managers entitled to apply for voluntary departure took up the offer, and BA said Friday that a further 300 would leave under the program at the end of May.

At the same time, the continued pressure on passenger traffic and yields, particularly in U.S. traffic, will eat £20 million to £25 million out of revenue, said the carrier.

BA has now seen 13 straight months of declining traffic. The airline carried 2.6 million passengers last month, down 8.2% from a year earlier. Premium traffic dropped 13%, while non-premium traffic was down 6% from March 2008, BA said. Cargo traffic fell 10%.

Separately, Ryanair Holdings PLC, Europe's biggest budget airline, said it carried 4.7 million passengers in March, up 5% from a year earlier.