SQ B777 withdrawal thread

[wsssaero]

To add on, since none of the leases of the 777s are expiring in the next 2 FYs, any 777 withdrawal now will most likely be a sale/sub-lease to another carrier (I doubt anyone needs more capacity at the moment) or storage.

Wasn't there some news before that Biman would take two 777s from SQ? How's that deal going?

[zvezda]

Unless we are privy to the details of the deal for the optional 13 77Ws, it's going to be hard to determine the various reasons why SQ didn't exercise them earlier. For all we know, they desperately want those 77Ws but the contractual terms are preventing them from getting a good deal.

It's clear that SQ desperately want 777-300ERs now (as well as A330-300s). However, that intense desire only arose in H2 2008, when demand collapsed. Until then, SQ were blissfully confident that they could fill WhaleJets with high-yield passengers on all the routes still being flown by JumboJets (except FRA-JFK). By the time SQ figured out they needed more 777-300ERs more urgently than they needed more WhaleJets (i.e. that they had exercised the wrong options) it may have been too late to do anything in time for current market conditions. SQ probably hoped that the economy would recover before they could take delivery of additional 777-300ERs. Perhaps that's the case. The decision a few years ago to exercise the WhaleJet options rather than the 777-300ER options was based on optimism about the future of the economy, which turns out to have been unfounded. I pointed out that risk at the time and stated that I thought it would be wiser to exercise some or all of the 777-300ER options because of that risk. Had SQ exercised the 777-300ER back then, they would have started entering service when SQ needed them and the JumboJets would have all been retired by now.

[Nick C]

To add on, since none of the leases of the 777s are expiring in the next 2 FYs, any 777 withdrawal now will most likely be a sale/sub-lease to another carrier (I doubt anyone needs more capacity at the moment) or storage.

Unless we are privy to the details of the deal for the optional 13 77Ws, it's going to be hard to determine the various reasons why SQ didn't exercise them earlier. For all we know, they desperately want those 77Ws but the contractual terms are preventing them from getting a good deal.

[zvezda]

From what I understand, none of the leased 773s will be leaving in the next 2 FYs; so the possibility of it going back to the lessor is small (Early terminations of leases do have slight penalties am I right?). I have a strong feeling that it's parked somewhere in SIN stripped of an interior while they figure out what to do with it.

That would not be evidence of great fleet planning.

In my opinion, the good fleet planning moves in the last decade were:
- the initial WhaleJet order (not the second tranche),
- the 777-300ER order,
- taking A330-300s as compensation for the WhaleJet delays, and
- the A350-900 order.

On the other hand:
- the second WhaleJet tranche was excessively risky (and I wrote so at the time),
- SQ should rather have exercised the 777-300ER options instead (and history shows I got that one right),
- the 787-9 order was placed about three years late,
- should have waited for the 777-200LR rather than ordered the A340-500, and
- the A340-500s were fitted with far, far too many XY seats.

[Nick C]

It appears that 9V-SYD is the first 777 to have been retired by SQ. Any news on her whereabouts?

From what I understand, none of the leased 773s will be leaving in the next 2 FYs; so the possibility of it going back to the lessor is small (Early terminations of leases do have slight penalties am I right?). I have a strong feeling that it's parked somewhere in SIN stripped of an interior while they figure out what to do with it.

[zvezda]

It appears that 9V-SYD is the first 777 to have been retired by SQ. Any news on her whereabouts?

[wsssaero]

So where is 9V-SYD? Still in SIN, sold, or stored?

[SQKevin]

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untit...-ER/1549739/M/

This photo is dated 13 May. It appears that, according to a few SQ Talkers' sightings, she has since been reintroduced into active service. Does any one have the latest photos of 9V-SQB in full SQ colours?

[SQTalker]

On June 17, I saw 9V-SQB in a parking stand with full SQ colors!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untit...-ER/1549739/M/

[SQKevin]

The 777s for which there have been no ACARS reports in the last 30 days are: 9V-SYA, 9V-SYD, 9V-SQB, and 9V-SVC.

Does anyone have any definitive information on the status of any of these?

9V-SYA has been flying regularly since 13 June, according to ACARS database. Last recorded flight was 2 July as SQ863 (HKG-SIN). There was, however, no flight recorded between 14 May and 13 June. Anyone knows the reason for its 1 month absence?

[Singapore Airlines lover]

On June 17, I saw 9V-SQB in a parking stand with full SQ colors!

[Nick C]

July edition of Silverkris shows 31 772 and 15 77E in fleet further confirming that SQB is still around.

Then again it was 46 in June. So it looks like they took SQB out of service but decided to reintroduce it back into the fleet.

[zvezda]

My guess is that 9V-SYD started her cabin refit in February, as per the previous announcement in the employee magazine and some sort of a major snag was found in one of the products that required redesign. If so, 9V-SYD would have been fully stripped and then all work stopped mid-way through installation of the new cabin. Since this is speculation, I have no idea which product (seats, lavs, galleys, etc.) might be the problem and no way to guess how long it might take to manufacture the replacement.

[SQ238]

Thanks zvezda for the update.
I find it a little odd that official information on the 777 cabin refit is so not happening.

Amazing really, I thought the re-fits were suppose to start in February but not a word as yet.

SQ238.

[SQJunkie]

As of today, the SQ 777s without ACARS reports in the last 30 days are 9V-SYD, 9V-SQB, 9V-SRF, and 9V-SVC. 9V-SQB has been otherwise reported to be in operation. 9V-SRF and 9V-SVC are probably just coincidental and may show up in an ACARS report sometime soon.

9V-SYD hasn't shown up in several months and is probably either undergoing cabin refit (with a delay mid-way through) or is the one 777-300 that will not be refitted and has already been delivered to her new owners. I suspect the former.

Thanks zvezda for the update.
I find it a little odd that official information on the 777 cabin refit is so not happening.