Italy Grants SQ Fifth Freedom Rights

[viraj735]

Following SQ's initial application for 5F rights out of MXP which was denied, long negotiations between the airline and the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport should result in SQ obtaining the said rights in the coming month!

Link in Italian: http://www.ilgiorno.it/varese/cronac...one_sara.shtml

[flying.monkeyz]

Hmmm... any speculation as to which station SQ will fly to out of MXP?

[9V-JKL]

Based on earlier rumours....JFK.

Next question. Where are the planes going to come from IF it were to happen? New 77Ws don't arrive till 2013 and more likely GRU will go daily first

[SQ228]

They could use the next available A380 for a second MEL flight and free one up that way

[Sethor]

So will MXP-BCN-BCN sectors be up for sale?

[SQMilan]

Yes, the flight would be Singapore-Milan Malpensa-New York JFK... replacing the existing Singapore-Frankfurt-New York

Is there a possibility to see the A380 at Malpensa Airport? And 77W on the morning flight to Frankfurt?

[viraj735]

Yes, the flight would be Singapore-Milan Malpensa-New York JFK... replacing the existing Singapore-Frankfurt-New York

Is there a possibility to see the A380 at Malpensa Airport? And 77W on the morning flight to Frankfurt?

I'd imagine SQ would be sticking with the FRA-JFK sector after the media hype the A380 introduction for SQ 26 caused. Is there a possibility that SQ could operate both FRA/MXP-JFK? Would there be a market for MXP-EWR sector in order to offer pax easier connections on UA?

[SQMilan]

I'd imagine SQ would be sticking with the FRA-JFK sector after the media hype the A380 introduction for SQ 26 caused. Is there a possibility that SQ could operate both FRA/MXP-JFK? Would there be a market for MXP-EWR sector in order to offer pax easier connections on UA?

I knew about the replacement... but let's see... However, I think that the route will be JFK.

[MAN Flyer]

Would there be a market for MXP-EWR sector in order to offer pax easier connections on UA?

What UA connections would they be expecting at EWR ?.

[SQMilan]

What UA connections would they be expecting at EWR ?.

A lot of connections, with UA's partner CO... (I think they haven't completed the merger yet)

[MAN Flyer]

A lot of connections, with UA's partner CO... (I think they haven't completed the merger yet)

That's CO, not UA.

[SQMilan]

That's CO, not UA.

Yes, but do you know something about CO and UA merger? The new airline is UNITED with CONTINENTAL LOGO... so I think that saying CO and UA it is the same...

[Nick C]

Based on earlier rumours....JFK.

Next question. Where are the planes going to come from IF it were to happen? New 77Ws don't arrive till 2013 and more likely GRU will go daily first

The current agreement only allows SQ 3x (can't recall?), nonetheless should SQ68/67 go daily probably 2.5 additional frames will be needed since the sectors are rather long. That being said, MXP-BCN will probably be dropped. Another 1.5 frames will be needed for MXP-Across The Pond.

So all in all, SQ needs 4 more 77Ws. The last 5 388s in the pipeline will probably free up existing 77Ws for this requirement.

[CarbonMan]

My personal wish that they fly to IAH via any other airport but DME.

[flying.monkeyz]

My personal wish that they fly to IAH via any other airport but DME.

Well... there's a reason for it... the route is monopolized by SQ!

Also there are a lot of oil company executives travelling between those cities so I believe the seats up front will tend to sell very well.