Singapore Airlines to order more A380s and A350 XWBs

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced that it will order 25 more widebody aircraft from Airbus, comprising five double deck A380s and 20 A350-900s. The aircraft will be operated on the carrier’s long range and regional services, offering maximum comfort and efficiency for high density and medium capacity routes.

The latest A380 order will be the third to be placed by the airline, bringing the total number of A380s ordered by SIA to 24. The airline, which was the launch operator for the A380, now has 19 aircraft in service, flying to 10 destinations in Europe, the US and the Asia-Pacific region from its Singapore base. In the mid-size category, the new A350 XWB order will see the airline double its backlog for the all-new aircraft to 40. The A350-900s will be used by the airline on both medium and long haul routes.

“This major order will provide us with additional growth opportunities and is consistent with our longstanding policy of maintaining a young and modern fleet. It demonstrates our commitment to the Singapore hub, and our confidence in the strength of the market for premium full-service travel,” said Goh Choon Phong, CEO, Singapore Airlines. “The aircraft will enable us to further enhance our network, providing more travel options to our customers. They will also feature the next generation of in-flight cabin products to keep us at the forefront of airline product innovation.”

“This announcement from one of the world’s most prestigious carriers underscores the unrivalled comfort and efficiency offered by Airbus widebody aircraft,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. “As Singapore Airlines has shown, the A380 has proven itself to be a game changer at the top end of the market. We are now set to bring new levels of efficiency to the mid-size segment with the arrival of the A350 XWB. We are extremely proud to count Singapore Airlines as a leading airline partner on both of these innovative aircraft programmes.”

Since first entering service with Singapore Airlines in 2007, the A380 has joined the fleets of nine world class carriers. Typically seating 525 passengers in three classes, the aircraft is capable of flying 8,500 nautical miles or 15,700 kilometres non-stop, carrying more people at lower cost and with less impact on the environment. The spacious, quiet cabin and smooth ride have made the A380 a firm favourite with passengers, resulting in higher load factors wherever it flies. To date, Airbus has recorded 257 firm orders for the A380 from 20 customers.

 The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) is an all-new mid-size long range product line comprising three versions and seating between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts. The new Family will bring a step change in efficiency compared with existing aircraft in this size category, using 25 per cent less fuel and providing an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions. Scheduled for entry-into-service in 2014, the A350 XWB has already won 558 firm orders from 34 customers worldwide.

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Surprise surprise!! It was just few days ago I was wondering why isn't SIA making fresh A380 orders and now they spring up with a big news. With the A350 XWB going to SIA, the 20 B787 previously ordered will be passed down to Scoot, who is currently flying four B772ER.

The big news in my opinion isn't about SIA here; it's about Scoot. Being a low cost carrier, using the B787 is really one of a kind, the other LCC going to using it is Jetstar. This shows that SIA really has big plans for Scoot and is willing to invest big money into it. God knows how successful Scoot might become.