Singapore Airlines (SIA) is discussing the lease to Cathay Pacific of some of its Airbus A340-300s as it reconsiders disposal of the aircraft.
SIA operates 15 A340-300s, with two more on order. It has five ultra-long range A340-500s on order due for delivery from mid-2002. Sources close to the airline say there is division within SIA about whether to proceed with the option of selling all its A340-300s to Boeing by 2002, replacing them with Boeing 777s. The airline operates eighteen 777s, with 22 on order.
It is possible that SIA may choose to keep or lease out some of its A340-300s, say the sources, as it would be uneconomical to run only a fleet of five A340-500s. Solutions under consideration, include keeping about five -300s and leasing an unspecified number to Cathay.
SIA says Boeing remains committed to taking the A340-300s if SIA chooses to sell them. Boeing is thought to want to see the four- engined Airbus model eliminated at SIA, with the -500 order replaced by the 777-200LR.
It seems certain, however, that the two remaining A340-300s on order will never enter SIA's fleet and could be sold to Boeing. One source says these aircraft are standing as whitetails in Toulouse, with Airbus awaiting instructions.
Source: Flight International
