NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
Operating costs of Airbus's giant compared with 747-400 attracts Singapore carrier
Singapore Airlines subsidiary SIA Cargo has opened studies into a possible order for Airbus A380-800 freighters. It is meanwhile considering adding five or six converted Boeing 747-400Fs from late in 2006.
SIA Cargo president Hwang Teng Aun says the carrier is in "a fact-finding phase with Airbus" on the A380-800F, which is being developed for first delivery in 2008.
"We are definitely considering it, because if what they say on paper can be confirmed, they are talking about a unit operating cost of about 20% below a 747-400 freighter. That is a very tangible difference in terms of operating economics for an aircraft," says Hwang.
"A 20% improvement in unit operating cost is a humungous improvement - I have not seen anything like that, with the exception of perhaps the [Boeing] 747-200 versus the [Boeing] 707."
SIA is to be the first operator of the A380-800 passenger variant early in 2006. It has 10 aircraft on firm order, plus 15 options, and Hwang says SIA has the right to convert any of them into freighter orders. While he does not say how many A380Fs may be required or when they may be introduced, "we are talking about something that is probably five or six years away".
SIA Cargo's fleet comprises 13 747-400Fs, although one is on lease to Air China, while four more are on firm order with Boeing.
Hwang says the airline needs to consider adding more aircraft beyond the delivery of its final new-build 747-400F in December 2005, and having passenger aircraft converted into freighters looks attractive.
Boeing and Israel Aircraft Industries' Bedek unit are both preparing 747-400 Special Freighter conversion programmes for redelivery to their first customers around the end of 2005.
"We really don't have capacity plans beyond 2005, so based on that consideration and assuming they are all converted aircraft, then I will need anything from five to six [converted 747-400s] over a period of four to five years," Hwang says.
Source: Flight International
