Flight International online news 11:30: SIA Cargo is assessing freighter versions of the Airbus A380, Boeing 777 and proposed 747 Advanced to potentially meet future capacity expansion needs. The revelation comes as the Singapore Airlines (SIA) subsidiary firms up fleet expansion plans through to 2009, signing deals last week to have three 747-400 passenger aircraft converted into freighters.
The carrier says its commitments to the converted aircraft will enable it to meet capacity expansion needs through 2009, and is now looking at fleet-expansion requirements beyond that. “We are looking at the A380 freighter, 777-200LR freighter and 747 Advanced freighter, as well as further passenger-to-freighter 747-400 conversions,” it says.
All the freighter types under evaluation already feature in the SIA carrier fleets. SIA Cargo and its sister airline division are major operators of the 747-400 – the cargo arm has 15 new-build 747-400Fs in service and a 16th on lease to Air China.
A 17th and final example from an earlier order with Boeing is due for delivery early in 2006. The airline division has a large 777 fleet and will be launch operator for the passenger version of the A380 late next year.
SIA Cargo has committed to three 747-400 passenger-to-freighter conversions under the Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) programme.
It says the aircraft will be older examples from the SIA passenger fleet and conversion work will be performed by sister company SIA Engineering in Singapore.
SIA Engineering said earlier this year that it had committed to becoming a conversion centre under the 747-400BCF programme, which was previously known as the 747-400 Special Freighter programme. It is starting with conversions for Hong Kong’s Dragonair.
SIA Cargo is due to take delivery of its three modified aircraft between 2007 and 2009, lifting its fleet to 20 747-400 freighters.
NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
