NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has secured deferrals on six Boeing widebodies as it continues to suffer from a drop in business. The carrier confirmed on 24 January that Boeing had agreed to deferrals on two firm-ordered and three optioned 777s and one firm-ordered 747-400F.
The two firm-ordered 777s were due for delivery in August and September this year but will now be delivered in November and August 2003. The 747-400F was due for delivery in September but it will now be delivered in February 2003.
SIA has seen a sharp drop in traffic recently and analysts expect it to post a loss for the year to 31 March - the first in its history.
In November it deferred delivery of 10 A340-500s on order or option. It is also cutting capacity by speeding up maintenance on 747-400s.SIA is also considering accelerating disposal of its remaining A340-300s. Boeing agreed in 1999 to buy all 17 of its A340s in return for a 777 deal. The schedule called for all -300s to be released by the end of 2003 but sources say the carrier is hoping all can be phased out this year.
Source: Flight International
