NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
Airline revives plan for fleet modernisation post-SARS
Airbus and Boeing are gearing up for a fresh battle for orders at Singapore Airlines (SIA), which six months ago withdrew a request for proposals (RFP) after being badly hit by the effects of outbreak of the SARS virus.
Industry sources say SIA is preparing to issue new RFPs for aircraft to replace phased-out Airbus A310-300s and some of its older Boeing 747-400s. Around five aircraft are thought to be needed in each category.
Early this year the airline issued RFPs and started considering Airbus A321s and Boeing 737-900s, as well as Airbus A340-600s and Boeing 777-300ERs (Flight International 25 February-3 March).
Early in April, however, after SARS started to take its toll, SIAsaid "management is preoccupied with other pressing matters", and deferred fleet modernisation studies "until further notice".
Earlier than planned, SIA then withdrew its remaining nine A310s from service as well as its remaining three A340-300s, leaving it with an operational fleet comprising 747-400s and 777-200/200ER/300s, in addition to 747-400Fs with subsidiary SIA Cargo.
It now has 38 747-400s - including 12 that are out of service - as well as 27 777-200s, 14 777-200ERs and eight 777-300s. On firm order are 10 more 777-200s, five A340-500s and 10 Airbus A380-800s.
More than three years ago SIA launched a competition for A310 replacements that led to an additional 10 firm 777-200 orders.
At the time it also considered the A321 and 737-900. While they were deemed most suitable, many within the airline opposed narrowbody operations for fear that SIA would no longer be able to set itself apart at a marketing level from subsidiary SilkAir.
The regional subsidiary operates an A320-family fleet to a number of secondary Asian destinations, while SIA operates regional and long-haul services.
In ordering more of the larger 777-200s, in February 2001, SIA acknowledged the aircraft was not the ideal choice as an A310 replacement but suggested it had little choice.
SIA is known to not be entirely happy using 777-200s on some of its regional routes, but there is also thought to still be internal opposition to narrowbodies, which the airline has not operated in its own name for many years.
As a result, any narrowbodies that it may order could be operated by SilkAir, which may take over some of SIA's own regional routes. SilkAir is already operating some services to Brunei on behalf of its parent.
Source: Flight International
