Singapore Airlines (SIA) has followed its recent Airbus A3XX order with a $1.3 billion contract for six Boeing 747-400 freighters and options for nine more. The orders will boost SIA's 747-400F fleet to 17 aircraft, and the airline says it is evaluating the 747X Stretch freighter despite its commitment for the rival A3XX.
The newly ordered 120t-payload aircraft will be delivered between the fourth quarter of 2002 and 2005, joining SIA's existing fleet of nine 747-400Fs. SIA has two 747-400Fs on order from a previous contract, and all aircraft are powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW4000.
The nine options have been transferred from an earlier SIA order placed in November 1994, and could be exercised as freighter or passenger versions of the aircraft, says SIA.
SIA executive vice-president commercial, Michael Tan, says that the airline is planning to increase cargo capacity an average 10% per annum over the next six years, and will employ the new aircraft on dense cargo routes to Australia, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and the USA.
SIA says that the current order does not rule out a future decision beyond 2005 to order freighter versions of either the A3XX or the Boeing 747X Stretch."We are open to either," says Tan. Both aircraft have 150t payload capability, and although the 747X Stretch has around 2,200km (1,200nm) less range than the Airbus, if Boeing decides to launch the freighter version of the plane first, it might be available as soon as late 2005 - around 18 months to two years before the A3XXF (Flight International, 3-9 October).
The airline says that its recent order for 10 A3XX passenger aircraft - due for delivery between 2006 and 2011 - plus 15 options, includes a provision to exercise those options as freighters.
SIA is beginning daily cargo services to Los Angeles, a weekly service to Osaka, and an increase in frequencies to San Francisco. It has incorporated its cargo division as a wholly-owned subsidiary in line with plans to begin operating it as an independent entity in April 2001, with an authorised share capital of S$1 million ($600,000).
Source: Flight International
