This morning another batch of SIA Group aircraft made what’s now becoming a familiar journey to Alice Springs Airport in Australia, where they will enter long-term storage. Part of the pack was a pair of Singapore Airlines Airbus A380s, meaning six of the airline’s 19 superjumbos will be residing in Alice Springs for the foreseeable future.
With a third of SIA’s Airbus A380 fleet now in long-term storage overseas and potentially more to follow, there looks to be no realistic prospect for a full return to service for the type until late 2021 at the earliest.
The Airbus A380s were accompanied by two Scoot Boeing 787-8s and three NokScoot Boeing 777-200s, all of which have now arrived in Australia.
Details: Singapore Airlines
The two Singapore Airlines aircraft departed from Changi this morning, as follows:
- SQ8865 (9V-SKP / A388 / Dep 06:12 / Arr 12:42)
- SQ8867 (9V-SKQ / A388 / Dep 07:34 / Due 14:05)

Here are the two Airbus A380 aircraft which are currently either en-route to Alice Springs or have recently touched down at the time of writing, including details of their most recent passenger flight.
Registration | Delivered | Last flew | |
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9V-SKP | 12 Jan 2012 (age 9.0 yrs) |
24 Mar 2020 SQ319 LHR-SIN |
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9V-SKQ | 2 Apr 2012 (age 8.7 yrs) |
26 Mar 2020 SQ321 LHR-SIN |
Note that aircraft age is based on first pre-delivery test flight date.
These are relatively new Version 2 aircraft, with the high-density Business Class layout, but the older 2006 Business Class seats and Suites. They join four of the airline’s Version 3 A380s with the newer 2017 seats, still in storage at the Alice Springs facility.
Details: Scoot
Two Scoot Boeing 787-8s also flew down to Alice Springs last night, the first wide-body aircraft from the airline’s fleet to be placed in long-term storage.
- TR7001 (9V-OFB / B788 / Dep 03:00 / Arr 09:49)
- TR7003 (9V-OFD / B788 / Dep 03:50 / Arr 10:44)
They joined four of the low-cost subsidiary’s Airbus A320s, which were flown to the facility in April 2020.
Registration | Delivered | Last flew | |
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9V-OFB | 29 Aug 2015 (age 4.8 yrs) |
21 Mar 2020 TR869 NRT-DMK-SIN |
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9V-OFD | 21 Dec 2015 (age 4.6 yrs) |
18 Mar 2020 TR509 ATQ-SIN |
Note that aircraft age is based on first pre-delivery test flight date.
These aircraft had not flown for around three months and were being temporarily stored at Changi.

Details: NokScoot
The three NokScoot Boeing 777-200s departed first from Bangkok Don Mueang Airport late last night as follows:
- XW992 (HS-XBF / B772 / Dep 21:43 / Arr 07:21)
- XW994 (HS-XBG / B772 / Dep 22:35 / Arr 07:59)
- XW996 (HS-XBA / B772 / Dep 23:29 / Arr 08:52)

Here are the three NokScoot aircraft which flew to Alice Springs, including details of their most recent passenger flight.
Registration | First Delivered |
Last flew | |
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HS-XBA (9V-SRF) |
22 Mar 2001 (age 19.3 yrs) |
30 Nov 2019 XW145 CTS-DMK |
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HS-XBF (9V-SRP) |
28 Jul 2003 (age 16.9 yrs) |
24 Mar 2020 XW111 KIX-DMK |
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HS-XBG (9V-SRQ) |
25 Aug 2003 (age 16.9 yrs) |
3 Mar 2020 XW145 CTS-DMK |
Note that aircraft age is based on first pre-delivery test flight date, delivery date is based on first delivery to Singapore Airlines.
The NokScoot Boeing 777-200 aircraft are all owned by Singapore Airlines, previously carrying the 9V-SR* series registrations.
SIA has written down their book value to market value in a S$106.9 million charge, following the almost inevitable liquidation of NokScoot and zero prospect of the aircraft flying passengers again for the airline.
SQ222 is picking up the crews
As with each previous time a batch of SIA aircraft was relocated to Alice Springs, Singapore Airlines is diverting today’s Sydney – Singapore SQ222 flight (a cargo-only service) via the airport, presumably to collect the pilots and deliver them back home this evening.

At the time of writing the aircraft, Boeing 787-10 9V-SCO, had just departed Sydney on its way to Alice Springs.
Fun fact: This is the fourth time a Singapore Airlines Sydney to Singapore flight has been routed via Alice Springs to pick up the flight crew of aircraft delivered into storage, and the first time a Boeing 787-10 will have landed at the airport. The other three such flights were:
- 5th April 2020: Boeing 777-300 9V-SYL
- 26th April 2020: Boeing 777-300ER 9V-SWM
- 30th April 2020: Boeing 777-300 9V-SYJ (to collect a NokScoot crew)
SIA’s long-term stored aircraft
Here’s a summary of the 26 Singapore Airlines Group aircraft in long-term storage at Alice Springs as of 27th June 2020.
SIA and Scoot-branded aircraft stored in Alice Springs |
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Airline | Aircraft | Total | Reg. |
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