More Singapore Airlines A380s head to long-term storage

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
	9V-SKP	12 Jan 2012 (age 9.0 yrs)	24 Mar 2020 SQ319 LHR-SIN
	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
	9V-OFB	29 Aug 2015 (age 4.8 yrs)	21 Mar 2020 TR869 NRT-DMK-SIN
	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
	HS-XBA (9V-SRF)	22 Mar 2001 (age 19.3 yrs)	30 Nov 2019 XW145 CTS-DMK
	HS-XBF (9V-SRP)	28 Jul 2003 (age 16.9 yrs)	24 Mar 2020 XW111 KIX-DMK
	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.

NokScoot succumbs to COVID-19 crisis READ THE ARTICLE

NokScoot succumbs to COVID-19 crisis READ THE ARTICLE

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.

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.