Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Fleet: March 2021

This month saw Singapore Airlines mark the start of a new era as far as its aircraft fleet is concerned, with the introduction of its first narrow-body (single-aisle) passenger aircraft in over 30 years. That came about as the first four of nine ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-800s entered service with the mainline division.

An additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft also returned to Changi from Alice Springs, meaning half that fleet has now been brought home to undergo the long-awaited cabin refits, including flat-bed seats in Business Class.

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Meanwhile the wide-body fleet renewal process continued, with a pair of Boeing 777-300s leaving, another A330 set for departure to pastures new, and a trio of brand new Airbus A350 Regionals looking primed for imminent delivery.

Fleet totals

Here are the Singapore Airlines passenger fleet totals at 28th March 2021.

  CAAS Database: 134  
  Recently deregistered:
Recently delivered:
For disposal:
-1
+1
-24
 
  In Service: 110  
  In maintenance / stored:
-30
 
  Active: 80  

The official registered aircraft data in combination with recent retirement announcements and analysis of actual flight movements over the last few weeks allows us to determine the actual ‘in service’ fleet (available to the airline) of 110 planes at 28th March 2021, 80 of which were recently active.

  Click here to see the official CAAS list of registered aircraft in Singapore at 28th February 2021.

SIA Passenger Fleet at 28th March 2021

This table shows the Singapore Airlines fleet including how many of each aircraft type are legally registered (‘Registered’), available to the airline (‘In Service’) and currently operating revenue passenger or cargo flights (‘Active’).

Type
Registered In Service Active
A330-300
!A330v3.png
4
0 0
A350-900
!A359.png
26 26 26
A350-900 Regional
!A359.png
19
19 17
A350-900 ULR
!A359.png
7 7 7
A380-800 v1
!A388.png
6 0 0
A380-800 v2
!A388.png
4 3 0
A380-800 v3
!A388.png
9 9 0
737-800
4 4 4
777-200
!B772.png
8 0 0
777-200ER
!B772.png
3 0 0
777-300
!B773.png
2 0 0
777-300ER
!B773.png
27 27 11
787-10
!B78X.png
15 15 15
Total 134 110 80

Following confirmation that all the airline’s remaining Airbus A330s, Boeing 777-200s, Boeing 777-200ERs and Boeing 777-300s will not be returning to the fleet after COVID-19, in addition to seven older Airbus A380s, we have removed these from the ‘In Service’ column.

This reflects a future fleet of 110 aircraft, plus future near-term deliveries of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787-10s.

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There will also be an unknown number of Boeing 737 MAX 8s joining the fleet in 2021, as the SilkAir merger enters its final stage, while five more Boeing 737-800s will be temporarily added.

Fleet activity

Four aircraft types are currently in service with the airline, as shown in the table below outlining the number in use at each of our monthly fleet update ‘snapshots’, from April 2020 to date.

SIA fleet activity timeline (2020)
  A350
B773
B77W
B787
Total
LH
R
ULR
Apr 16 10 4 18 15 63
May 14 9 3 18 15 59
Jun 21 12 2 11 15 61
Aug 23 14 1 4 14 56
Sep 24 13 1 7 12 57
Oct 24 13 1 4 12 54
Nov 25 17 10 14 66
Dec 26 18 3 9 14 70
SIA fleet activity timeline (2021)
  A350
B738
B77W
B787
Total
LH
R
ULR
Jan
26 18 6 9 15 74
Feb
25 17 6 9 15 72
Mar
26 17 7 4 11 15 80

Almost all Airbus A350s and Boeing 787-10s remain in consistent use, alongside the four recent Boeing 737-800 deliveries, while the deployment of Boeing 777-300ERs has risen to around a 40% of that fleet.

Overall the airline was actively using a total of 80 aircraft in March 2021, its highest total since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Here’s a graphical look at the active vs. stored fleet.

Type Active / Inactive  
A330-300 □□□□□ 0%
A350 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 100%
A350 R ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□ 89%
A350 ULR ■■■■■■■ 100%
A380 □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 0%
737-800 ■■■■ 100%
777-200 □□□□□□□□ 0%
777-200ER □□□ 0%
777-300 □□□□ 0%
777-300ER ■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 41%
787-10 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 100%

Here’s a look at how busy each aircraft fleet has been, based on active aircraft over the seven-day period from 21st March to 27th March 2021.

Type Total flights per week Average per active aircraft
Flights per week Daily utilisation
A350 191 8 12.1h
A350 R 189 11 9.2h
A350 ULR 191 5 11.4h
737-800 26 7 2.1h
777-300ER 86 8 2.7h
787-10 187 12 9.8h

Airbus A350s are the current ‘workhorses’ in terms of daily flying hours, though the Boeing 787s are operating the highest number of flights per aircraft per week.



 


 

Boeing 737s are back in the SIA fleet

Three Boeing 737-800s were formally registered to Singapore Airlines as of 28th February 2021:

  • 9V-MGA
  • 9V-MGB
  • 9V-MGD

9V-MGA entered service first, on 4th March, followed by 9V-MGD on 7th March and 9V-MGB on 11th March, all three of which made their inaugural passenger flights with SIA to and from Phuket.

On 17th March, 9V-MGE also joined the fleet as the fourth Boeing 737-800, launching flights to and from Phnom Penh.

The current route network for the Boeing 737-800s covers four cities, with six more set to join over the coming months and further announcements likely.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 737-800 Route Network (click to enlarge)

Recently confirmed additions include a daily Kuala Lumpur service from mid-April, supplementing a daily Boeing 777-300ER flight on the route, plus Penang flights from the start of the northern winter season.

9V-MGA operating the inaugural flight to Phuket on 4th March. (Photo: Plane’s Portrait Aviation Media / Malcolm Lu)

There is also the potential for frequency increases on the Phuket route, following news that the resort island plans to open for tourism from July 2021.

Ultimately nine Boeing 737-800 aircraft will be joining Singapore Airlines from SilkAir, with the others set for disposal as the regional wing is gradually wound up in the months ahead.

SilkAir Boeing 737-800 aircraft moving to SIA

Registration Age
(years)
Current
Livery
Status
9V-MGA 7.1 Transferred to SIA
9V-MGB 7.0 Transferred to SIA
9V-MGC 6.9 Due in SIA
9V-MGD 6.8 Transferred to SIA
9V-MGE 6.6 Transferred to SIA
9V-MGF 6.5 For sale
9V-MGG 6.4 For sale
9V-MGH 6.4 For sale
9V-MGI 6.1 For sale
9V-MGJ 5.9 For sale
9V-MGK 5.8 Due in SIA
9V-MGL 5.6 Due in SIA
9V-MGM 5.5 Due in SIA
9V-MGN 5.5 Due in SIA
9V-MGO 4.9 For disposal
9V-MGP 4.8 For sale
9V-MGQ 4.4 For sale

The SIA Group has put seven of the eight aircraft set for disposal on the market recently through UK-based agent Skytech-AIC, as listed in the table above.

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The aircraft are listed as available from July 2021, suggesting the SilkAir merger is set to be completed soon.

Another 737 MAX has been brought home

Just this week the third of six SilkAir Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has been returned to Singapore from storage in Alice Springs.

SIA recently confirmed that these aircraft are now undergoing their cabin refits in the hangar at Changi, in preparation for their return to service once local regulators approve their recertification.

The MAXs are expected to eventually replace SIA’s Boeing 737-800s, for a consistent product and service offering across the narrow-body and wide-body fleets.

SIA Boeing 737 MAX 8 Fleet

Registration Delivered Last commercial flight Current
Location
9V-MBA 1 Oct 2017
(age 3.5 yrs)
11 Mar 2019
MI985
WUH-SIN
SIN
9V-MBB 7 Nov 2017
(age 3.4 yrs)
11 Mar 2019
MI755
HKT-SIN
ASP
9V-MBC 19 Dec 2017
(age 3.3 yrs)
10 Mar 2019
MI985
WUH-SIN
SIN
9V-MBD 13 Apr 2018
(age 3.0 yrs)
12 Mar 2019
MI413
KTM-SIN
ASP
9V-MBE 4 May 2018
(age 2.9 yrs)
11 Mar 2019
MI971
CKG-SIN
ASP
9V-MBF 7 Mar 2019
(age 2.1 yrs)
11 Mar 2019
MI423
BLR-SIN
SIN

No timescale has yet been stated for the 737 MAX service re-entry in Singapore.

A Boeing 737 MAX 8 in Singapore Airlines livery. (Photo: Joe G. Walker)

Airbus A330s

All four Airbus A330s remaining in the fleet have left service for return to their respective leasing companies, a process that should finish in Q3 2021.

!A330v3 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SSF SIN 13 Mar 20 380
9V-SSG SIN 23 Mar 20 370
9V-SSH SIN 28 Mar 20 365
9V-SSI SIN 25 Nov 19 489

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

9V-SSF operated a test flight in all-white livery on 18th March and should be next to leave. The aircraft has no known onward operator.

9V-STC, which had become C-GHKC with Air Canada in late December 2020, finally left Singapore on 19th March. It flew from Changi to Montreal, via Tokyo.

Like 9V-STQ before it (pictured), 9V-STC left for a new life with Air Canada. (Photo: Dillon Chong)

9V-SSI has yet to make a test flight appearance after sustaining tail damage during a landing incident at Yangon in November 2019. The aircraft was ferried empty to Singapore over 15 months ago in mid-December 2019, but has not flown since.

Airbus A350s

The Airbus A350-900 long-haul fleet was at full strength in March 2021, with an operating fleet of 26.

!A359 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SMA SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMB SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMC SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMD SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SME SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMF SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMG SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SMH SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMI SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMJ SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SMK SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SML SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMM SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SMN SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMO SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMP SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SMQ SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMR SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SMS SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SMT SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SMU SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SMV SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMW SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SMY SIN 26 Mar 21 2
9V-SMZ SIN 26 Mar 21 2
9V-SJA SIN 27 Mar 21 1

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

There are currently two Airbus A350-900 Regional aircraft in storage or maintenance (9V-SHE and 9V-SHF), meaning 17 of this variant were flying recently.

!A359R Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SHA SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHB SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHC SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SHD SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SHE SIN 10 Mar 21 18
9V-SHF SIN 24 Jul 20 247
9V-SHG SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHH SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SHI SIN 24 Mar 21 4
9V-SHJ SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHK SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHL SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHM SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHN SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHO SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHP SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SHQ SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SHR SIN 26 Mar 21 2
9V-SHS SIN 25 Mar 21 3

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

All of the airline’s Airbus A350-900 ULR aircraft are in service, covering daily San Francisco and New York JFK services.

!A359 ULR Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SGA SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SGB SIN 15 Mar 21 13
9V-SGC SIN 24 Mar 21 4
9V-SGD SIN 26 Mar 21 2
9V-SGE SIN 26 Mar 21 2
9V-SGF SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SGG SIN 25 Mar 21 3

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

Airbus A380s

Seven of the airline’s Airbus A380 aircraft are now in long-term storage at Alice Springs, with the other 12 aircraft stored at Changi.

No revenue flights with the A380s have been flown since March 2020, and they are not being used in the current schedule through 31st May 2021.

!A388 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SKF SIN 24 Mar 20 369
9V-SKG SIN 25 Mar 20 368
9V-SKH SIN 22 Mar 20 371
9V-SKI SIN 20 Mar 20 373
9V-SKJ SIN 20 Mar 20 373
9V-SKK ASP 21 Mar 20 372
9V-SKL ASP 27 Mar 20 366
9V-SKM SIN 21 Mar 20 372
9V-SKN SIN 15 Oct 19 530
9V-SKP ASP 24 Mar 20 369
9V-SKQ SIN 26 Mar 20 367
9V-SKR SIN 19 Mar 20 374
9V-SKS SIN 12 Mar 20 381
9V-SKT ASP 18 Mar 20 375
9V-SKU SIN 25 Mar 20 368
9V-SKV SIN 28 Mar 20 365
9V-SKW ASP 26 Mar 20 367
9V-SKY ASP 27 Mar 20 366
9V-SKZ ASP 30 Mar 20 363

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

There looks to be no imminent return for the superjumbo fleet, though SIA has confirmed 12 of the aircraft will be remaining under current plans for the post-COVID recovery, all to be fitted with new cabin products.

Boeing 737-800s

All four of the initial nine Boeing 737-800s moving across from SilkAir to Singapore Airlines are currently in service.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is B738-Label-Small.jpg
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-MGA SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-MGB SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-MGD SIN 26 Mar 21 2
9V-MGE SIN 26 Mar 21 2

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

Boeing 777-200 / -200ER / -300s

In 2020 SIA inherited back a set of seven Boeing 777-200s it was leasing to the now-defunct NokScoot. These aircraft are now stored in Alice Springs, with one additional aircraft hibernating at Changi for a couple of years now.

!B772 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SQJ SIN 2 Aug 18 969
9V-SRF ASP 30 Nov 19 484
9V-SRG ASP 1 Feb 20 421
9V-SRH ASP 23 Mar 20 370
9V-SRJ ASP 7 Jun 20 294
9V-SRL ASP 24 Mar 20 369
9V-SRP ASP 24 Mar 20 369
9V-SRQ ASP 15 Jun 20 286

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

Last flight and number of days shown reflects most recent passenger service with NokScoot in the case of SRF to SRQ. All these aircraft are for disposal.

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Meanwhile all 3 of the airline’s Boeing 777-200ERs are stored in Alice Springs, and are confirmed as for disposal.

!B772ER Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SVB ASP 17 Mar 20 376
9V-SVC ASP 19 Mar 20 374
9V-SVE ASP 21 Mar 20 372

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

There has been some movement for the retired Boeing 777-300 (non-ER) fleet since the last update.

  • 9V-SYJ was deregistered on 25th February, and is now N623BC with the Boeing Company. It departed Changi for Goodyear in the Arizona desert on 4th March.
  • 9V-SYL was deregistered on 3rd March, and is now N638BC with the Boeing Company. It departed Changi for Goodyear on 11th March.
!B773 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SYF SIN 10 Apr 20 352
9V-SYH SIN 5 May 20 327

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

This leaves only two Boeing 777-300 aircraft still to leave the fleet.

Boeing 777-300ERs

11 of SIA’s 27 Boeing 777-300ERs were active over the last two weeks, with the other 16 stored at Changi.

!B773ER Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SWA SIN 29 Mar 20 364
9V-SWB SIN 24 Mar 20 369
9V-SWD SIN 19 Mar 20 374
9V-SWE SIN 1 Feb 21 55
9V-SWF SIN 28 Sep 20 181
9V-SWG SIN 30 May 20 302
9V-SWH SIN 23 Mar 21 5
9V-SWI SIN 25 Mar 21 3
9V-SWJ SIN 4 May 20 328
9V-SWK SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SWL SIN 13 Mar 21 15
9V-SWM SIN 13 Feb 21 43
9V-SWN SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SWO SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SWP SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SWQ SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SWR SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SWS SIN 26 Mar 21 2
9V-SWT SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SWU SIN 30 Apr 20 332
9V-SWV SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SWW SIN 13 Jun 20 288
9V-SWY SIN 5 Dec 20 113
9V-SWZ SIN 27 Jun 20 274
9V-SNA SIN 23 Jun 20 278
9V-SNB SIN 16 Mar 20 377
9V-SNC SIN 14 Jun 20 287

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

While the 777-300ER fleet is predominantly operating cargo-only flights, there are some passenger services to cities including Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, being sold as a two-cabin configuration (First Class and Premium Economy are not offered for sale).

Boeing 787-10s

All of SIA’s 15 Boeing 787-10s are currently active, flying a mixture of passenger and cargo-only flights.

!B78X Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SCA SIN 23 Mar 21 5
9V-SCB SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SCC SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SCD SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SCE SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SCF SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SCG SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SCH SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SCI SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SCJ SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SCK SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SCL SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SCM SIN 27 Mar 21 1
9V-SCN SIN 28 Mar 21 0
9V-SCO SIN 28 Mar 21 0

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s last revenue passenger or cargo-only flight.

Alice Springs storage

26 Singapore Airlines Group aircraft remain in long-term storage at Alice Springs airport in Australia, where the hot, dry climate is far more conducive to preservation.

SIA Group aircraft
stored in Alice Springs
Airline Aircraft Total
Singapore_Airlines Airbus A380 7
Boeing 777-200 7
Boeing 777-200ER 3
SilkAir Boeing 737 MAX 8 3
Scoot Airbus A320 3
Boeing 787-8 3

With the remaining three SilkAir Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft due to leave the Alice Springs storage facility in the coming months, it will be interesting to see if the SIA Group retains its parking spots at the airport, which could perhaps mean more mainline aircraft like Airbus A380s or Boeing 777s heading south for better defence against the elements.

Future aircraft deliveries

The latest SIA Group orders for fleet modernisation and replacement is as follows.

(click to enlarge)

Additionally, Scoot has committed to taking 10 Airbus A321neo aircraft through leasing companies over the coming months, for a total of 16 such aircraft including its six firm orders.

Confirmed upcoming Airbus A350 deliveries for SIA include:

  • A350 Regional (9V-SHT)
  • A350 Regional (9V-SHU)
  • A350 Regional (9V-SHV)
  • A350 Long-Haul (9V-SJB)

This will increase the A350 Regional fleet to at least 22, though as you can see there is also another 3-class version in the mix, which will be the 27th such variant.

The three A350 Regional models (SHT, SHU and SHV) appear to be for imminent delivery. All three have completed their customer acceptance flights, so we expect them to be flown to Singapore in April.

More Airbus A350 Regionals are due to join the SIA fleet imminently. (Photo: Adelaide Airport)

Boeing 787 deliveries seem to be on hold for the time being.

Summary

March 2021 will go down in history for marking the return of narrow-body passenger aircraft in the Singapore Airlines fleet.

With 37 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft set to join the carrier in the months and years ahead, it looks likely this strategy is set to stay even long after the ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-800s have departed.

Recliner Business Class seats on Boeing 737-800s will only be a temporary feature in the SIA fleet. (Photo: Singapore Airlines)

Fleet renewal plans continue, with Boeing 777-300s and Airbus A330s departing and brand new aircraft lining up to replace them. While this continues to be an expensive exercise for the group, it should give them a modern efficient fleet with the newest cabin products to respond to the COVID-19 recovery as it happens.

(Cover Photo: Plane’s Portrait Aviation Media / Malcolm Lu)

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4 comments

  1. What a sad news to learn, without A380 in service, it also mean that we are no longer able to fly the luxurious Suite Class and First Class 🙁

  2. A Boeing 777-300/ER, 9V-SWL, was ferried to Alice Springs to be parked until further notice. On Planespotters.net, it is marked as ‘Parked at ASP’. However, unlike the older Boeing 777-200s and 777-200/ERs, there is a high possibility that it will return to service.

  3. Hi Andrew, thank you for the article. It’s good and thoroughly usual. Just want to ask you in regards to SilkAir Boeing 737-800 aircraft moving to SIA section. In that table, 7 out of 8 older Boeing 737-800 are for sale, not disposal. However, it was mentioned that 7 out of 8 are for disposal in the writing (“The SIA Group has put seven of the eight aircraft set for disposal on the market recently through UK-based agent Skytech-AIC, as listed in the table above.”) I’m curious about which one is the correct info. 🙂 Thanks.

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