Singapore Airlines Fleet: April 2021

With more Boeing 737-800s joining the fleet, Singapore Airlines was actively flying 86 passenger aircraft in April 2021, a record since the COVID-19 pandemic slashed the operating fleet into the 50s last year.

The 737s are certainly making their mark fast, flying to and from nine regional destinations next month (up from four in March), plus there’s a more advanced version being prepared for service.

The troubled Boeing 737 MAX 8, now cleared to fly in many countries but still awaiting approval here in Singapore, will eventually replace the older 737-800s and the first one to receive the SIA colour scheme and new cabin products has now been rolled out of the hangar.

Meanwhile the wide-body fleet renewal process continued this month, with another Airbus A330 leaving the airline and three brand new Airbus A350 Regionals arriving almost ‘in formation’, to make SIA the world’s largest operator of the type.

Fleet totals

Here are the Singapore Airlines passenger fleet totals at 30th April 2021.

	CAAS Database:	141
	Recently deregistered: For disposal:	-1 -23
	In Service:	117
	In maintenance / stored:	-31
	Active:	86

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 117 planes at 30th April 2021, 86 of which were recently active.

  Click here to see the official CAAS list of registered aircraft in Singapore at 31st March 2021.

SIA Passenger Fleet at 30th April 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	3	0	0
A350-900	26	26	26
A350-900 Regional	22	22	19
A350-900 ULR	7	7	7
A380-800 v1	6	0	0
A380-800 v2	4	3	0
A380-800 v3	9	9	0
737-800	8	8	8
777-200	8	0	0
777-200ER	3	0	0
777-300	2	0	0
777-300ER	27	27	11
787-10	15	15	15
Total	140	117	86

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 117 aircraft, plus future near-term deliveries of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787-10s.

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 one more Boeing 737-800 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
Apr	26	19	7	8	11	15	86

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

Overall the airline was actively using a total of 86 aircraft in April 2021, its highest total since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

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

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

Type	Total flights per week	Average per active aircraft
		Flights per week	Daily utilisation
A350	204	8	11.8h
A350 R	200	11	9.2h
A350 ULR	24	3	8.4h
737-800	46	6	1.8h
777-300ER	66	7	2.3h
787-10	210	15	11.5h

Long-haul Airbus A350s are the current ‘workhorses’ in terms of daily flying hours per aircraft, though the Boeing 787s aren’t far off, and operate the highest number of flights per week.

Three A350 deliveries in one day

Earlier this month Singapore Airlines took delivery of three brand new Airbus A350 Regional aircraft on the same day, with each jet touching down at Changi within a four-hour window on Saturday 3rd April 2021 as follows:

• 9V-SHT: 8.25am
• 9V-SHU: 10.20am
• 9V-SHV: 12.07pm

This handed SIA the accolade of “world’s largest Airbus A350 operator”, with 55 such aircraft in its fleet – two more than the previous title holder Qatar Airways.

Two of the three new A350s (9V-SHT and -SHU) have now entered revenue service, with only 9V-SHV to join them.

The first Boeing 737 MAX refit has been completed

Last month Singapore Airlines confirmed that its Boeing 737 MAX 8 cabin refit programme had commenced, starting with its first aircraft returned from Alice Springs (9V-MBA).

Aside from a repaint from SilkAir colours, this also involves:

• Installation of flat-bed Thompson Vantage Business Class seats
• Installation of new Economy Class seats with seat-back entertainment systems
• The addition of Wi-Fi connectivity

The first aircraft has now had its refit work completed and was pictured at Changi this week sporting its new colours, with the tell-tale Wi-Fi antenna on the roof.

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, however the type is still awaiting approval to fly again in Singapore from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAS).

SIA Boeing 737 MAX 8 Fleet

Registration	Age (years)	Current Livery	Current Location
9V-MBA	3.6		SIN
9V-MBB	3.5		ASP
9V-MBC	3.4		SIN
9V-MBD	3.1		ASP
9V-MBE	3.0		ASP
9V-MBF	2.2		SIN

No timescale for a reintroduction of the aircraft type in Singapore has yet been announced, but hopefully once that does happen we can look forward to a formal reveal of the new cabin products.

More Boeing 737-800s are in SIA service

At last month’s update there were four Boeing 737-800s in Singapore Airlines operation, though late March and April have seen a doubling of the registered and active fleet to eight aircraft, with the following four newly entering service:

• 9V-MGK (to PNH on 30 Mar)
• 9V-MGN (to PNH on 15 Apr)
• 9V-MGC (to KUL on 16 Apr)
• 9V-MGL (to KUL on 24 Apr)

This leaves only 9V-MGM to join SIA as the ninth aircraft, which will then complete the transfer. It flew an air test in SIA colours on 29th April and so will likely enter revenue service in May.

With the fleet steadily increasing, so has the route network for the Boeing 737-800s. As of May 2021 it will cover nine cities (up from four in March), as shown below, including the short-notice transfer of Medan from SilkAir earlier this month.

Recently confirmed future additions include Darwin, Cairns and Da Nang, though the start date for many of these routes is based on the ‘regular’ July 2021 schedule – realistically many will actually slip further into 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		Transferred to 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		Transferred to SIA
9V-MGL	5.6		Transferred to SIA
9V-MGM	5.5		Due in SIA
9V-MGN	5.5		Transferred to 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 (only 9V-MGO is not included in the sale).

The aircraft are listed as available from July 2021, suggesting the SilkAir merger is set to be completed in the next couple of months.

Airbus A330s

As expected, following a test flight in all-white livery last month, 9V-SSF was deregistered in April and is now registered OE-ITB after return to lessor. The aircraft was flown from Changi to Anchorage on 29th April.

The remaining three Airbus A330s in the registered fleet have ceased service for over a year, and are for return to their respective leasing companies, a process that should finish in Q3 2021 with 9V-SSI.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SSG	SIN	23 Mar 20	402
9V-SSH	SIN	28 Mar 20	397
9V-SSI	SIN	25 Nov 19	521

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

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 16 months ago in mid-December 2019, but has not flown since.

Airbus A350s

The Airbus A350-900 long-haul fleet remained at full strength in April 2021, with an operating total of 26 aircraft.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SMA	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMB	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMC	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMD	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SME	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SMF	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SMG	SIN	27 Apr 21	2
9V-SMH	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SMI	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMJ	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMK	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SML	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMM	SIN	23 Apr 21	6
9V-SMN	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMO	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMP	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMQ	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SMR	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMS	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SMT	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMU	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SMV	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMW	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SMY	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SMZ	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SJA	SIN	29 Apr 21	0

‘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-SHF and 9V-SHI), meaning 19 of this variant were flying recently, with new aircraft 9V-SHT and 9V-SHU joining the active fleet this month.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SHA	SIN	26 Apr 21	3
9V-SHB	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHC	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SHD	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHE	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHF	SIN	24 Jul 20	279
9V-SHG	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SHH	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHI	SIN	7 Apr 21	22
9V-SHJ	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SHK	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHL	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHM	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHN	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHO	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHP	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHQ	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHR	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHS	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SHT	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHU	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SHV	SIN	Yet to enter service

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

Although 9V-SHF has been ‘missing’ from the active fleet and in storage for over nine months, the aircraft took a test flight today (30th April 2021), so it seems like it may be set to rejoin the active fleet soon.

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

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SGA	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SGB	SIN	26 Apr 21	3
9V-SGC	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SGD	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SGE	SIN	27 Apr 21	2
9V-SGF	SIN	26 Apr 21	3
9V-SGG	SIN	29 Apr 21	0

‘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 currently 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 30th June 2021.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SKF	SIN	24 Mar 20	401
9V-SKG	SIN	25 Mar 20	400
9V-SKH	SIN	22 Mar 20	403
9V-SKI	SIN	20 Mar 20	405
9V-SKJ	SIN	20 Mar 20	405
9V-SKK	ASP	21 Mar 20	404
9V-SKL	ASP	27 Mar 20	398
9V-SKM	SIN	21 Mar 20	404
9V-SKN	SIN	15 Oct 19	562
9V-SKP	ASP	24 Mar 20	401
9V-SKQ	SIN	26 Mar 20	399
9V-SKR	SIN	19 Mar 20	406
9V-SKS	SIN	12 Mar 20	413
9V-SKT	ASP	18 Mar 20	407
9V-SKU	SIN	25 Mar 20	400
9V-SKV	SIN	28 Mar 20	397
9V-SKW	ASP	26 Mar 20	399
9V-SKY	ASP	27 Mar 20	398
9V-SKZ	ASP	30 Mar 20	395

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

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-MGA	SIN	27 Apr 21	2
9V-MGB	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-MGC	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-MGD	SIN	21 Apr 21	8
9V-MGE	SIN	27 Apr 21	2
9V-MGK	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-MGL	SIN	26 Apr 21	3
9V-MGN	SIN	29 Apr 21	0

‘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 were all initially stored in Alice Springs, with one additional aircraft hibernating at Changi for a couple of years now.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SQJ	SIN	2 Aug 18	1001
9V-SRF	ASP	30 Nov 19	516
9V-SRG	ASP	1 Feb 20	453
9V-SRH	ASP	23 Mar 20	402
9V-SRJ	ASP	7 Jun 20	326
9V-SRL	ASP	24 Mar 20	401
9V-SRP	SIN	24 Mar 20	401
9V-SRQ	SIN	15 Jun 20	318

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

Both 9V-SRP and 9V-SRQ were returned from Alice Springs to Singapore in early April, presumably in preparation for disposal / sale.

Last flight and number of days shown reflects most recent passenger service with NokScoot in the case of SRF to SRQ.

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

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SVB	ASP	17 Mar 20	408
9V-SVC	ASP	19 Mar 20	406
9V-SVE	ASP	21 Mar 20	404

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

There are still two retired Boeing 777-300 (non-ER) aircraft in the fleet, also for disposal.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SYF	SIN	10 Apr 20	384
9V-SYH	SIN	5 May 20	359

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

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.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SWA	SIN	29 Mar 20	396
9V-SWB	SIN	24 Mar 20	401
9V-SWD	SIN	19 Mar 20	406
9V-SWE	SIN	1 Feb 21	87
9V-SWF	SIN	28 Sep 20	213
9V-SWG	SIN	30 May 20	334
9V-SWH	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SWI	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SWJ	SIN	4 May 20	360
9V-SWK	SIN	19 Apr 21	10
9V-SWL	ASP	13 Mar 21	47
9V-SWM	SIN	13 Feb 21	75
9V-SWN	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SWO	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SWP	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SWQ	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SWR	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SWS	SIN	28 Apr 21	1
9V-SWT	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SWU	SIN	12 Apr 21	17
9V-SWV	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SWW	SIN	13 Jun 20	320
9V-SWY	SIN	5 Dec 20	145
9V-SWZ	SIN	27 Jun 20	306
9V-SNA	SIN	23 Jun 20	310
9V-SNB	SIN	16 Mar 20	409
9V-SNC	SIN	14 Jun 20	319

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

One of these aircraft is stored at Alice Springs.

The Boeing 777-300ER fleet has been predominantly operating cargo-only flights for the last year or so, though these aircraft are now increasingly being used for passenger services too.

Routes include London, Sydney, Jakarta and Hong Kong, including a First Class cabin from June 2021. This may be of particular interest to our readers using the Singapore – Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble in June, since the designated flights will be operated by the Boeing 777-300ER that month.

Boeing 787-10s

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

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SCA	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCB	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCC	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCD	SIN	22 Apr 21	7
9V-SCE	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCF	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCG	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCH	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCI	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCJ	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCK	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCL	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCM	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCN	SIN	29 Apr 21	0
9V-SCO	SIN	29 Apr 21	0

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

Alice Springs storage

25 Singapore Airlines Group aircraft remain in long-term storage at Alice Springs airport in Australia as of 30th April 2021, where the hot, dry climate is far more conducive to preservation.

SIA Group aircraft stored in Alice Springs
Airline	Aircraft	Total
	Airbus A380	7
	Boeing 777-200	5
	Boeing 777-200ER	3
	Boeing 777-300ER	1
	Boeing 737 MAX 8	3
	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.

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 9V-SJB, a long-haul variant that has already started engine runs and taxi checks in Toulouse, but hasn’t had a test flight yet.

It will be the 27th A350 Long Haul variant in the SIA fleet.

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

Summary

A significant ramp-up in destinations for SIA’s newly acquired narrow-body Boeing 737-800s this month, with nine destinations for the type in May 2021. Although the number of flights for this fleet remains low, we can expect to see more similar operations on single-aisle jets as the airline begins to induct Boeing 737 MAX 8s into its fleet over the coming years.

On that front the recent completion of the first refit to a Singapore Airlines MAX, which will sport new Thompson flat-bed Business Class seats, seat-back IFE in Economy and Wi-Fi connectivity, is a good sign that we can expect to see an approval for the airline to operate the aircraft in the coming months.

These latest-generation jets will eventually replace the 737-800s, for a more consistent fleet-wide experience.

Meanwhile in April we bid farewell to another Airbus A330, a process set to be completed later this year when the last three examples leave, and a trio of brand new Airbus A350s arrived, sealing SIA’s (probably temporary) position as the world’s largest operator of the type.

Stay tuned for the next fleet update in May 2021.

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