Singapore Airlines Fleet: May 2021

This month the most significant news about the Singapore Airlines fleet has been the revelation that four older Boeing 777-300ERs have been retired from service, in continued response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SIA’s fortunes.

Meanwhile it has been confirmed that a large boost to the fleet over the current financial year will arise from not only the six Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft moving across from SilkAir, but a further eight of the type currently stored in the USA under Boeing’s care.

This will boost the MAX fleet to 14 by March 2022, though it’s not yet clear when the type will be cleared to operate again in Singapore, nor whether all 14 would be brought into passenger service immediately as they are delivered.

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

Meanwhile the wide-body fleet renewal process is set to continue, with more Airbus A350s and Boeing 787-10s confirmed for delivery this year.

Fleet totals

Here are the Singapore Airlines passenger fleet totals at 31st May 2021.

	CAAS Database:	146
	Awaiting certification: For disposal:	-5 -27
	In Service:	114
	In maintenance / stored:	-25
	Active:	89

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 114 planes at 31st May 2021, 89 of which were recently active.

  Click here to see the official CAAS list of registered aircraft in Singapore at 30th April 2021.

SIA Passenger Fleet at 31st May 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	25
A350-900 Regional	22	22	21
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	9	9	9
737-8 MAX	5	0	0
777-200	8	0	0
777-200ER	3	0	0
777-300	2	0	0
777-300ER	27	23	12
787-10	15	15	15
Total	146	114	89

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.

Additionally, four newly announced Boeing 777-300ER retirements and all currently registered Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, which are awaiting re-certification, are excluded from the ‘In Service’ column.

This reflects a future fleet of 114 aircraft, plus future near-term deliveries of Airbus A350s, Boeing 737-8 MAXs and Boeing 787-10s.

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
May	25	21	7	9	12	15	89

Almost all Airbus A350s and Boeing 787-10s remain in consistent use, alongside the nine recent Boeing 737-800 deliveries, while the deployment of Boeing 777-300ERs has risen to 52% of that fleet, now that we know only 23 of the aircraft will return to service.

Overall the airline was actively using a total of 89 aircraft in May 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 May 2021 to 27th May 2021.

Type	Total flights per week	Average per active aircraft
		Flights per week	Daily utilisation
A350	190	7	11.3h
A350 R	252	12	9.9h
A350 ULR	29	5	11.9h
737-800	54	6	2.0h
777-300ER	90	8	3.3h
787-10	207	14	10.5h

Airbus A350s are the current ‘workhorses’ in terms of daily flying hours per aircraft, though the Boeing 787s aren’t far off.

Not surprisingly, with 21 active aircraft and a focus on regional routes, the A350 Regional is flying the highest number of flights per week.

Four Boeing 777-300ERs have been retired

In SIA’s latest financial update, the carrier confirmed it had written-down the value of four Boeing 777-300ERs, with these aircraft now retired from the fleet. They will therefore not be returning to operation post-COVID.

We checked with Singapore Airlines, who confirmed to us that the affected aircraft are:

These are the four oldest Boeing 777-300ERs in the fleet, notably excluding 9V-SWB which has been spared an early retirement.

9V-SWB suffered extensive wing damage after a fire in June 2016, while landing at Changi after turning back from a proposed flight to Milan, due to a technical problem.

The repairs took five months to complete and the expenses incurred probably resulted a much higher write-off to bring the aircraft to ‘book value’ for resale, likely the reason it is being retained in the fleet for now.

Boeing 737 MAX joins the SIA fleet

This month, with the final SilkAir passenger flight completed, five of the regional wing’s six existing Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft (9V-MBA to 9V-MBE) have been formally transferred to the Singapore Airlines Air Operator Certificate.

Here’s how the fleet will look once 9V-MBF also makes the shift.

SIA Boeing 737-8 MAX 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

* Still registered to SilkAir as of 30th April 2021.

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

According to our sources a second aircraft, 9V-MBC, has now also had its refit completed.

Aside from a repaint from SilkAir colours, the process 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

Here’s 9V-MBA pictured at Changi in late April sporting its new colours, with the tell-tale Wi-Fi antenna on the roof.

The MAXs will 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).

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.

Airbus A330s

Three Singapore Airlines Airbus A330s remain in storage at Changi. All aircraft have ceased service, not flying revenue flights for over a year, and are for return to their respective leasing companies.

This process should finish in Q3 2021 with 9V-SSI.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SSG	SIN	23 Mar 20	434
9V-SSH	SIN	28 Mar 20	429
9V-SSI	SIN	25 Nov 19	553

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

Airbus A350s

The Airbus A350-900 long-haul fleet remained at close to full strength in May 2021, with an operating total of 25 out of 26 aircraft. 9V-SMH appears to be having routine maintenance.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SMA	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SMB	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMC	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMD	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SME	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SMF	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SMG	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SMH	SIN	17 May 21	14
9V-SMI	SIN	23 May 21	8
9V-SMJ	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SMK	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SML	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMM	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMN	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SMO	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SMP	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMQ	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMR	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SMS	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SMT	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMU	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMV	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SMW	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SMY	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SMZ	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SJA	SIN	30 May 21	1

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

The next A350 delivery looks likely to be 9V-SJB, which has now completed its first test flight in Toulouse.

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

There is currently one Airbus A350-900 Regional aircraft in storage or maintenance (9V-SHI), meaning 21 of this variant were flying recently, with the most recently delivered trio 9V-SHT, -SHU and -SHV all active.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SHA	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHB	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SHC	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHD	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SHE	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHF	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SHG	SIN	27 May 21	4
9V-SHH	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHI	SIN	7 Apr 21	54
9V-SHJ	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHK	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHL	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SHM	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHN	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHO	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SHP	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHQ	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHR	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHS	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SHT	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SHU	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SHV	SIN	31 May 21	0

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

As we predicted last month, the test flight of 9V-SHF in late April was a precursor to this aircraft returning to service, having been ‘missing’ from the active fleet and in storage for over nine months.

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	30 May 21	1
9V-SGB	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SGC	SIN	26 May 21	5
9V-SGD	SIN	20 May 21	11
9V-SGE	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SGF	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SGG	SIN	30 May 21	1

‘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 31st July 2021.

In fact Singapore Airlines has now removed the aircraft type from all its flight schedules for the rest of the northern summer 2021 season, provisionally reappearing only from November 2021 (though that remains TBC).

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SKF	SIN	24 Mar 20	433
9V-SKG	SIN	25 Mar 20	432
9V-SKH	SIN	22 Mar 20	435
9V-SKI	SIN	20 Mar 20	437
9V-SKJ	SIN	20 Mar 20	437
9V-SKK	ASP	21 Mar 20	436
9V-SKL	ASP	27 Mar 20	430
9V-SKM	SIN	21 Mar 20	436
9V-SKN	SIN	15 Oct 19	594
9V-SKP	ASP	24 Mar 20	433
9V-SKQ	SIN	26 Mar 20	431
9V-SKR	SIN	19 Mar 20	438
9V-SKS	SIN	12 Mar 20	445
9V-SKT	ASP	18 Mar 20	439
9V-SKU	SIN	25 Mar 20	432
9V-SKV	SIN	28 Mar 20	429
9V-SKW	ASP	26 Mar 20	431
9V-SKY	ASP	27 Mar 20	430
9V-SKZ	ASP	30 Mar 20	427

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

SIA has confirmed 12 of its A380 aircraft will be remaining under current plans for the post-COVID recovery, all to be fitted with new cabin products before returning to service.

Boeing 737-800s

All nine Boeing 737-800s moving across from SilkAir to Singapore Airlines are now in service with the mainline carrier.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-MGA	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-MGB	SIN	27 May 21	4
9V-MGC	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-MGD	SIN	28 May 21	3
9V-MGE	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-MGK	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-MGL	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-MGM	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-MGN	SIN	31 May 21	0

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

SilkAir’s last passenger flight was on 6th May 2021, from Kathmandu to Singapore. Don’t miss our tribute to the regional subsidiary’s 29-year history.

Boeing 737-8 MAX

As mentioned above, five ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft were registered to Singapore Airlines since our last update, as stated in the latest CAAS aircraft register.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-MBA	SIN	11 Mar 19	812
9V-MBB	ASP	11 Mar 19	812
9V-MBC	SIN	10 Mar 19	813
9V-MBD	ASP	12 Mar 19	811
9V-MBE	ASP	11 Mar 19	812

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

These aircraft have not flown since early 2019 when the fleet was grounded by regulators due to safety concerns. They are in the process of being returned to Singapore for cabin refits in anticipation of clearance to fly again in the coming months.

Only 9V-MBF is still registered to SilkAir, likely to also reflect as an SIA aircraft at the next update. Eight further aircraft already built by Boeing and stored in the USA will join the fleet between now and March 2022.

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	1,033
9V-SRF	ASP	30 Nov 19	548
9V-SRG	ASP	1 Feb 20	485
9V-SRH	ASP	23 Mar 20	434
9V-SRJ	ASP	7 Jun 20	358
9V-SRL	ASP	24 Mar 20	433
9V-SRP	SIN	24 Mar 20	433
9V-SRQ	SIN	15 Jun 20	350

‘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 2021, 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	440
9V-SVC	ASP	19 Mar 20	438
9V-SVE	ASP	21 Mar 20	436

‘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	416
9V-SYH	SIN	5 May 20	391

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

Boeing 777-300ERs

12 of SIA’s 27 Boeing 777-300ERs were active over the last two weeks, the highest since slimmed-down COVID-19 schedules took effect in April 2020.

The other 15 aircraft are stored at Changi, though as we mentioned above 9V-SWA, -SWD, -SWE and -SWF have been retired and will not rejoin the fleet, leaving only 11 to be activated again.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SWA	SIN	29 Mar 20	428
9V-SWB	SIN	24 Mar 20	433
9V-SWD	SIN	19 Mar 20	438
9V-SWE	SIN	1 Feb 21	119
9V-SWF	SIN	28 Sep 20	245
9V-SWG	SIN	30 May 20	366
9V-SWH	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SWI	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SWJ	SIN	4 May 20	392
9V-SWK	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SWL	ASP	13 Mar 21	79
9V-SWM	SIN	13 Feb 21	107
9V-SWN	SIN	3 May 21	28
9V-SWO	SIN	28 May 21	3
9V-SWP	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SWQ	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SWR	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SWS	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SWT	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SWU	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SWV	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SWW	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SWY	SIN	5 Dec 20	177
9V-SWZ	SIN	27 Jun 20	338
9V-SNA	SIN	23 Jun 20	342
9V-SNB	SIN	16 Mar 20	441
9V-SNC	SIN	14 Jun 20	351

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

One of these aircraft, 9V-SWL, 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.

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	30 May 21	1
9V-SCB	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SCC	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SCD	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SCE	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SCF	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SCG	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SCH	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SCI	SIN	23 May 21	8
9V-SCJ	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SCK	SIN	29 May 21	2
9V-SCL	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SCM	SIN	30 May 21	1
9V-SCN	SIN	31 May 21	0
9V-SCO	SIN	31 May 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 31st May 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 737-8 MAX	3
	Boeing 777-200	5
	Boeing 777-200ER	3
	Boeing 777-300ER	1
	Airbus A320	3
	Boeing 787-8	3

A cargo-only Singapore – Melbourne flight (SQ207) on 1st June 2021 is provisionally planned to stop in Alice Springs en-route to its destination, presumably to drop off crew members to fly more aircraft from the facility back to Singapore.

That means we should see some more activity or reshuffles on this list next month.

Fleet development plan

Based on the latest CAAS aircraft register at 30th April 2021 and SIA’s latest financial update in May 2021, here’s how the registered SIA fleet should develop between now and March 2022.

Registered Passenger Aircraft Fleet

Aircraft Type	Fleet Totals
	30 Apr 2021	Leaving	Joining	31 Mar 2022
A330-300	3	3		—
A350-900	26		3	58
A350-900 Regional	22
A350-900 ULR	7
A380-800	19	7		12
737-8 MAX	5		9	14
737-800 NG	9			9
777-200	8	8		—
777-200ER	3	3		—
777-300	2	2		—
777-300ER	27	4		23
787-10	15		5	20
All Types	146	27	17	136

Aside from the remaining Airbus A330s, which will be returned to their lessors by Q3 2021, this table assumes that other aircraft being withdrawn will have been formally deregistered by 31st March 2022. That might not be the case, though either way they certainly won’t be returned to revenue service.

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

Additionally, Scoot has committed to taking 10 Airbus A321neo aircraft through leasing companies over the coming months, two of which have now been delivered, for a total of 16 such aircraft including the carrier’s six firm orders.

Summary

It’s been sad to receive news this month of four older Boeing 777-300ER aircraft being moved into early retirement, though with the prolonged COVID-19 situation keeping most borders restricted the recovery trajectory must seem increasingly uncertain for SIA.

The airline relies wholly on international travel and even once that is permitted, analysts are favouring point-to-point options recovering first, not the hub-and-spoke model SIA uses.

With this in mind, smaller aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 737-8 MAX are the company’s focus to drive the recovery, so it’s perhaps no surprise that four Boeing 777-300ERs are joining the previously announced seven A380s on the airline’s scrap heap.

In good news towards an ultimate recovery, SIA is now actively flying 89 aircraft, its highest since schedules were slashed in April 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic decimated schedules to just 4% of usual flying.

Stay tuned for the next fleet update in June 2021.

(Cover Photo: Aero Icarus)