Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Fleet: August 2021

Singapore Airlines has sold seven inherited Boeing 737-800s to Virgin Australia, and picked up a few military charter flights this month.

This month we learned that Singapore Airlines has managed to sell seven of its surplus Boeing 737-800 aircraft fairly quickly, with the jets now set to enjoy a new lease of life with Virgin Australia. The aircraft had been inherited by the mainline carrier following a merger with SilkAir earlier this year.

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In other news some of the Airbus A350s have been enjoying some extra work for the military, with trips to Idaho, USA and Paya Lebar Air Force Base this month, in addition to their usual duties.

The penultimate Airbus A330 also looks set to make an imminent final departure.

Fleet totals

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

  CAAS Database: 154  
  Awaiting certification:
For disposal:
-6
-33
 
  In Service: 115  
  In maintenance / stored:
-24
 
  Active: 91  

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 115 planes at 31st August 2021, 91 of which were recently active.

  Click here to see the official CAAS list of registered aircraft in Singapore at 2nd August 2021.

SIA Passenger Fleet at 31st August 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
2
0 0
A350-900
!A359.png
27 27 27
A350-900 Regional
!A359.png
22
22 22
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
16
9 9
737-8 MAX
6 0 0
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 23 11
787-10
!B78X.png
15 15 15
Total 154 115 91

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, four Boeing 777-300ERs and seven Boeing 737-800s.

These are therefore excluded from the ‘In Service’ column.

Additionally, all currently registered Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, which are awaiting re-certification, are excluded from the ‘In Service’ column for the time being.

This reflects a future fleet of 115 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
Jun
25 22 7 9 12 15 90
Jul
27 22 7 9 15 15 95
Aug
27 22 7 9 11 15 91

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

Type Active / Inactive  
A330-300 □□ 0%
A350 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 100%
A350 R ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 100%
A350 ULR ■■■■■■■ 100%
A380 □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 0%
737-800 ■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□ 56%
777-200 □□□□□□□□ 0%
777-200ER □□□ 0%
777-300 □□ 0%
777-300ER ■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 55%
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 August 2021 to 27th August 2021.

Type Total flights per week Average per active aircraft
Flights per week Daily utilisation
A350 240 9 12.8h
A350 R 303 14 10.5h
A350 ULR 30 4 9.7h
737-800 92 10 3.1h
777-300ER 100 9 7.7h
787-10 214 15 11.5h

Average fleet utilisation is similar by aircraft type compared to our recent updates. Long-Haul Airbus A350s continue to be the ‘workhorses’ in terms of daily flying hours per aircraft, though the other A350s and Boeing 787s aren’t far off.

With fewer Boeing 777-300ERs in active service this month but the same flying network for the aircraft type, utilisation has increased towards 8 hours per aircraft per day.

August 2021 fleet movements

Here’s a summary of the notable movements we’ve seen in the fleet this month:

  • Airbus A350 ULR 9V-SGG operated an interesting charter for the Singapore Air Force on 25th and 26th August 2021, routing from Singapore to Sydney, then Sydney to Paya Lebar Airport, then back home to Changi.
  • Airbus A350 9V-SMW operated from Singapore non-stop to Boise, Idaho, USA then returned via San Francisco on 18th August 2021 before flying the same routing again on 28th August 2021. These are likely to be military charters.
  • Airbus A330 9V-SSH made a test flight in all-white livery on 12th August 2021, suggesting it is being prepared for imminent return to its lessor.
Amazingly, it takes 19 minutes to fly from Paya Lebar to Changi in an A350!
(9V-SGG on 26th August)

Ex-SilkAir 737-800s sold to Virgin Australia

Earlier this month Virgin Australia announced that it had secured an additional nine Boeing 737-800s to meet its expansion goals.

(Photo: Virgin Australia)

Two of those aircraft are former Virgin Australia jets, while the remaining seven have been acquired from Singapore Airlines and are ex SilkAir aircraft that had been marketed for sale earlier this year.

  • 9V-MGF (age 7.0 years)
  • 9V-MGG (age 6.9 years)
  • 9V-MGH (age 6.9 years)
  • 9V-MGI (age 6.6 years)
  • 9V-MGJ (age 6.4 years)
  • 9V-MGP (age 5.3 years)
  • 9V-MGQ (age 4.9 years)

These aircraft are all currently registered to Singapore Airlines, except 9V-MGJ, which is still registered to SilkAir.

9V-MGI operated the final SilkAir passenger flight from Kathmandu to Singapore on 6th May 2021.

9V-MGI in SilkAir colours. (Photo: SilkAir)

The acquisition of these relatively young aircraft will help Virgin Australia reduce its average fleet age, which currently stands at from 10 years.

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The aircraft will be refitted with Virgin’s cabin product.

“These extra aircraft are an important part of our planning and ensure we’re ready to ramp up flying and meet the pent-up demand for domestic travel as soon as the opportunity presents itself.”

Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO, Virgin Australia

The sale of these seven aircraft will leave Singapore Airlines with only one Boeing 737-800 to dispose of, 9V-MGO.

Airbus A330s

There are still just two Airbus A330s in the registered fleet, 9V-SSH and 9V-SSI, due for return to their lessors in approximately Aug/Sep and Sep/Oct respectively, at the end of their six-year lease periods.

!A330v3 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SSH SIN 28 Mar 20 521
9V-SSI SIN 25 Nov 19 645

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

9V-SSH took a test flight on 12th August in all-white livery and should be heading off to another home soon, leaving only 9V-SSI to complete the process.

Airbus A350s

The Airbus A350-900 long-haul fleet was fully active in July 2021, with all 27 aircraft flying revenue services over the last two weeks.

!A359 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SMA SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMB SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SMC SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SMD SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SME SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMF SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMG SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMH SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SMI SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMJ SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMK SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SML SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMM SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMN SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SMO SIN 19 Aug 21 12
9V-SMP SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMQ SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SMR SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMS SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMT SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMU SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SMV SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SMW SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SMY SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SMZ SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SJA SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SJB SIN 31 Aug 21 0

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

Similarly, all Airbus A350-900 Regional aircraft were flying recently.

!A359R Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SHA SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SHB SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHC SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHD SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHE SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHF SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHG SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SHH SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHI SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SHJ SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SHK SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHL SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHM SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHN SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SHO SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHP SIN 28 Aug 21 3
9V-SHQ SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHR SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SHS SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHT SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SHU SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SHV SIN 30 Aug 21 1

‘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 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SGB SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SGC SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SGD SIN 28 Aug 21 3
9V-SGE SIN 28 Aug 21 3
9V-SGF SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SGG SIN 31 Aug 21 0

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



 


 

Airbus A380s

No revenue flights with the Airbus A380s have been flown since March 2020, with only some recent shuffling between Singapore and Alice Springs, via Sydney for maintenance.

The aircraft type provisionally reappears in the winter 2021/22 schedules (from 31st October 2021), though that remains TBC, since many changes are likely as restrictions are lifted for travellers to and from specific countries.

!A388 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SKF SIN 24 Mar 20 525
9V-SKG SIN 25 Mar 20 524
9V-SKH SIN 22 Mar 20 527
9V-SKI SIN 20 Mar 20 529
9V-SKJ SIN 20 Mar 20 529
9V-SKK ASP 21 Mar 20 528
9V-SKL ASP 27 Mar 20 522
9V-SKM SIN 21 Mar 20 528
9V-SKN SIN 15 Oct 19 686
9V-SKP ASP 24 Mar 20 525
9V-SKQ SIN 26 Mar 20 523
9V-SKR SIN 19 Mar 20 530
9V-SKS SIN 12 Mar 20 537
9V-SKT ASP 18 Mar 20 531
9V-SKU SIN 25 Mar 20 524
9V-SKV SIN 28 Mar 20 521
9V-SKW SIN 26 Mar 20 523
9V-SKY ASP 27 Mar 20 522
9V-SKZ ASP 30 Mar 20 519

‘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 that moved across from SilkAir to Singapore Airlines remain in service with the mainline carrier.

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Six of the remaining seven aircraft that were transferred are now in preparation for sale and transfer to Virgin Australia, as mentioned earlier in the article, leaving only 9V-MGO for SIA to dispose of.

Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-MGA SIN 28 Aug 21 3
9V-MGB SIN 20 Aug 21 11
9V-MGC SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-MGD SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-MGE SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-MGF SIN 2 May 21 121
9V-MGG SIN 5 May 21 118
9V-MGH SIN 11 Apr 21 142
9V-MGI SIN 6 May 21 117
9V-MGK SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-MGL SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-MGM SIN 27 Aug 21 4
9V-MGN SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-MGO SIN 20 Mar 20 529
9V-MGP SIN 20 Apr 21 133
9V-MGQ SIN 27 Mar 20 522

‘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 rich 29-year history.

Boeing 737-8 MAX

All six of SIA’s Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft are at Changi undergoing their cabin modifications and awaiting recertification from the regulator.

Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-MBA SIN 11 Mar 19 904
9V-MBB SIN 11 Mar 19 904
9V-MBC SIN 10 Mar 19 905
9V-MBD SIN 12 Mar 19 903
9V-MBE SIN 11 Mar 19 904
9V-MBF SIN 11 Mar 19 904

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

These aircraft have not flown passenger flights since early 2019, when the fleet was grounded due to safety concerns. Clearance for the MAXs to fly again in Singapore is expected in the coming months.

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 (9V-SQJ), after a failed sale attempt.

!B772 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SQJ SIN 2 Aug 18 1,125
9V-SRF ASP 30 Nov 19 640
9V-SRG ASP 1 Feb 20 577
9V-SRH ASP 23 Mar 20 526
9V-SRJ ASP 7 Jun 20 450
9V-SRL ASP 24 Mar 20 525
9V-SRP SIN 24 Mar 20 525
9V-SRQ SIN 15 Jun 20 442

‘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.

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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 20 532
9V-SVC ASP 19 Mar 20 530
9V-SVE ASP 21 Mar 20 528

‘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.

!B773 Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SYF SIN 10 Apr 20 508
9V-SYH SIN 5 May 20 483

‘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, a slight drop compared to our last update.

The other 16 aircraft are stored at Changi, though as we now know 9V-SWA, -SWD, -SWE and -SWF have been retired and will not rejoin the fleet, leaving only 12 to be activated again.

!B773ER Label
Aircraft Location Last flew Days ago
9V-SWA SIN 29 Mar 20 520
9V-SWB SIN 24 Mar 20 525
9V-SWD SIN 19 Mar 20 530
9V-SWE SIN 1 Feb 21 211
9V-SWF SIN 28 Sep 20 337
9V-SWG SIN 27 Aug 21 4
9V-SWH SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SWI SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SWJ SIN 4 May 20 484
9V-SWK SIN 1 Aug 21 30
9V-SWL ASP 13 Mar 21 171
9V-SWM SIN 23 Jul 21 39
9V-SWN SIN 3 May 21 120
9V-SWO SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SWP SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SWQ SIN 28 Aug 21 3
9V-SWR SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SWS SIN 14 Aug 21 17
9V-SWT SIN 14 Aug 21 17
9V-SWU SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SWV SIN 29 Aug 21 2
9V-SWW SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SWY SIN 5 Dec 20 269
9V-SWZ SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SNA SIN 23 Jun 20 434
9V-SNB SIN 16 Mar 20 533
9V-SNC SIN 14 Jun 20 443

‘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 reintroduced last month for the first time in a year.

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 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCB SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SCC SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCD SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SCE SIN 28 Aug 21 3
9V-SCF SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCG SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCH SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCI SIN 30 Aug 21 1
9V-SCJ SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCK SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCL SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCM SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCN SIN 31 Aug 21 0
9V-SCO SIN 31 Aug 21 0

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

Alice Springs storage

There are currently 21 SIA group aircraft in storage at Alice Springs, as outlined in the following table.

SIA Group aircraft
stored in Alice Springs
Airline Aircraft Total
Singapore_Airlines Airbus A380 6
Boeing 777-200 5
Boeing 777-200ER 3
Boeing 777-300ER 1
Scoot Airbus A320 3
Boeing 787-8 3

Some of these (like the Airbus A380 Version 3 aircraft) will be returned to service, while some others (like the Boeing 777-200ERs) will eventually be sold.

Fleet development plan

Based on the latest CAAS aircraft register at 2nd August 2021, recent deliveries, and SIA’s latest financial update, here’s how the registered SIA fleet should develop over the next eight months, between now and March 2022.

Registered Passenger Aircraft Fleet

Aircraft Type Fleet Totals
2 Aug
2021
Leaving Joining 31 Mar
2022
A330-300 2   2  
A350-900 27     2 58
A350-900 Regional 22
A350-900 ULR 7
A380-800 19   7   12
737-8 MAX 6     8 14
737-800 NG 16   7   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 154   33   15 136

Aside from the remaining Airbus A330s, which will be returned to their lessors soon, 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.

Here’s how the latest total SIA Group orders for fleet modernisation and replacement looks.

SIA Group Orders
(incl. via lessors)

(click to enlarge)

The next Boeing 787-10 has been relocated

Last month we noted how 9V-SCP, the 16th Boeing 787-10 for Singapore Airlines and the 1,000th Boeing 787 built, was brought back into action on a 2 hour 40 minute test flight at Charleston in late July 2021, following a long period of storage.

9V-SCP on its first flight in March 2020

On 2nd August 2021 there was another flight, but this time a relocation of the aircraft to another Boeing facility in San Antonio, Texas.

It’s not clear if the aircraft has been moved to a new storage location or for maintenance work in preparation for delivery.

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Either way we’re still due to see 9V-SCP and four other new Boeing 787-10 deliveries in the next seven months, so there shouldn’t be too long to wait.

SIA has not taken delivery of a new Boeing 787-10 for over a year and a half, but that looks set to change in the months ahead. (Photo: Plane’s Portrait Aviation Media / Malcolm Lu)

The last new Boeing 787-10 received by the airline, 9V-SCO, arrived 20 months ago, in December 2019.

Summary

Singapore Airlines is no doubt happy that a relatively buoyant market still exists for its surplus ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-800s, with a sale deal that will see seven of these aircraft moving across to Virgin Australia in the months ahead.

Overall, SIA is now actively flying 91 passenger aircraft, including practically all its Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s.

With 80% vaccination now achieved in Singapore, signalling a move to ‘endemic COVID’, and the first quarantine-free travel lane starting next week with Germany, there’s cause for optimism that other stored aircraft can be reactivated soon, possibly even including Airbus A380 services before the end of the year.

Stay tuned for the next fleet update in September 2021.

(Cover Photo: Julian Herzog)

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8 comments

  1. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore are really taking their time with the recertification of the Boeing 737 MAX, aren’t they! There are now ~350 Boeing 737 MAX at 33 separate airlines around the world back in service. Why is it taking Singapore so long??

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