Singapore Airlines Fleet: December 2023

Singapore Airlines has taken delivery of three new wide-body Boeing 787 aircraft since our last fleet update in October 2023, with a further one arriving in the months ahead between now and the end of March 2024, while the last Airbus A380 refit is now finally in service.

This continues to allow the airline to keep expanding as travel demand shows no sign of letting up post-pandemic, with frequency hikes and even new routes like London Gatwick on the cards.

SIA’s active passenger fleet now stands at 136 aircraft, practically the same as pre-COVID, though that’s still around 20 aircraft short when you consider that SilkAir has now been fully merged into the mainline operation.

Here’s the latest update.

Fleet totals

The following table summarises the Singapore Airlines passenger fleet totals as of 31st December 2023.

CAAS Register (Dec ’23):	149
Recently delivered:	+1
For disposal:	-7
In Service:	143
In maintenance / stored:	-7
Active:	136

The official registered aircraft data in combination with confirmed 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 143 planes at 31st December 2023, 136 of which were recently active.

That’s 11% more than at the start of the year, when only 123 passenger aircraft were active in the fleet.

  Click here to see the official CAAS list of registered aircraft in Singapore at 18 December 2023.

SIA Passenger Fleet at 31st December 2023

The following 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 flights (‘Active’).

Type	Registered	In Service	Active
A350-900 LH	32	32	32
A350-900 MH	24	24	24
A350-900 ULR	7	7	7
A380-800	14	12	10
737-800	7	7	7
737-8 MAX	16	16	16
777-200	2	0	0
777-300ER	26	23	19
787-10	22	22	21
Total	150	143	136

Both of the airline’s remaining registered Boeing 777-200s will not be returning to the fleet, in addition to two older Airbus A380s and three Boeing 777-300ERs, all of which are still formally registered to the carrier.

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

This reflects an available fleet of 143 aircraft, plus future deliveries of Airbus A350s, Boeing 737-8 MAXs, Boeing 787-10s and Boeing 777-9s still on order.

Recent deliveries

Since our last fleet update in October, Singapore Airlines has taken delivery of three brand new wide-body aircraft, both Boeing 787-10s.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 787-10
Recent deliveries

Reg.	Delivery	Service Entry
9V-SCP	28 Oct 2023	2 Nov 2023 (SQ279 SIN-ADL)
9V-SCV	28 Nov 2023	2 Dec 2023 (SQ446 SIN-DAC)
9V-SCW	22 Dec 2023	27 Dec 2023 (SQ936 SIN-DPS)

As we noted earlier this year, 9V-SCP is the 1,000th Boeing 787 built, across all Boeing 787 models (-8, -9 and -10 combined).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the aircraft was stored for over three years, but finally made its way to Singapore in October this year, entering service with the airline in early November.

Recent de-registrations

Since our last update the following Singapore Airlines aircraft have been removed from the Singapore CAAS register:

• Boeing 777-200 9V-SRH
  Now N99003 with Ion Aviation
  Flew Alice Springs – Lanzhou on 19th December 2023
• Boeing 777-200 9V-SRL
  Now N99002 with Ion Aviation
  Flew Alice Springs – Lanzhou on 15th November 2023
• Boeing 777-200 9V-SRP
  Now N99001 with Ion Aviation
  Flew Alice Springs – Lanzhou on 20th October 2023

These aircraft were among the seven Singapore Airlines leased to NokScoot, having operated them as part of the mainline carrier in the past, but then were returned to SIA once NokScoot ceased trading in June 2020.

They were stored in Alice Springs for the last three years.

They have all been sold to aircraft asset management company Ion Aviation, and flown to Lanzhou in China. It’s not clear what the future holds for these 22-year-old aircraft.

The two remaining Boeing 777-200 aircraft still registered to Singapore Airlines, 9V-SRG and -SRJ, are still stored in Alice Springs at the time of writing. They are likely to have a similar fate.

The last Airbus A380 finally rejoins the fleet

At our last fleet update, only one of SIA’s future 12-strong fleet of Airbus A380s was still undergoing its refit with the latest 2017 cabin products, 9V-SKP.

Thankfully there’s good news there, with the aircraft finally emerging from the hangar for a test flight on 28th November 2023, followed by its reintroduction to passenger service on 7th December 2023.

This one had been in the hangar since October 2022, so it turned out to be quite a long job for the engineering team.

The A380 is now being used extensively on the network, including to Hong Kong, London and Sydney, though recently the type has been almost completely removed from the Shanghai route, to the disappointment of many of our readers who had already booked.

Fleet activity by registration

Here’s a breakdown of the SIA fleet of passenger aircraft based on recent revenue flight activity, based on an analysis conducted on 29th December 2023.

Airbus A350s

All 32 Airbus A350-900 Long Haul aircraft in the fleet were active in December 2023.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SMA	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMB	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMC	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMD	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SME	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMF	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMG	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMH	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMI	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMJ	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMK	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SML	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMM	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMN	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMO	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMP	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMQ	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SMR	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMS	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMT	SIN	21 Dec 23	8
9V-SMU	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMV	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMW	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SMY	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SMZ	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SJA	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SJB	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SJC	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SJD	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SJE	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SJF	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SJG	SIN	27 Dec 23	2

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

All 24 Airbus A350-900 Medium Haul aircraft were also flying recently.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SHA	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHB	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHC	SIN	27 Dec 23	2
9V-SHD	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHE	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHF	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHG	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHH	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHI	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHJ	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHK	SIN	20 Dec 23	9
9V-SHL	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHM	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHN	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHO	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHP	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHQ	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHR	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHS	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHT	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHU	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHV	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHW	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SHY	SIN	29 Dec 23	0

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

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

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SGA	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SGB	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SGC	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SGD	SIN	27 Dec 23	2
9V-SGE	SIN	26 Dec 23	3
9V-SGF	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SGG	SIN	29 Dec 23	0

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

Airbus A380s

A total of ten Airbus A380s are currently in regular service, with 9V-SKP becoming the final superjumbo to have its refit completed, as mentioned above.

9V-SKM and 9V-SKR are also already in the new configuration, but are undergoing maintenance at Changi.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SKF	SIN	24 Mar 20	1,375
9V-SKK	ASP	21 Mar 20	1,378
9V-SKM	SIN	10 Nov 23	49
9V-SKN	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SKP	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SKQ	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SKR	SIN	6 Dec 23	23
9V-SKS	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SKT	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SKU	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SKV	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SKW	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SKY	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SKZ	SIN	28 Dec 23	1

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

9V-SKK will see out the end of its lease in Alice Springs before leaving the fleet, while 9V-SKF is still parked at Changi awaiting its fate – sadly it will be broken up and used only for spare parts.

Boeing 737-800s

All 7 out of the 9 Boeing 737-800s that moved across from SilkAir to Singapore Airlines remain in regular service with the mainline carrier, with 9V-MGA and -MGB already deemed surplus to requirements and removed from the fleet, as revealed in May 2022.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-MGC	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MGD	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MGE	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MGK	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MGL	SIN	26 Dec 23	3
9V-MGM	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MGN	SIN	27 Dec 23	2

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

The Boeing 737-800 fleet, with its unpopular recliner Business Class seats, will thankfully wind down from 2024 through to the end of 2025, as their leases progressively expire.

Boeing 737-8 MAX

All 16 of SIA’s Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft are now in regular service.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-MBA	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBB	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBC	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBD	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBE	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBF	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBG	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBH	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBI	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBJ	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBK	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBL	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBM	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBN	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBO	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-MBP	SIN	29 Dec 23	0

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

Boeing 777-200

Boeing 777-200s will not return to the SIA fleet, with the two aircraft still owned by the airline in storage at Alice Springs in Australia.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SRG	ASP	1 Feb 20	1,427
9V-SRJ	ASP	7 Jun 20	1,300

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

These aircraft are due to be sold.

Boeing 777-300ERs

19 of SIA’s 26 registered Boeing 777-300ERs were active over the last two weeks.

Another 6 aircraft are stored at Changi (5) or Alice Springs (1), though as we already reported 9V-SWD, -SWE and -SWF will not rejoin the fleet, leaving only 3 to be activated again.

One aircraft, 9V-SWI, is in maintenance at Changi.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SWB	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWD	SIN	19 Mar 20	1,380
9V-SWE	SIN	1 Feb 21	1,061
9V-SWF	SIN	28 Sep 20	1,187
9V-SWG	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWH	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWI	SIN	25 Nov 23	34
9V-SWJ	ASP	4 May 20	1,334
9V-SWK	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWL	SIN	23 Dec 23	6
9V-SWM	SIN	24 Dec 21	735
9V-SWN	SIN	24 Dec 21	735
9V-SWO	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWP	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWQ	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWR	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWS	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWT	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWU	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWV	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWW	SIN	27 Dec 23	2
9V-SWY	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SWZ	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SNA	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SNB	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SNC	SIN	29 Dec 23	0

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

Boeing 787-10s

All of SIA’s Boeing 787-10s are currently active, except 9V-SCB which is in maintenance.

Aircraft	Location	Last flew	Days ago
9V-SCA	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCB	SIN	21 Nov 23	38
9V-SCC	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCD	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SCE	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCF	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCG	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCH	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCI	SIN	28 Dec 23	1
9V-SCJ	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCK	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCL	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCM	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCN	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCO	SIN	25 Dec 23	4
9V-SCP	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCR	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCS	SIN	19 Dec 23	10
9V-SCT	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCU	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCV	SIN	29 Dec 23	0
9V-SCW	SIN	29 Dec 23	0

‘Last flew’ dates relate to the aircraft’s most recent revenue flight.

Alice Springs storage

There are now only four SIA group aircraft in storage at Alice Springs, as outlined in the following table.

SIA Group aircraft stored in Alice Springs
Airline	Aircraft	Total	Registrations
	Airbus A380	1	9V-SKK
	Boeing 777-200	2	9V-SRG 9V-SRJ
	Boeing 777-300ER	1	9V-SWJ

The sole remaining A380 in Alice Springs, 9V-SKK, is leased from Hannover Leasing until the end of 2023. It will not be refitted or returning to service with Singapore Airlines.

The former NokScoot Boeing 777-200s, still owned by Singapore Airlines, will eventually be sold.

The sole Boeing 777-300ER still stored in Alice Springs, 9V-SWJ, should be returning to service with the airline. It has now been stored for over three years.

Upcoming deliveries

Based on Singapore Airlines’ latest fleet development plan, we can still expect two Boeing 777-300ERs to leave the fleet between now and the end of March 2024, while one more Boeing 787-10 is due for delivery.

Singapore Airlines Fleet Development Plan

Aircraft Type	SIA Passenger Fleet Totals
	31 Dec ’23	Leaving	Joining	31 Mar ’24
A350-900 MH	24			24
A350-900 LH	32			32
A350-900 ULR	7			7
A380-800	12			12
737-800	7			7
737-8 MAX	16			16
777-300ER	23	– 2		21
787-10	22		+ 1	23
All Types	143	– 2	+ 1	142

The final Boeing 787-10 expected to be joining the fleet between now and 31st March 2024 is:

Registration	Latest Status & Location	Last flew
9V-SCQ	4 test flights completed Everett	6 Dec 2023

9V-SCQ has been removed from storage in San Antonio, Texas and flew to Seattle (Everett) on 6th December 2023. It is due for delivery between now and 31st March 2024.

Once this aircraft has been delivered, only a further eight Boeing 787-10s are due to join the SIA fleet, in subsequent financial years.

Singapore Airlines should provide a further update to its Fleet Development Plan, outlining deliveries in the 2024/25 financial year, by May 2024.

Future orders

Here’s how the latest total Singapore Airlines outstanding orders for fleet modernisation and replacement looks, including freighter aircraft.

Here’s how the same information looks for Scoot’s outstanding order book.

Delivery of Boeing 777-9s, which will sport the airline’s latest Suites and Business Class products, has slipped to 2025 at the earliest, with 2026 looking like a more realistic prospect, now that SIA has been issued its first six line production slots.

Singapore Airlines is finishing off 2023 with its largest passenger fleet since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 136 jets now in service.

That total has been recently bolstered by three new Boeing 787-10 deliveries, now that the troubled type is cleared for deliver again, plus the completion of the carrier’s final Airbus A380 refit.

We expect at a further Boeing 787-10 to arrive between now and the end of March 2024, which will continue to allow the airline to restore pre-COVID capacity, and even expand service to various markets.

It will be interesting to see how ambitious the airline’s new aircraft delivery schedule for the 2024/25 financial year looks, with further Airbus A350s, Boeing 787-10s and Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft still on the order book, though the future flagship Boeing 777-9s won’t be arriving until 2025 or even 2026.

(Cover Photo: Shutterstock)