Here’s our latest update on the Singapore Airlines passenger fleet as of December 2024, including new of the delivery of the carrier’s final Airbus A350-900, and the continued phase-out of older ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-800s, set to be completed by the end of next year.
Unfortunately, the delivery of two new Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, initially expected between now and March 2025, has been delayed. Despite this, the planned retirement of the Boeing 737-800s remains on track.
SIA’s active passenger fleet now stands at 138 aircraft, four more than our September 2024 update, as the carrier ramps up capacity for the peak season.
In total SIA is still around 12 aircraft short of its pre-COVID fleet, when you consider that SilkAir has now been fully merged into the mainline operation.
Here’s our deep-dive into the latest fleet situation.
Fleet totals
The following table summarises the Singapore Airlines passenger fleet totals as of 31st December 2024.
| CAAS Register (8 Nov ’24): | 151 |
| Recently delivered: | 1 |
| For disposal or recently scrapped: | -6 |
| In Service: | 146 |
| In maintenance: |
-8 |
| Active: | 138 |
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 146 planes at 31st December 2024, 138 of which were recently active.
Click here to see the official CAAS list of registered aircraft in Singapore at 8th November 2024.
SIA Passenger Fleet at 31st December 2024
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 |
34 | 34 | 34 |
| A350-900 MH |
24 |
24 | 23 |
| A350-900 ULR |
7 | 7 | 6 |
A380-800 |
13 | 12 | 9 |
737-800 |
7 |
5 | 5 |
737-8 MAX |
16 | 16 | 16 |
777-300ER |
25 | 22 | 21 |
787-10 |
26 | 26 | 24 |
| Total | 152 | 146 | 138 |
The following aircraft remain registered to the airline but will not be returning to the operating fleet, and are therefore excluded from the ‘In Service’ column:
- 1 Airbus A380
- 2 Boeing 737-800s
- 3 Boeing 777-300ERs
This reflects an available fleet of 146 aircraft, plus future deliveries of Boeing 737-8 MAXs, Boeing 787-10s and Boeing 777-9s still on order.
Average fleet age
Singapore Airlines likes to maintain a young fleet, typically retaining its passenger aircraft until they are around 15 years old, a decade earlier than most carriers will plan such retirements.
The good news is that the current in-service fleet boasts an average age of only 7.4 years as of 31st December 2024. Here’s how it looks by fleet.
| Type |
Average Age |
| A350-900 LH | 6.2 years |
| A350-900 MH | 4.9 years |
| A350-900 ULR | 6.4 years |
| A380-800 | 10.9 years |
| 737-800 | 9.6 years |
| 737-8 MAX | 5.6 years |
| 777-300ER | 14.7 years |
| 787-10 | 4.4 years |
| All Types | 7.4 years |
The oldest passenger aircraft in the fleet is 9V-SWB, a Boeing 777-300ER, which is 18.1 years old.
The Boeing 777-300ER fleet will continue to be the ‘achilles heel’ for the airline in terms of fleet age, as these aircraft are retained much longer than originally intended, due to well-documented Boeing 777-9 delivery delays.
The first of 31 Boeing 777-9s SIA has on order now won’t arrive until 2026 at the earliest, and possibly even in 2027, by which time the 777-300ER fleet will have an average age of nearly 17 years and 9V-SWB will be over 20 years old.
SIA’s final Airbus A350 has been delivered
As we recently reported, in November 2024 Singapore Airlines took delivery of its 65th and final passenger Airbus A350 aircraft, 9V-SJI.
This is notable as the final new long-haul aircraft the carrier will receive until deliveries of the much-beleaguered Boeing 777-9 begin, in 2026 at the earliest but more likely for SIA in 2027.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A350
Recent deliveries
| Reg. | Delivery | Service Entry |
| 9V-SJI | 9 Nov 2024 |
14 Nov 2024 (SQ287 SIN-AKL) |
This brings the Airbus A350 Long Haul fleet to 34 aircraft, the largest in the airline.
(Photo: Plane’s Portrait Aviation Media / Malcolm Lu)
Additionally Singapore Airlines took delivery of its latest Boeing 787-10 at the time of our last fleet update, but had not yet introduced the aircraft to commercial service.
As usual, that happened just a few days later with 9V-SCQ flying to Delhi on 30th September 2024.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 787
Recent deliveries
| Reg. | Delivery | Service Entry |
| 9V-SCQ | 27 Sep 2024 |
30 Sep 2024 (SQ946 SIN-DEL) |
Another Boeing 737-800 has left the fleet
In our last fleet update we brought the welcome news that Singapore Airlines had started the process of returning its seven inherited ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-800s to their respective leasing companies.
This will eventually see all these aircraft, which feature recliner seats in Business Class, phased out of service by the end of 2025, as we reported earlier this year.
This month an additional aircraft, 9V-MGD, has joined the list of retirements, leaving passenger service on 18th November 2024, following a flight from Penang.
The aircraft has joined 9V-MGC in Kuala Lumpur for de-lease preparation, and will be returned to its owner, Standard Chartered, in due course.
9V-MGC is due to join Virgin Australia as VH-IJR in the coming weeks, while the fate of 9V-MGD is not known.
9V-MGE should be the next aircraft to undergo the same process, reducing the Boeing 737-800 fleet to four aircraft by the end of March 2025.
(Photo: Changi Airport Group)
Between April and December 2025, the remaining four aircraft will also bow out of SIA service, as new Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft are delivered, finally removing those unpopular recliner Business Class seats from the network.
Fleet activity by registration
Here’s a breakdown of the SIA fleet of passenger aircraft based on recent revenue flight activity, from an analysis conducted on 29th December 2024.
Airbus A350s
All of SIA’s 34 Airbus A350-900 Long Haul aircraft in the fleet were active as of December 2024.
 |
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| Aircraft | Age (years) | Last flew | Days ago |
| 9V-SMA | 8.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMB | 8.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMC | 8.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMD | 8.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SME | 8.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMF | 8.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMG | 8.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMH | 8.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMI | 8.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMJ | 8.0 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMK | 7.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SML | 7.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMM | 7.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMN | 7.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMO | 7.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMP | 7.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMQ | 7.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMR | 7.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMS | 7.2 | 28 Dec 24 | 1 |
| 9V-SMT | 7.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMU | 6.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMV | 5.5 | 28 Dec 24 | 1 |
| 9V-SMW | 5.4 | 28 Dec 24 | 1 |
| 9V-SMY | 5.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SMZ | 5.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SJA | 5.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SJB | 3.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SJC | 2.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SJD | 2.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SJE | 3.6 | 26 Dec 24 | 3 |
| 9V-SJF | 1.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SJG | 1.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SJH | 0.7 | 28 Dec 24 | 1 |
| 9V-SJI | 0.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
All but one of the airline’s 24 Airbus A350-900 Medium Haul aircraft were also flying recently, with 9V-SHP in maintenance.
|
|||
| Aircraft | Age (years) | Last flew | Days ago |
| 9V-SHA | 6.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHB | 6.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHC | 6.0 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHD | 5.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHE | 5.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHF | 5.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHG | 5.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHH | 5.7 | 24 Dec 24 | 5 |
| 9V-SHI | 5.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHJ | 5.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHK | 5.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHL | 5.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHM | 5.0 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHN | 5.0 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHO | 4.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHP | 4.4 | 22 Nov 24 | 37 |
| 9V-SHQ | 4.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHR | 4.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHS | 4.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHT | 4.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHU | 3.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHV | 3.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHW | 3.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SHY | 2.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
Six of the airline’s seven Airbus A350-900 ULR aircraft are in service, with 9V-SGF now undergoing its six-year maintenance check, which will also cycle through to the remaining aircraft 9V-SGG between now and January 2025, as reported here.
|
|||
| Aircraft | Age (years) | Last flew | Days ago |
| 9V-SGA | 6.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SGB | 6.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SGC | 6.4 | 28 Dec 24 | 1 |
| 9V-SGD | 6.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SGE | 6.7 | 27 Dec 24 | 2 |
| 9V-SGF | 6.2 | 25 Nov 24 | 34 |
| 9V-SGG | 6.1 | 28 Dec 24 | 1 |
Airbus A380s
A total of nine SIA Airbus A380s are currently in regular service, with three aircraft – 9V-SKR, 9V-SKU and 9V-SKV undergoing maintenance.
 |
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| Aircraft | Age (years) | Last flew | Days ago |
| 9V-SKF | 16.9 | 24 Mar 20 | 1,741 |
| 9V-SKM | 14.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SKN | 14.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SKP | 13.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SKQ | 13.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SKR | 13.3 | 14 Dec 24 | 15 |
| 9V-SKS | 13.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SKT | 12.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SKU | 7.8 | 2 Oct 24 | 88 |
| 9V-SKV | 7.6 | 18 Nov 24 | 41 |
| 9V-SKW | 7.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SKY | 7.0 | 28 Dec 24 | 1 |
| 9V-SKZ | 6.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
9V-SKR is having its maintenance work conducted in Teruel, Spain, rather than at Changi, with 9V-SKS and 9V-SKT also recently returning from that facility following hangar visits there.
9V-SKF is still parked at Changi awaiting its fate – sadly it will be broken up and used only for spare parts.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
Maintenance woes continue to plague the carrier’s Airbus A380 fleet, with the superjumbo removed from Delhi, Mumbai and London routes in early 2025,
Boeing 737-800s
Five of the seven ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-800s that moved across to Singapore Airlines are in regular service, with 9V-MGC and 9V-MGD now undergoing preparations for return to lessor, following their withdrawal from the operating fleet in September 2024 and November 2024 respectively.
 |
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| Aircraft | Age (years) | Last flew | Days ago |
| 9V-MGC | 10.7 | 22 Sep 24 | 98 |
| 9V-MGD | 10.7 | 18 Nov 24 | 41 |
| 9V-MGE | 10.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MGK | 9.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MGL | 9.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MGM | 9.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MGN | 9.3 | 22 Dec 24 | 7 |
As we reported earlier this year, the relatively unpopular Boeing 737-800 fleet will continue to wind down significantly, and we can finally say goodbye to recliner Business Class seats on the network by the end of 2025.
Boeing 737-8 MAX
All 16 of SIA’s Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft are in regular service.
 |
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| Aircraft | Age (years) | Last flew | Days ago |
| 9V-MBA | 7.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBB | 7.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBC | 7.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBD | 6.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBE | 6.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBF | 5.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBG | 5.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBH | 5.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBI | 5.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBJ | 5.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBK | 5.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBL | 5.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBM | 5.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBN | 5.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBO | 2.5 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-MBP | 2.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
Boeing 777-300ERs
21 of SIA’s 26 registered Boeing 777-300ERs were active over the last two weeks.
Three aircraft are stored at Changi, and will not be entering service again 9V-SWD, -SWF and -SWN, while 9V-SWE was recently scrapped, as mentioned in our last update.
Additionally, one aircraft is in maintenance at Changi, – 9V-SWR.
(Photo: MainlyMiles via reader)
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| Aircraft | Age (years) | Last flew | Days ago |
| 9V-SWB | 18.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWD | 18.1 | 19 Mar 20 | 1,746 |
| 9V-SWF | 18.1 | 28 Sep 20 | 1,553 |
| 9V-SWG | 18.0 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWH | 17.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWI | 17.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWJ | 17.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWK | 17.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWL | 17.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWM | 16.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWN | 16.8 | 24 Dec 21 | 1,101 |
| 9V-SWO | 16.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWP | 16.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWQ | 16.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWR | 16.6 | 18 Nov 24 | 41 |
| 9V-SWS | 16.5 | 27 Dec 24 | 2 |
| 9V-SWT | 15.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWU | 11.5 | 28 Dec 24 | 1 |
| 9V-SWV | 11.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWW | 10.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWY | 10.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SWZ | 10.0 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SNA | 9.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SNB | 9.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SNC | 9.2 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
Boeing 787-10s
24 of SIA’s Boeing 787-10s are currently active, with two members of the fleet 9V-SCG and 9V-SCH in maintenance.
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| Aircraft | Age (years) | Last flew | Days ago |
| 9V-SCA | 6.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCB | 6.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCC | 6.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCD | 6.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCE | 6.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCF | 6.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCG | 7.6 | 24 Nov 24 | 35 |
| 9V-SCH | 7.8 | 22 Aug 24 | 129 |
| 9V-SCI | 5.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCJ | 5.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCK | 5.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCL | 5.6 | 25 Dec 24 | 4 |
| 9V-SCM | 5.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCN | 5.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCO | 5.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCP | 4.7 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCQ | 4.0 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCR | 3.9 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCS | 1.8 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCT | 1.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCU | 1.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCV | 1.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCW | 1.1 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCY | 0.6 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SCZ | 0.4 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
| 9V-SDA | 0.3 | 29 Dec 24 | 0 |
9V-SCH has now not flown for over four months – a strangely lengthy downtime.
A350 refits should start in 2025
Singapore Airlines recently announced that it would be refitting its 34 Airbus A350 Long Haul and seven Airbus A350 ULR aircraft with brand new Business Class cabin products, due to enter service from early 2026, as part of a S$1.1 billion retrofit programme.
The A350 ULR aircraft will also receive the carrier’s new First Class cabin product.
Refits of the Airbus A350 Long Haul jets should commence in late 2025 to meet the target early 2026 launch.
The first aircraft always takes longer to refit – potentially two to three months, but then the schedule calls for each subsequent refit to take just 1.5 months on average, assuming each A350 goes in for the work one at a time.
The aircraft will be retrofitted by SIA Engineering Company in Singapore.
Upcoming deliveries
Singapore Airlines was originally due to take delivery of two new Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft between now and March 2024, however these have been further deferred due to production delays at Boeing.
It seems likely that they will now take place in the 2025/26 financial year between April 2025 and March 2026, potentially along with some more 737 MAXs and additional Boeing 787-10s.
Here’s how the latest Singapore Airlines outstanding orders for fleet modernisation and replacement looks, including for freighter aircraft.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
Delivery of Boeing 777-9s, which the airline desperately needs to replace its ageing Boeing 777-300ERs, has slipped to 2026 at the earliest.
Frankly 2027 looks like a more realistic prospect, as certification delays continue to build, with the test programme still on hold since an issue with engine thrust-links was identified four months ago, in August 2024.
What about Scoot?
Here’s how Scoot’s outstanding order book looks, as of December 2024.
The low-cost carrier now has four Embraer E190-E2 regional jets in service, with services to 15 regional destinations now in full swing, including Koh Samui, Malacca and Phu Quoc.
(Photo: Plane’s Portrait Aviation Media / Malcolm Lu)
It will be interesting to see where Scoot deploys its remaining five E190 jets, all due for delivery by the end of 2025.
Summary
As of 31st December 2024, Singapore Airlines’ fleet consists of 146 passenger aircraft, with 138 currently active.
Since our last update, the airline has taken delivery of one new Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft, which touched down at Changi in early November. This marks the final long-haul aircraft delivery for the carrier until at least 2026, or possibly even 2027, given ongoing delays for the Boeing 777-9 programme.
Meanwhile, the second of SIA’s seven Boeing 737-800s has been retired from service and is set to be returned to its lessor soon.
Next year, we can look forward to additional Boeing 737-8 MAX deliveries, despite two originally scheduled for arrival by March 2025 being delayed due to production setbacks. Additionally, the Airbus A350 Long Haul cabin retrofit program is expected to commence, likely in the fourth quarter of the year.
(Cover Photo: Plane’s Portrait Aviation Media / Malcolm Lu)
I want this Airline to be the Best Airline in 2025.