SQ A330 to serve PER daily

[Montague S]

rumour has it it might be happening from April. probably on SQ 224/225 first then the other flights from later in the year.

[lloyd fox]

I posted this Montague

http://yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=1583&highlight=SINGAPORE+A330

[Montague S]

well its now official.


News Releases

Australian, Japanese Cities To Be First For New A330 Operations
30 December 2008

Singapore Airlines will introduce its new Airbus A330-300 regional aircraft on routes to Australian and Japanese cities, progressively from end March 2009.

The first of 19 new A330-300s will be delivered to Singapore Airlines by Airbus in mid-January. Initially, the aircraft will be used to complete pilot conversion, and thereafter, operate some short sectors between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore and Jakarta, during late February and March.

Its full entry into commercial service will occur on 30 March 2009, and to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the commencement of Singapore Airlines flights between the two cities, the first route will be between Singapore and Brisbane.

From April, services between Singapore and Perth will be progressively converted from the existing B777 operations to A330; conversion will be completed in May. The daily flight between Adelaide and Singapore will be converted by June.

Also in June, following delivery of the eighth aircraft, the A330 will debut on Japan routes, with the daily service to Nagoya to be converted from B777 operations. By March 2010, the daily B777 service to Osaka will be replaced with the A330.

The A330-300 twin-engine wide-body aircraft will be configured with 285 seats in two classes – Business and Economy. A new Business Class seat, especially designed for regional and medium-haul flights, as well as other cabin product features, will be unveiled when the aircraft is delivered in January.

The Business Class cabin will consist of 30 seats, in a 2-2-2 configuration (distinct from the existing B777 on these routes, which is in a 2-3-2 layout). Economy will feature 255 seats, in a 2-4-2 configuration. All seats will feature the new KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines award-winning inflight entertainment system.

The deployment of the A330-300 is shown below:

http://www.singaporeair.com/mediacentre/pacontent/news/NE_7008.jsp?JSESSIONID=dhbhJZgMw9ZtTMF1cQbQTjlvSch 9nYlWzpHfycHsyr9Y5NVhTknn!-1698243762!1398209029

[NickN]

What is the reason for them removing the 777 off those routes?

[Montague S]

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/Util/showPopup.jspx?method=window&windowUrl=/saa/en_UK/Pricing/EquipmentDetailsDisplay.jsp?equipment=333&equipmentName=A330-300

here is the seatmap for the new a/c.

[Ash W]

What is the reason for them removing the 777 off those routes?

Maybe because the new A330's are being configured for regional use, so better to send 777's in a long haul config to places where that config is used to it's full potential.

[Montague S]

more likely age, some of those 777 are pushing a dozen years old.

[D Chan]

Took SQ a while to get the A330. All these years I reckon they couldve done well with an A330 fleet - just look at Cathay, Northwest etc. - the A330 is a true workhorse. Finally they can put them to good use!

[James Smith]

The issue that hasn't been raised as yet is that SQ will actually be reducing seats by 38 per flight with the conversion from 772 to A333 operations. The 772 has 30 + 293 seats. Once this is complete both Brisbane and Perth will have 1444 less return seats per week. Adelaide will loose 532 seats per week with their daily flights. The travel industry will not like this which will only add to the bleak forecasts for inbound tourists to Australia.

Will there be any increase in flights to limit or offset the reduction? The future schedules have not had the aircraft change updated as yet to show the aircraft change.

[NickN]

That was the point of my question actually, the drop in seats between the 777 and the A330.

Also, don't the regionally configured A330's have less comfortable seating than the 777 configured for long haul?

[Ash W]

That was the point of my question actually, the drop in seats between the 777 and the A330.

Also, don't the regionally configured A330's have less comfortable seating than the 777 configured for long haul?

Define less comfortable? Gee, they are configured for regional flights, Perth to Singapore is regional, not long haul.

[Mike W]

"The Business Class cabin will consist of 30 seats, in a 2-2-2 configuration (distinct from the existing B777 on these routes, which is in a 2-3-2 layout). Economy will feature 255 seats, in a 2-4-2 configuration."

No mention of course that the 777 is wider than the 330 enabling the 777 to have an extra J row :rolleyes:

[Ash W]

"The Business Class cabin will consist of 30 seats, in a 2-2-2 configuration (distinct from the existing B777 on these routes, which is in a 2-3-2 layout). Economy will feature 255 seats, in a 2-4-2 configuration."

No mention of course that the 777 is wider than the 330 enabling the 777 to have an extra J row :rolleyes:

Although a 2-2-2 in an A330 gives a wider seat than 2-4-2 in a 777, so your point is?

[Mike W]

Although a 2-2-2 in an A330 gives a wider seat than 2-4-2 in a 777, so your point is?

It was never mentioned that the 777 is wider perhaps giving the impression that the 330 seating is actually something it may not be. What's with the A.net agression?

[Ash W]

It was never mentioned that the 777 is wider perhaps giving the impression that the 330 seating is actually something it may not be. What's with the A.net agression?

Sorry if it I am coming across agressive, but sometimes I really don't understand what people are getting at in their posts. You for example said "No mention of course that the 777 is wider than the 330 enabling the 777 to have an extra J row", so I raised the point that it is irellivent how wide a 777 is, the seating will in fact be wider and indeed they are having the same number. Now if they were putting 2-3-2 on an A330 you would have a point.

[Mike W]

Sorry if it I am coming across agressive, but sometimes I really don't understand what people are getting at in their posts. You for example said "No mention of course that the 777 is wider than the 330 enabling the 777 to have an extra J row", so I raised the point that it is irellivent how wide a 777 is, the seating will in fact be wider and indeed they are having the same number. Now if they were putting 2-3-2 on an A330 you would have a point.

No worries. I know, and you know that the 777 is wider, and the 330 is not narrower than 6/7th's of a 777 but the 'spin' if you like, in the article, is designed to impress potential J customers and insinuate that they have 6 seats in a 330 taking up the same space that 7 take up on the 777.

[Ash W]

No worries. I know, and you know that the 777 is wider, and the 330 is not narrower than 6/7th's of a 777 but the 'spin' if you like, in the article, is designed to impress potential J customers and insinuate that they have 6 seats in a 330 taking up the same space that 7 take up on the 777.

The real story would be the reduction in J leg room going from a long haul config a/c to a regional config a/c. But hey for such a short flight, it makes perfect sense to match the product to the market.

[Montague S]

Define less comfortable? Gee, they are configured for regional flights, Perth to Singapore is regional, not long haul.

neither is Melbourne, yet they manage a 77W & a 744 for what is essentially a regional flight.

SQ have decked it out with the exact same capacity as QF with the exception of 2 seats and still offer the same amount of flights per day.

plus Perth has the added bonus of Jetstar & Tiger offering seats to Singapore.

[Bruce Bramwell]

Would have thought it was the same business class seats uniform across the fleet?

Anyway those 777-200's were always destined to the regional routes with the de-rated engines

[Ash W]

Would have thought it was the same business class seats uniform across the fleet?


Why? Plenty of airlines have different products to suit different market types. Take QF for example, they have different J seats in domestic, trans tasman (which would be like SQ's regional routes) and long haul. Same too with their service levels and meal options.

Other airlines that come to mind straight away with different products for different markets would be Thai and BA. On the latter, the BA short haul J seat is the same as the Y, so all you pay for is a different meal and to sit up front, although if you are on the left no one is seated in seat B, but the right it is 3 across.

Will be interesting to see what this new SQ J seat is all about. Anyone have any pics or more detail about it?

[Bruce Bramwell]

Why? Plenty of airlines have different products to suit different market types. Take QF for example, they have different J seats in domestic, trans tasman (which would be like SQ's regional routes) and long haul. Same too with their service levels and meal options.

Other airlines that come to mind straight away with different products for different markets would be Thai and BA. On the latter, the BA short haul J seat is the same as the Y, so all you pay for is a different meal and to sit up front, although if you are on the left no one is seated in seat B, but the right it is 3 across.

Will be interesting to see what this new SQ J seat is all about. Anyone have any pics or more detail about it?

I can be wrong Ash W, but......

Singapore's destinations are international, we are not talking about domestic like QF & BA which are a complete different kettle of fish....

These are widebodied aircraft - would have thought they would at least have a similar or very similar business class product

[Montague S]

Will be interesting to see what this new SQ J seat is all about. Anyone have any pics or more detail about it?

read the press release..its all there.

[Ken K]

more likely age, some of those 777 are pushing a dozen years old.

Correct. The older 777s will be retired as the A330s are delivered.

As for the new seats, they will be a significant upgrade to the regional offerings. Think angled lie-flat seats in C, and slightly modified 77W/A380 seats in economy. The -SY* series 773's will be refitted from February onwards with a similar offering in C and Y, as well as 77W seats in First.

Ash - The routes that the A330 will be operating all currently get the -SR* birds, which are regional 2-class config. They are programmed at 84k lb thrust (vs 92k for the long haul ones), 2-3-2 seating in C (50" pitch) and a regional recliner seat.

[Ash W]

I can be wrong Ash W, but......

Singapore's destinations are international, we are not talking about domestic like QF & BA which are a complete different kettle of fish....

These are widebodied aircraft - would have thought they would at least have a similar or very similar business class product

I was talking about international with BA and Qantas too, trying to compare apples to apples. Perth-Singapore is a short to medium haul route, pretty much the same as Qantas trans tasman flights or some of BA's longer trans European routes. Some of the BA flights in this catagory are 4-5 hours long, Moscow, Athens, Cyprus for example and are flown with wide body a/c too. Some of their northern African flights are also flown with aircraft configured in medium haul config, which is a far cry from their long haul offering.

You might want to check how many SQ flights are under 4 hours, you might be surprised.


read the press release..its all there.

Yeah it explains the layout, but I asked if there was a pic or MORE detail to see what it is really like. Ie is it still a bed style seat or more of the older style upright seat?

[D Chan]

I can be wrong Ash W, but......

Singapore's destinations are international, we are not talking about domestic like QF & BA which are a complete different kettle of fish....

These are widebodied aircraft - would have thought they would at least have a similar or very similar business class product

SQ and CX (Singapore and Hong Kong) naturally won't have any 'domestic' flights. However they do have specialised 'regional' products for intra-asia flights. If you consider Qantas in the same token, that's similar to Qantas's domestic, in that they are 'toned down' and does not offer the same level luxury as their best business products. These are probably short to medium haul flights maybe <6 hours. Depends on the aircraft and config. Sometimes SQ or CX utilises the aircraft with full business config on these routes as well, depending how important they are to the airline as well as aircraft rotation.

In my honest opinion, if the aircraft is going to be used for these regional routes, there simply isn't the need to make a full flat bed with all the gizmo. The pax will surely appreciate it but in most cases flat beds are a feature that simply most pax would not need when we're talking about 2-4 hour flights. If they don't fit in flatbeds (which take up quite a bit of legroom) the airline can also config these aircraft with more seats as well.

These are widebodied aircraft
and Qantas used the B743 on PER MEL SYD runs, also whatabout the A332 that is replacing the B743s on these runs? The concept is similar.

[Adam Stone]

rumour has it it might be happening from April. probably on SQ 224/225 first then the other flights from later in the year.

From Airline Route Updates Blog

SIA A330 Routes Information

Singapore Airlines has unveiled its A330 operation on 30DEC08 in the GDS.

Initially the A330-300 will be operating short-haul route for crew familiarization.

Singapore - Kuala Lumpur
SQ106/107, x67, 16FEB09 - 27MAR09
SQ118/119, Daily, 16FEB09 - 28MAR09

Singapore - Jakarta
SQ958/959, Daily, 16FEB09 - 28MAR09

Singapore - Brisbane
All 17 weekly service replacing B777-200 from 29MAR09.

First flight to operate on SQ255 to celebrate its 25th anniversary of Brisbane operation

Singapore - Perth
SQ225/224, x23, effective 02APR09
SQ223/226, Daily, effective 01MAY09
SQ215/216, Daily, effective 01MAY09

Singapore - Nagoya
SQ672/671, Daily, effective 01JUN09

Singapore - Adelaide
SQ269/268, Daily, effective 02JUN09

[Ken K]

Yeah it explains the layout, but I asked if there was a pic or MORE detail to see what it is really like. Ie is it still a bed style seat or more of the older style upright seat?

It's an angled lie flat seat as I have revealed in Post #23

[Brad Myer]

I was talking about international with BA and Qantas too, trying to compare apples to apples. Perth-Singapore is a short to medium haul route, pretty much the same as Qantas trans tasman flights

Not exactly.

QF offer the skybed on all PER-SIN-PER flights.

Infact QF offers the skybed on all SIN flights which i think gives them an advantage over SQs regional biz product.

[Gareth U]

Not exactly.

QF offer the skybed on all PER-SIN-PER flights.

Infact QF offers the skybed on all SIN flights which i think gives them an advantage over SQs regional biz product.

The new SQ Regional Business seat seems to be alot like Qantas' first generation Skybed seats anyway. Sounds like Singapore Airlines is upgrading it's product to MATCH Qantas.