SIA's final Sydney 747-400 flight planned in Oct 09

[Sam Chui]

SIA's final Sydney 747-400 flight planned in Oct 09
As per Sabre timetable display, as well as the airline's inventory system, Singapore Airlines' Singapore - Sydney final Boeing 747-400 service is planned for 05OCT09.

Final 747 flight on the Singapore to Sydney is SQ219 on 04OCT09, returning from Sydney the following day on SQ220

SQ219/220 is to be replaced by Boeing 777-300, with existing configuration.


This is very sad news to 747 fans like me but seems inevitable in the current environment. :(

Above info from the excellent Airline Blog by Jim Liu.

[James Herbert]

Yep, sad indeed......Have flown on SQ's 744's more than any other plane & or airline. Have flown a few times on SQ773's & they are fantastic equipment, but there is that special something about SQ's 744's, especially walking up the stairs to the upperdeck & being greeted by that SQ girl smile......:( Still be able to watch them at Changi for a while yet though...

Better start getting used to the 773's......:)

Thanks Sam......

[Shameel Kumar]

Wow... that's sad news indeed even though I love the 773/ER!

Do you guys think this will be permanent, or is there any reasoning to support the idea that once the economy picks up, SQ's 744s might come back (assuming oil prices don't rise too much) ?

[D Chan]

Please refrain from quoting the whole previous post in your post, it is not necessary, thank you - mod

I think they'd pretty much reached their used by date!!

[Nick C]

All of SQ's 744s will be gone by end of this fiscal year. SQ has already committed to the retirement of the 744s. :)

SIN-SYD will most likely by 2x388 and 2x773/W by the year end.

[Stefan Perkas]

SIN-SYD will most likely by 2x388 and 2x773/W by the year end.

Nick,

From June

SQ 221-222 will remain as an A380

SQ 231-232 will change from a B744 to a 77W

SQ 233-234 Will remain as a B77W (when operational)

SQ 219-220 will be a EQV. From OCT05 2009 it will become a B773.

SQ may not have enugh A380's by the end of the year to add a 2nd Syd flight. Also if they were to add a 2nd A380, they might as well drop SQ233-234 and make SQ219-220 and A380 so it combines 2 flights into one.

[Nick C]

Stefan,

SQ is taking 4 388s this year. 2 for CDG. The only other routes that the other 2 388s can be deployed on in the current market situation will be SQ227/228 SIN-MEL and SQ231/232 SIN-SYD. The LAX/JFK/SFO do not require an upguage to a 388 from a 77W/744 at the moment. SQ219/220 is not as popular as SQ231/232 and the LFs show it. SQ needs 77Ws to replace the last 5.5 744s on SQ26/25 and SQ12/11.

[Andrew M]

Nick or Stefan Perkas

What do you see the SIN-MEL route being by Feb 2010

Currently served daily by:
777W
744
773

I am looking to book a flight in paid J and would prefer the newest fitout A380 or 77W or the new reconfigured 773

:)

[Sam Chui]

Stefan,

SQ is taking 4 388s this year. 2 for CDG. The only other routes that the other 2 388s can be deployed on in the current market situation will be SQ227/228 SIN-MEL and SQ231/232 SIN-SYD. The LAX/JFK/SFO do not require an upguage to a 388 from a 77W/744 at the moment. SQ219/220 is not as popular as SQ231/232 and the LFs show it. SQ needs 77Ws to replace the last 5.5 744s on SQ26/25 and SQ12/11.

Hi Nick,
Just curious where did you get your info from if you don't mind telling. From flying observation, I believe SQ219 always have one of the best load. SQ220 outbound and SQ231 inbound have the lightest load of all.

Also for SQ219/220 what EQV would be? I love to go on a 744 before October but don't want to get switched to a 772/773

Sam

[Nigel C]

The 231 inbound looked pretty good today, but I'm not sure what the averages typically are.

[Nick C]

What do you see the SIN-MEL route being by Feb 2010.

Should be 1x388 & 2x73A. The 77Ws will be needed elsewhere. The introduction of SKI/SKJ will allow the MEL 744 to go 388. It's possible for SQ to do another SYD or start MEL with the introduction of SKG/SKH but that is unsustainable over the long term when maintenance has to be factored.

Hi Nick,
Just curious where did you get your info from if you don't mind telling.

A confidential source. :)


Also for SQ219/220 what EQV would be? I love to go on a 744 before October but don't want to get switched to a 772/773

The last SQ 744 flight will depart SYD on 05OCT09 but SQ219/220 has been subbed with a 773 on numerous flights. SQ231/232 is still a 744 until 25JUN09.

[Andrew M]

Thanks Nick C

So I should book the 744, and that should go to the A380 ? :D

I am very close to booking the 77W, but feel that the plane is wasted on that route and like you said will probably go to 73A

[Brenden S]

I think that the new A388 should be used on the SIN-PER-ADL-SIN sector :D:D:D:D

[Stefan Perkas]

Brendon,

That is a good idea. The reason I say this is because when both Perth and Adelaide get A330's on all services. Both ports will loose seats. Adelaide will loose about 200 seats a week. i'm not sure on Perth.

Putting an A380 on a sector like yours would proably cover the seats lost for both ports.