Originally Posted by
Madone59
I agree Boeing has a better chance of closing SQ for some 77L's, even if they are leased. If I was SQ I wouldn't rush into any airbus plane that isn't already in the air, especially after the A380 launch customer problems.
I have my doubts that Airbus will move ahead with a A350LR and instead will steadily improve the A359's performance overtime just like the A333. When the A333 was first delivered, it only could perform short transatlantic runs. The latest A333, recently delivered to DL, will have capability to do missions of up to 13 hours. The ball is in SQ's court. They have decide whether they would rather wait years before Airbus improves the A359 enough to do SIN-LAX/EWR or take a five year lease of 77L, with the final PIP before the 77X, that Boeing rather desperately wants to manufacture before the 77X line starts running. The earliest SQ could obtain the 777-8X is likely 2022 as priority will be given for the 777-9X, which I suspect SQ is very interested in ordering.
Since QR is the launch customer for both versions of the A350, they could have gone to Airbus and asked for an ULH of the A359. But they, like EY and EK, didn't. The failure of the A340-500 as a fuel tanker rather than a passenger plane still sticks in the minds of the former A345 operators. They picked Boeing and Boeing responded with the 777-8X, which can hold almost as many passengers as the 77W but have slightly longer range than the 77L. I'd argue its pretty much too late for Airbus to launch a A350LR since the prime operators of the already niche ULH have gone for the 777-8X. Right now the 777-8X has
outsold the 77L and Boeing still wants to sell more 77Ls.
SQ's best option to restart SIN-LAX/EWR soon is to lease the 77L starting in 2017 and operate them until the 777-8X becomes available in the early 2020s. Given low fuel prices are likely to last for a while and the 77L's much better performance record, SQ could make SIN-LAX/EWR work. These planes do JNB-ATL, despite the altitude of JNB and the length of the flight, profitably as noted by DL executives. The real question for SQ going forward is whether operating a rather large fleet of A380s is a profitable venture or should the airline consider downgauging to the 777-9X. QF is already considering the 777-9X to replace their A380s.