A380 inaugural information (25 October 2007)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
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A380 inaugural information (25 October 2007)
I thought it was time to update this:
- SQ are now expecting to get the first a/c in late November 2006. They are hoping to then have it in revenue service late December. First flight is now expected to be SIN-SYD, as much for 'political' reasons as anything else. SQ are currently pressing the Oz Government for fifth freedoms to fly SYD-LAX. Upon return to Changi the a/c will probably do SIN-LHR
- At the moment the intention is not to operate regional familiarisation flights with fare paying pax !!.
- As previously stated the first batch will have less than 500 seats, probably around the 480 mark, exact number still to be confirmed.
- They will all be 3 class a/c initially with Y, C & F. Going 4 class has been looked at and is continuing to be considered and as such they hope to make it so that it is relatively easy to convert to 4 class at a later date.
- All 3 classes will be brand new, with 3 different designers currently working on a new F, C & Y. No promises on what this will entail, including legroom in Y. VS did a couple of presentations of the UCS to SQ a while ago so Raffles may be similar. First is supposedly being created by a UK Yacht designer.
- There has been far more interest in the inaugural than expected. Priority will be given to Solitaire/PPS/KF Gold etc after the press & VIP's etc have been allocated.
- SQ are now expecting to get the first a/c in late November 2006. They are hoping to then have it in revenue service late December. First flight is now expected to be SIN-SYD, as much for 'political' reasons as anything else. SQ are currently pressing the Oz Government for fifth freedoms to fly SYD-LAX. Upon return to Changi the a/c will probably do SIN-LHR
- At the moment the intention is not to operate regional familiarisation flights with fare paying pax !!.
- As previously stated the first batch will have less than 500 seats, probably around the 480 mark, exact number still to be confirmed.
- They will all be 3 class a/c initially with Y, C & F. Going 4 class has been looked at and is continuing to be considered and as such they hope to make it so that it is relatively easy to convert to 4 class at a later date.
- All 3 classes will be brand new, with 3 different designers currently working on a new F, C & Y. No promises on what this will entail, including legroom in Y. VS did a couple of presentations of the UCS to SQ a while ago so Raffles may be similar. First is supposedly being created by a UK Yacht designer.
- There has been far more interest in the inaugural than expected. Priority will be given to Solitaire/PPS/KF Gold etc after the press & VIP's etc have been allocated.
Last edited by MAN Flyer; Jan 4, 2006 at 3:20 am Reason: Info waay out of date...
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CGK
Programs: SQ TPP28, CX DM, DL P, GA CB, WOH LGLOB, HH D, MB G, Hertz P
Posts: 2,884
Great info, MAN Flyer! Thanks for sharing them with us.
But there goes my plans to be on the familiarization flights.
Anyway...
Some interesting sentences from the January issue of internal SQ newsletter:
1) SIA CEO Chew Choon Seng:
- "... we will take delivery of three more B777-300s..." during 2005-6.
- "... we will be developing the entry into service later in 2006 of the first of 18 new generation B777-300ERs that we ordered in August. We also have some secret weapons which I am allowed to disclose only in the fullness of time." Hmm.... secret weapons? Any guesses?
2) "Live TV to be beamed on board by mid-year. SIA will be among the first carriers to offer real time inflight broadband service and will top it off with a world's first in mid-2005 by bringing live international TV on board, beamed through Connexion by Boeing to passengers' laptops."
But there goes my plans to be on the familiarization flights.
Anyway...
Some interesting sentences from the January issue of internal SQ newsletter:
1) SIA CEO Chew Choon Seng:
- "... we will take delivery of three more B777-300s..." during 2005-6.
- "... we will be developing the entry into service later in 2006 of the first of 18 new generation B777-300ERs that we ordered in August. We also have some secret weapons which I am allowed to disclose only in the fullness of time." Hmm.... secret weapons? Any guesses?
2) "Live TV to be beamed on board by mid-year. SIA will be among the first carriers to offer real time inflight broadband service and will top it off with a world's first in mid-2005 by bringing live international TV on board, beamed through Connexion by Boeing to passengers' laptops."
Last edited by StarG; Feb 4, 2005 at 2:43 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CGK
Programs: SQ TPP28, CX DM, DL P, GA CB, WOH LGLOB, HH D, MB G, Hertz P
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Originally Posted by MovieMan
How can I subscribe to this??
Keithl: Do you know why some newer 777s never get their Star Alliance logo? IIRC, SYF does not but SYG and SYH both have it. Did someone forgot to apply the stickers? Payload restrictions?
Last edited by StarG; Feb 4, 2005 at 10:07 am Reason: mistyped
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Originally Posted by MAN Flyer
- They will all be 3 class a/c initially with Y, C & F. Going 4 class has been looked at and is continuing to be considered and as such they hope to make it so that it is relatively easy to convert to 4 class at a later date.
#10
Original Poster
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The fourth class would indeed be an economy plus, just like they have on the A345's now. Apparently customer feedback is telling them there is a market for this so they are being 'pressured' by their sales people in various locations to introduce a fourth class on a number of routes.
#11
Moderator, Hilton Honors
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Thanks MAN Flyer and Star G ^^^
Me too. July isnt the easiest month though. Hey if they do route through SYD as well I may have to go that way instead of the more direct from AKL.
Originally Posted by MovieMan
Thanks for the update, MAN Flyer! ^
Now I need to figure out how to get on that inaugural flight. Hopefully I'll have made TPP by then...
Now I need to figure out how to get on that inaugural flight. Hopefully I'll have made TPP by then...
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
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I'm certainly one customer willing to pay a premium for Economy Plus. I took the A345 nonstop EWR-SIN principally for two reasons: 1) I'm an aviation buff and though it'd be cool to fly the world's longest nonstop (it was); and 2) the Executive Economy product made travelling the the other side of the world eminently more tolerable than standard Cattle Class. I actually enjoyed the flight, even though I wasn't in Raffles.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Originally Posted by StarG
By becoming a beautiful Singapore Girl is one of the possible ways...
Keithl: Do you know why some newer 777s never get their Star Alliance logo? IIRC, SYF does not but SYG and SYH both have it. Did someone forgot to apply the stickers? Payload restrictions?
Keithl: Do you know why some newer 777s never get their Star Alliance logo? IIRC, SYF does not but SYG and SYH both have it. Did someone forgot to apply the stickers? Payload restrictions?
#14
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CGK
Programs: SQ TPP28, CX DM, DL P, GA CB, WOH LGLOB, HH D, MB G, Hertz P
Posts: 2,884
Originally Posted by Keithl
StarG I don't know why but the rumour; strictly rumour so don't take it for a fact; is that Mr Chew doesn't like those names so they are removing all those names: Jubilee, Leadership, Megatop.
I was talking about those little Star logos behind the cockpit, though.