Singapore Airlines' new Airbus A380 may not fly until early 2018
By David Flynn, August 11 2017
Singapore Airlines' newest Airbus A380s – with all-new first class suites and business class seats – might not begin flying until as late as March 2018, the airline has confirmed to Australian Business Traveller.
The superjumbo was previously hoped to take wing in October 2017, in time to mark the 10th anniversary of the A380's first commercial flight with Singapore Airlines on October 25, 2007.
Approached for comment by Australian Business Traveller, a spokesman for Singapore Airlines said "we are not able to provide a specific date at this point," adding that "the first aircraft from the next batch of A380s is due for delivery within the current financial year."
This was clarified as being the Singaporean financial year, which spans from April 1 to March 31.
Sydney is still believed to be earmarked as a launch route for the new Airbus A380, with London to follow.
The double-decker jets will mark the debut of Singapore Airlines’ latest first class and business class products, which the airline says will also be retrofitted to most of its existing 19-strong A380 fleet.
The only exception will be the first five A380s, which the airline will be handing back throughout 2018 once their ten-year lease expires, with five new superjumbo taking their place.
New first class suites: fewer, but larger
As previously reported by Australian Business Traveller, SQ’s new first class suites will be fewer in number than the dozen private berths of the current A380s, with between six and eight suites on the new birds.
But they’ll also have a more generous footprint than today’s first class suites and will be relocated to the upper deck instead of the nose of the superjumbo’s main deck.
Arrayed behind those suites will be redesigned business class seats which will stretch all the way to the end of the upper deck.
(This same business class seat will also appear on a new ultra-long range version of the Airbus A350 due in late 2018, which Singapore Airlines will use to restart non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles, New York and a third as-yet-unnamed US destination.)
Passengers travelling downstairs will see new premium economy and economy seating.
The Star Alliance member is expected to pull back the curtains on all of the new product at a worldwide media event to be held in Singapore in November.
November will also see Emirates reveal its new first class and business class offerings as both airlines seek to regain leadership in the superjumbo stakes.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Feb 2017
Total posts 25
Exciting times ahead for those in premium cabins!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
I wonder if they will fill up the existing spaced used by F with W...that way premium economy can have a seperate cabin and toilet.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1224
There are currently 2 toilets allocated to F. You can't imagine SQ allocating 2 toilets for just 38 W pax. I imagine that providing both toilets remain, they will be shared with Y.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
We're hearing that premium economy will be at the front of the lower deck, in line with where the first class cabin is today, but I'd not expect SQ to be beholden to the current lav layout, size or ratio in either the new A380s or the refurb'd birds. That said, a standalone premium economy cabin with at least some exclusive loos sounds like a nice idea to me as a passenger :)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Sep 2012
Total posts 231
Any idea on whether the new A380s are the A380plus David?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
I don't see how considering that these orders were placed years ago and the assembly of the first one has been completed months ago.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
They're 'classic' A380s
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
01 Mar 2017
Total posts 3
This sounds wonderful. Can anyone tell me I have to fly to Sydney to take a Singapore Airlines First Class seat, they do not have a first class seat out of Brisbane.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
In Australia, Singapore Airlines offers first class to Sydney and Melbourne. All other ports top out at business class.
24 Jan 2017
Total posts 7
So are they decreasing the number of their first class seats and business? Thats in line with their strategy of moving towards a low cost carrier.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
14 Nov 2013
Total posts 40
Fantastic news regarding the new seats. Just came back A380 business and was hard as a rock, seat struggled to move, it's such an old product. Let's hope the new seats also go into 777,theres way too many of these flying with the same crappy seats and interiors.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Feb 2016
Total posts 49
As there is currently x4 SQ flights from SYD (2 being a380) is there any speculation on which would be the most likely/ logical time slot for the new a380. Interested as I will be traveling in early June 18, most likely on the afternoon flight.
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