Coming later this year: only 1 remaining SQ A380 service between Australia & SIN

[TomVexille]

AKL demand is greater than MEL?

MEL will still have 2 77W's, 1 773 and 1 A333 which totals 1125 seats daily. Even SQ's higher density A380 config only seats 471.

 

[mitwg]

SQ loads to India are quite premium heavy in my experience. On the earlier of the 2 evening flights that almost depart back to back, I've usually found J relatively close to capacity every time I've been on that route.

From what I hear though, Y demand seems to be very seasonal, fluctuating from full capacity to less than 50% on some flights. But as far as premium pax are concerned, they should have no major problems filling the A380, whether it be the SKA-K or SKL-T configs. At the moment though, it looks like its initially being run on SKA-K.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

It's disappointing that MEL is losing an A380. Although good that the 77W is the replacement.

True. What SQ understand very well with the Australian Market is that we want choice of schedule & SQ do a fine job at providing that Choice.

 

[zainman]

SQ loads to India are quite premium heavy in my experience. On the earlier of the 2 evening flights that almost depart back to back, I've usually found J relatively close to capacity every time I've been on that route.

From what I hear though, Y demand seems to be very seasonal, fluctuating from full capacity to less than 50% on some flights. But as far as premium pax are concerned, they should have no major problems filling the A380, whether it be the SKA-K or SKL-T configs. At the moment though, it looks like its initially being run on SKA-K.

This may lead to some cheap premium deals out of DEL/BOM perhaps?

 

[smit0847]

This news is surprising and disappointing. I thought the MEL A380 service was doing very well given how long they have been running it and how neatly it connects to all the overnight European departures. While Australians do want frequency, I've never understood why SQ run 4 different aircraft types into MEL - we want consistency just as much as frequency. I thought they would have all flights to MEL and SYD as 77W/A380 as I thought they were both premium destinations when you consider where else they run their A380s to (LAX, SFO, JFK, NRT, ICN, HKG, LHR, CDG, FRA, ZHR etc).

Do SQ have anymore A380s on order? I had half expected them to go double daily A380 to MEL in the future. Surely AKL would rather 2 x daily A330s than 1 x daily A380?

 

[TomVexille]

Do SQ have anymore A380s on order? I had half expected them to go double daily A380 to MEL in the future. Surely AKL would rather 2 x daily A330s than 1 x daily A380?

I believe that SQ have 5 left on order with 1 option

 

[markis10]

This news is surprising and disappointing. I thought the MEL A380 service was doing very well given how long they have been running it and how neatly it connects to all the overnight European departures. While Australians do want frequency, I've never understood why SQ run 4 different aircraft types into MEL - we want consistency just as much as frequency. I thought they would have all flights to MEL and SYD as 77W/A380 as I thought they were both premium destinations when you consider where else they run their A380s to (LAX, SFO, JFK, NRT, ICN, HKG, LHR, CDG, FRA, ZHR etc).

Do SQ have anymore A380s on order? I had half expected them to go double daily A380 to MEL in the future. Surely AKL would rather 2 x daily A330s than 1 x daily A380?

SQ still have 5 to come. The move by SQ would seem to vindicate QFs move away from Singapore, clearly the through traffic is not what it once was.

 

[smit0847]

SQ still have 5 to come. The move by SQ would seem to vindicate QFs move away from Singapore, clearly the through traffic is not what it once was.

Most people I know who fly SQ only transit SIN (I certainly do). Its an excellent airline with excellent frequency, product, staff, route map etc. SIN itself does nothing for me.

 

[mitwg]

On a overall number, traffic to SIN has actually increased over the past years but this is split across more carriers than before, which I think is impacting QF more than others.

I saw a recent report which showed international traffic statistics out of Australia and over the past decade, SIN remained the top destination for international traffic outside of the ANZ region.

What was more interesting was the actual traffic numbers by carriers. While this is from my memory and thus reliability is not 100%, a decade ago, QF flew close to 50% of the international passenger flights out of Australia with SQ's numbers hovering around 15-20%. In the more recent reports, I saw that QF's share significantly dropped to around 30% while SQ maintained their average of 15~20%. To fill QF's loss, it was 3rd carriers like EK that had single digit % numbers climb to command a good 15% market share of all international flights out of Australia.

Unfortunately, there's no data to suggest that this trend will change at lease in the short run and I further expect QF's decline especially when ME carriers are aggressively expanding to the APAC region. I'm also amazed to see that SQ only maintained their average % market share, despite adding more services including the A380 services and this shows how seriously the competition picked up over the past decade.

 

[markis10]

What was more interesting was the actual traffic numbers by carriers. While this is from my memory and thus reliability is not 100%, a decade ago, QF flew close to 50% of the international passenger flights out of Australia with SQ's numbers hovering around 15-20%. In the more recent reports, I saw that QF's share significantly dropped to around 30% while SQ maintained their average of 15~20%. To fill QF's loss, it was 3rd carriers like EK that had single digit % numbers climb to command a good 15% market share of all international flights out of Australia.

Unfortunately, there's no data to suggest that this trend will change at lease in the short run and I further expect QF's decline especially when ME carriers are aggressively expanding to the APAC region. I'm also amazed to see that SQ only maintained their average % market share, despite adding more services including the A380 services and this shows how seriously the competition picked up over the past decade.

Its been a lot longer than 10 years since SQ didnt have the lions share of the traffic - BITRE data for year end in Jan.

	QF	%	SQ	%	Total Pax
2004	485,240	29	1,022,342	61	1,677,277
2005	455,038	26	1,119,978	63	1,773,711
2006	506,661	27	1,247,267	66	1,902,469
2007	499,656	25	1,279,048	65	1,966,798
2008	496,738	24	1,386,995	66	2,101,918
2009	47,056	22	141,528	67	212,564
2010	474,225	24	1,202,085	61	1,968,015
2011	482,471	24	1,229,676	61	2,031,126
2012	511,868	23	1,298,762	60	2,178,577
2013	483,310	20	1,381,628	58	2,378,416
2014	416,559	17	1,424,363	58	2,455,118

 

[mitwg]

Having a look at that Bitre report again, I think SQ's share remained still fairly steady, even though it is definitely in decline mode. Nothing compared to QF though.

Top 10 in 2013
QF 17.2%
SQ 9.1%
EK 8.8%
VA 8.1%
JQ 8.1%
NZ 7.9%
CX 4.6%
MH 3.8%
TG 3.4%
D7 3.0%
Others 25.9%

Top 10 in 2003
QF 32.7%
SQ 11.3%
NZ 9.4%
MH 5.4%
JL 4.5%
TG 4.3%
CX 3.9%
BA 3.3%
FA 2.8%
EK 2.5%
Others 19.9%


And as for interntional traffic hubs, SIN's numbers are way higher than I initially expected, although the data is a bit outdated by now. Curious to see what we'll get in the 2013-14 report.

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In 2012-13, 17.8 per cent of the passenger movements to/from Australia were either to/from or via Singapore. Auckland was the next largest hub accounting for 13.4 per cent followed by Kuala Lumpur which accounted for 7.2 per cent. Dubai was the 7 th largest hub accounting for 5.6%.​

 

[dajop]

SQ still have 5 to come. The move by SQ would seem to vindicate QFs move away from Singapore, clearly the through traffic is not what it once was.

Actually I don't think through traffic (in absolute numbers) has much to do with it, as SQ despite having declining market share still has a record number of services (4x daily MEL/SYD/PER, 3x daily BNE, 10x weekly ADL), and of these, from memory in the last 18 months- 2 years the extra daily MEL & PER services were added, as well as the three extra services a week to ADL. Obviously going after more nuanced approach, with spread of connections on smaller planes than the traditional big capacity connections to Europe, which I am sure has been impacted by the rise and rise of middle eastern carriers. But no doubt SIN is not geographically ideal location for a hub as it once was, compared to the middle east which is close enough to Europe to cover lots of destinations as single stop, or HKG which see CX going from strength to strength in providing North America - China/SE Asia connections (as the quality alternative to US and China based airlines).

 

[mel-world]

I believe SQ are benefiting from the decisions QF made over the years to reduce their commitment to Asia to concentrate on London. I remember when QF serviced BOM and several ports in North Asia where they are now providing a very limited full service option from only MEL, SYD and BRO together with a tourist market low-cost option with Jetstar. Nothing a business person looking at flexible options can consider.

Looking at my home port of MEL, the four daily SQ flights make sense although I do wish you could know with some certainty what aircraft type was operating your service - it will be a little easier with only 3 aircraft types rather than four. Parking a 380 for 10 hours in MEL could never be economical. I usually take the day flights (SQ238 or 228/SQ207 or 217) and have been to DEL a lot where the J cabin is often completely full so I do not think the 380 premium capacity will be a problem.

The number of South Asian and Chinese students and families transiting in SIN to/from the overnight flights from India and North Asia show what a business opportunity will exist with increased capacity from South Asia with the introduction of the 380 into this market.

It does indicate a change of use for the 380 though where they were originally marketed as being primarily for the high capacity long haul routes where now the market is demanding more long haul options across the day (where it is impossible to fill several 380s) and so it is better utilised on the very high capacity medium length regional routes. Will be interesting to see if some of the SQ 380s are reconfigured for regional capacity - no Suites, more 773/330 J seating and high capacity Y (although hopefully not to 11 across). The challenge will be how fast you can turn around a full 380 if they are undertaking more regional length flights.

 

[mitwg]

I reckon eventually, the most economical decisinon would be to bring in a few A350s that are premium heavy (sort of similar to the A345s but perhaps not all 100% J). I reckon that would work quite well with markets like India because while I think they'd have enough J pax to fill close to double daily A380s, the Y seats would be flown empty depending on seasonal demand.

Would love a direct flight back to the US on these configs if they make any more economical sense comapred to the A345s too.

 

[pagingjoan]

Singapore Airlines reducing A380 services SYD and MEL

Am travelling through Norway, so forgive me if this has been posted. Did not show up on a search.

What's making news - Luxury Travel Magazine

Not good news for those addicted to the SQ Suites.

 

[pagingjoan]

Re: Singapore Airlines reducing A380 services SYD and MEL

Apologies for the post above.
I was way behind with the news. Not sure why the existing thread didn't come up on my search but my Internet access was constrained at the time, so probably "operator error".
Will go drown my sorrows in some appropriate Champagne, now that we have escaped the hideous prices of Norway, and are back to the relatively moderate (only in comparison with Norway) Danish price structure.
Had been looking forward to another Suites adventure. Will not throw in the towel yet, though.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Singapore Airlines reducing A380 services SYD and MEL

I have a booking mid-June SIN-SYD and I pre-allocated 11A. Was this upper deck? I am now in 11A on 777-300.

I would have preferred an aircraft with an upper deck but the seats are similar.

 

[mitwg]

Re: Singapore Airlines reducing A380 services SYD and MEL

I have a booking mid-June SIN-SYD and I pre-allocated 11A. Was this upper deck? I am now in 11A on 777-300.

I would have preferred an aircraft with an upper deck but the seats are similar.

If it was the 380, it would've been the upper deck.

While I'd agree that the J seats on the 380 are better (more storage), I think you got a better deal from this change though.

The 11A is cough on the 380 because the seat is actually narrower than usual and the front row is also windowless.

11A on the 77W on the other hand is a better than average J class seat. That one and 11K would be my favorite J class seat across the entire SQ fleet, including the 380s. It is still a J seat but due to the way it is configured, that seat + the mini cabin really feels like a F cabin.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Singapore Airlines reducing A380 services SYD and MEL

If it was the 380, it would've been the upper deck.

It was definitely A380 when I booked it back in November last year. I did not notice the change to 777-300 until I saw this thread.

Sounds like 11A on 777-300 is a good compromise.

 

[dajop]

Re: Singapore Airlines reducing A380 services SYD and MEL

It was definitely A380 when I booked it back in November last year. I did not notice the change to 777-300 until I saw this thread.

Sounds like 11A on 777-300 is a good compromise.

Is it a change to 777-300 or 777-300ER? There's quite a difference between the two.