SINGAPORE – Flag provider Singapore Airways (SIA) has transformed a few of its present orders for passenger planes into orders for a brand new freighter plane fleet, as a part of efforts to handle prices amid the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.
SIA mentioned on Wednesday (Dec 15) that it has signed a letter of intent with Airbus to purchase seven A350F freighter planes, with choices to order one other 5 planes.
The settlement features a swop with 15 A320neo and two A350-900 passenger plane which might be within the SIA Group order ebook.
SIA didn’t reveal the prices related to the deal, noting that it solely offers info on capital expenditure in its monetary outcomes.
SIA chief govt Goh Choon Phong mentioned: “This settlement with Airbus reinforces SIA’s place as a number one international air cargo provider, whereas advancing our sustainability targets.
“It additionally ensures that we’re prudent with our capital expenditure, and adjusts our passenger plane order ebook to present us the pliability wanted to navigate uncertainties within the restoration trajectory.”
SIA would be the first airline to function the A350F wide-body plane after deliveries of the aircraft begin within the fourth quarter of 2025.
The planes will change SIA’s present fleet of seven Boeing 747-400Fs.
SIA mentioned the A350F can carry an analogous quantity of cargo because the Boeing 747-400F, whereas utilizing as much as 40 per cent much less gas.
The brand new plane also can fly a barely longer distance, thus providing extra flexibility in plane deployment.
SIA mentioned renewing its freighter fleet displays the provider’s continued funding within the air cargo section.
The transfer additionally exhibits its dedication to attain web zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Working a younger fleet of recent plane is probably the most rapid and efficient manner for airways to materially decrease their carbon footprint,” mentioned SIA.
“Changing the 747-400Fs with the A350Fs would minimize SIA’s carbon emissions by round 400,000 tonnes yearly, primarily based on present operations.”
SIA’s 747-400F freighter planes now have a median age of 18 years. They’d have been in use for a median of twenty-two years by the point the primary new freighter plane is delivered in 2025.
Impartial aviation analyst Brendan Sobie from consulting agency Sobie Aviation mentioned changing the 15 A320neo passenger plane orders to the A350F is smart.
It is because SIA now has too many narrow-body planes on order given the post-pandemic surroundings.
He additionally mentioned that the collection of the A350F to exchange the Boeing 747-400Fs is smart as SIA already has the world’s largest A350 passenger fleet, thus creating enticing synergies for its future cargo operation.
“SIA will seemingly order extra A350Fs in future, doubtlessly past the 5 choices it has included as a part of the preliminary seven plane dedication,” Mr Sobie added.
“Cargo revenues and the freighter fleet dropped considerably within the 12 years previous to the pandemic. However there’s now a chance to develop each once more within the post-pandemic period.”
