Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced plans to introduce its new types of aircraft on its Indian routes, beginning from 2017.
The flag carrier of Singapore will be launching Airbus A350 services in India in 2017, while its yet-to-be inducted Boeing 787-10X is expected to be coming to India in 2018.
Currently, the airline operates a fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft in India, a few of which, will be replaced by the said new planes, once the latter get inducted into serviced routes.
“Today, the all-wide-body fleet of Singapore Airlines boasts of 105 aircraft — 34 777s, 19 A380s, 26 A330s, and six A350s. In totality, we’ve ordered 67 A350 aircraft, of which, 20 aircraft would be inducted into our fleet by the end of the next financial year. In terms of the Boeing 787-10X, we’ve ordered 30 planes, which are yet to come on board,” Singapore Airlines General Manager (India) David Lim informed DH.
The A350, a state-of-the-art airliner regarded for its full-efficiency, has been deployed on long-haul routes. But, considering India as an important destination, Singapore Airlines has decided to bring it here. The 787, however, is itself a medium-haul airliner, and will be deployed in the country.
Explaining about the Indian market and Singapore Airlines’ differentiation, Lim said, “India is a medium-haul destination. During the Northern winter 2016, we have had 104 flights from India to Singapore a week (including Silk Air flights), over the last Northern summer’s 95. Singapore has become a major leisure destination, and a transit hub. People connect to the West Coast, by transiting at Singapore, flying onward to Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, among others. For instance, people wanting to fly from Bengaluru to San Francisco, may do so via Singapore, from where there’s a direct SIA flight.”
Recently, the airline also introduced the Ruchi Thali for Business Class guests on the India-Singapore sector, offering a whole range of full-course Indian meals on-board. “The offering was launched on the Delhi and Mumbai flights on October 30, and will be launched on the Bengaluru flight in the first quarter of the next fiscal,” Lim added. Overall, globally, Singapore Airlines has seen a load factor 80%.