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Singapore Airlines suspends flights to Vancouver

Singapore Airlines Ltd. said it will suspend flights to Vancouver, Canada starting in April as the global economic slowdown erodes demand for travel.

The carrier flies to Vancouver through Seoul, South Korea three times a week. The suspension is indefinite, and the last flight will be on April 25.

"The decision to suspend service is most regrettable, as Singapore Airlines has served Canada for over 20 years," the airline said in a statement Saturday. "However, the economic conditions and performance on the route have been badly affected by the global economic downturn."

Singapore Airline said last month that it planned to cut flights to the U.S., Europe and Asia as demand dried up. The airline said last week its October-December profit fell 43 percent as it flew 4.2 percent fewer passengers.

Singapore is facing its worst recession since splitting from Malaysia in 1965 as exports plummet. Gross domestic product shrank a seasonally adjusted, annualized 16.9 percent in the fourth quarter, and the government expects GDP in 2009 to contract as much as 5 percent.

Source
 
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SIA passenger pilots face no-pay leave

Faced with tumbling loads and excess capacity, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has started preliminary talks to get its passenger plane pilots to take voluntary no-pay leave.

This comes as the airline prepares to slash up to 11 per cent of capacity by grounding 17 planes (about 15 per cent of its fleet), cutting routes and consolidating services in the face of the sharpest slump in air travel demand in more than five years.

Over the past couple of months, the airline has been engaging its three key unions - the SIA Staff Union, Airline Pilots' Association and Airline Executive Union - to work out measures to accelerate the clearance of leave entitlements, voluntary leave without pay, voluntary early retirement and shorter work months.

It recently convinced 25 of its 300 cargo pilots to volunteer to go on no-pay leave for up to 30 months. Given the dire state of the air cargo business, at least 25 more cargo pilots could be asked to also opt for unpaid leave.

But this is the first time in over five years that the airline could be asking its passenger pilots to take extended time off from work.

However, negotiations could get complicated as both sides try to hammer out how to deal with benefits - such as medical coverage and free flights - during their unpaid absence from work.

Generally speaking, staff on no-pay leave beyond a month have to give up some of their benefits. And in the case of its pilots, SIA seems willing to allow them to work elsewhere (but not with immediate rival airlines) during their extended time away.

Neither the pilots union nor the airline would comment specifically on the issue, but the airline's spokesman Stephen Forshaw said both sides were approaching discussions with a 'good understanding' of the dire operating circumstances.

'We will be acting as best as we can to preserve the jobs and skills of our pilots, but sacrifices will be needed,' he said.

'The issues which arise will not be easy and there may not be unanimity on all the points. But we all know the task ahead of us is to respond to this downturn.'

SIA and its pilots have a history of testy ties, which burst into the open in 2003-2004 after the airline grounded planes, restructured remuneration and benefits, and laid-off staff in the wake of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) crisis.

The current crisis could prove to be even longer and deeper.

International air passenger traffic dived for a fifth straight month in January, with Asia-Pacific carriers suffering the sharpest falls. Worldwide passenger numbers fell 5.6 per cent in January, after a 4.6 per cent slide in December 2008, confirming a deepening year-on-year slump.

Asian carriers led the decline in passenger numbers, with an 8.4 per cent year-on-year drop in January.

SIA's own January passenger load factor fell to 74.1 per cent, from an average of about 78 per cent in the October-December 2008 quarter. Its cargo load factor was just 54.2 per cent - well below the breakeven point.

Last month, SIA's chief executive Chew Choon Seng said the airline was taking various measures in order to avoid retrenchments.

'We have already taken action such as expanding and stepping up training and retraining programmes, and we will contemplate retrenchment only as a last resort, but we do not have the luxury of time and we need to agree and act on some measures quickly so that we can push back the point of retrenchment as far as possible and improve our chances of avoiding it altogether,' he said.

Source
 
[textarea]Singapore Airlines recalls A380s
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Singapore Airlines has been forced to recall three A380s to replace their engines after unusual staining was found in the engines.

STEVE CANNANE, PRESENTER: The superjumbo crisis has spread to another carrier, with Singapore Airlines forced to recall three A380's to replace their engines.

The airline says unusual oil staining in the engines had been found and the new engine work is called "precautionary".

Hundreds of passengers due to fly on the affected aircraft have been delayed in Sydney, Melbourne and London and Singapore Airlines found itself in more trouble today.

It, Qantas, and another nine carriers have been collectively fined a billion dollars for taking part in a price-fixing cartel.

Karen Barlow reports.

KAREN BARLOW, REPORTER: Beating a storm front in Sydney, this virtually empty A380 is heading home to the hangars in Singapore.

It's one of three Singapore Airlines superjumbos forced to leave behind hundreds of air travellers.

There's frustration, exasperation.

PASSENGER: Until now, I can get on a plane!

KAREN BARLOW: And in London, reports of an A380 crew mutiny over engine safety concerns.

However, Singapore Airlines says that's not true.

Singapore Airlines spokeswoman (female voiceover): "I can confirm that reports of our crew refusing to fly are incorrect."

KAREN BARLOW: Problems with the Rolls Royce Trent 900 engine have been growing since the mid-air catastrophic engine failure on a Qantas A380 over Indonesia last Thursday.

The Trent 900's on Singapore Airlines' fleet of 11 airbus superjumbos had been given the all clear two days ago. But Rolls Royce engineers were giving them another look when three cases of suspect oil stains were found.

The same staining had been found on the grounded Qantas A380s and Singapore Airlines is taking no chances.

Singapore Airlines statement (female voiceover): "Singapore Airlines will be carrying out precautionary engine changes on three A380s."

KAREN BARLOW: Replacing those engines will be an expensive safety precaution for Singapore Airlines on a day when it's received a $100 million fine. The European Competition Commission has fined 11 airlines, including British Airways, Air France and Japan Airlines, a billion dollars for fixing the price of air cargo between 1999 and 2006.

JOAQUIN ALMUNIA, EU COMPETITION COMMISSIONER: Had it not been for the commission's intervention, the cartel would not have ended in 2006, and more than likely it would have continued through the economic downturn and created even more harm to companies and consumers.

KAREN BARLOW: For its part, Qantas received a relatively small fine, $12 million, and it's considering its legal options.

QANTAS STATEMENT (male voiceover): "The full decision will not be received until next week when we will consider it in detail."

KAREN BARLOW: Qantas had already been fined by the US Justice Department and the ACCC for its involvement in the cartel.

QANTAS STATEMENT (male voiceover): "We have acknowledged the improper conduct by the Qantas freight division over this period."

KAREN BARLOW: Airbus isn't the only type of jumbo jet-maker having difficulties at the moment. Smoke in the main cabin has forced one of Boeing's test Dreamliner aircraft to make an emergency landing in Texas. All on-board are safe, and Boeing says it isn't concerned about the 787's Rolls Royce engines.

Source[/textarea]
 
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A cracked windscreen forced a Singapore Airlines aircraft heading for Melbourne to turn back yesterday morning an hour after taken off from Changi Airport.
 
[textarea]Singapore Airlines to launch long haul budget flights

Singapore Airlines plans to establish a new budget airline operating wide body aircraft on medium and long-haul routes, travelmole reports. The new airline is being established following extensive review and analysis, and will complete with Air Asia, which already operates long haul budget flights between Malaysia and Stansted Airport.

The decision to launch a low-cost airline also comes after Qantas announced plans to operate a subsidiary carrier out of either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. SIA said its new airline will ‘serve a largely untapped new market and cater to the growing demand among consumers for low-fare travel’.

Operations are expected to begin within one year. The airline will be wholly owned by Singapore Airlines, but will be operated independently and managed separately from SIA. More details will be announced later this year by the new airline’s management team, including its branding, products and services, and route network.

Source[/textarea]
 
[textarea]Incident: Singapore A388 at Singapore on Jul 25th 2011, engine shut down in flight


A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800, registration 9V-SKH performing flight SQ-856 from Singapore (Singapore) to Hong Kong (China) with 368 passengers and 21 crew, was climbing out of Singapore about 20 minutes into the flight when engine #3 (Trent 900, inboard right hand) surged and suffered vibrations prompting the engine to be shut down. The crew decided to return to Singapore for a safe landing about 50 minutes after departure.

A replacement Airbus A380-800 registration 9V-SKB reached Hong Kong with a delay of 4.5 hours.

The airline reported engine #3 suffered surge and high vibration and was automatically shut down. The crew decided to return to Singapore as a precaution. Following inspections the engine is currently being exchanged, the aircraft is expected back in service on Jul 27th. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has been informed.

Source:http://avherald.com/h?article=44049613&opt=0[/textarea]
 
[textarea]Incident: Singapore A388 at Singapore on Sep 25th 2011, rejected takeoff


A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800, registration 9V-SKB performing flight SQ-227 from Singapore (Singapore) to Melbourne,VI (Australia) with 401 passengers, was accelerating for takeoff from Singapore's runway 20C when a tyre burst prompting the crew to reject takeoff at low speed. The aircraft slowed safely, emergency services responded. The aircraft was disabled on the runway requiring the runway to be closed until the aircraft could be towed off the runway.

Gossip is running that a wheel locked up.

The aircraft was able to depart about 7 hours later and reached Melbourne with a delay of 6:40 hours.

Source[/textarea]
 
[textarea]Incident: Singapore A388 near Frankfurt on Jul 10th 2011, seriously "rocks" a Falcon 50

A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800, registration 9V-SKD performing flight SQ-333 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Singapore (Singapore), was enroute at FL350 about 85nm east of Frankfurt/Main (Germany) at an easterly heading at around 13:10L (11:10Z). A Falcon 50 business jet was enroute at FL340 on a northwesterly heading about 25nm west of the Airbus when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence for a couple of seconds. Both aircraft continued to their destinations for safe landings.

The German BFU stated that according to radar data the Airbus A380-800 was about 25nm east of the Falcon 50 when the Falcon 50 encountered severe turbulence.

singapore_a388_9v-skd_frankfurt_110710_sat.jpg


Source[/textarea]
 
Singapore Airlines raises fuel surcharges

Singapore Airlines has raised its fuel surcharges for the first time in nearly a year.

The carrier blamed increasing oil prices for the rise which will be added to all tickets issued on or after March 8. It is Singapore’s first fuel surcharge increase since April 2011. The new rates will also apply to flights on subsidiary airline Silk Air.


One-way surcharges on UK and Europe flights to Singapore will rise from US$162 to US$174 for economy or US$180 to US$198 in business class.

Passengers who travel from Europe through to Australia with Singapore Airlines will face an increase from US$242 to US$260 in economy or US$268 to US$294 in business.

The airline said that jet fuel prices now accounted for 40% of the company’s costs and the changes in surcharges would “offer only partial relief” from these increased operating costs.

“Singapore Airlines will continue to closely monitor the price of fuel and keep surcharges under constant review,” said the company in a statement.

Source
 
Why don't airlines consolidate the surcharge into the ticket price, you have to pay it. There should be any need for fuel surcharges unless there is a very sudden large increase that wasn't known about when the ticket prices were set.
Or, am I being a little naive and it is because they can advertise "lower prices" to attract you to book.
 
Singapore Airlines, India's Tata to establish new carrier

Singapore Airlines and India's Tata conglomerate are to establish a new full-service carrier to be based in New Delhi, the two firms said in a joint statement on Thursday.

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines and India's Tata conglomerate announced on Thursday they would set up a new full-service airline based in New Delhi.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Tata Sons have signed a memorandum of understanding and applied for government approval for the new carrier, a joint statement said.

Its establishment "will help further stimulate demand for air travel", it said, adding the plan would be subject to regulatory approvals including from India's foreign investment promotion board.

The new carrier "will be based in New Delhi and will operate under the full-service model", the statement said.

Tata Sons will own 51 per cent of the carrier and SIA 49 per cent.

"We have always been a strong believer in the growth potential of India's aviation sector and are excited about the opportunity to partner Tata Sons in contributing to the future expansion of the market," said SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong.

"Tata Sons is one of the most established and respected names in India. With the recent liberalisation, the time is right to jointly bring consumers a fresh new option for full-service air travel."

Prasad Menon, chairman of the proposed new carrier, said Tata believes civil aviation in India has sustainable growth potential.

"We now have the opportunity to launch a world-class full-service airline in India."

A spokesman for SIA told AFP the new airline will begin with domestic services.

"We would like the airline to operate international services but that will depend on obtaining further regulatory approvals," the spokesman said.

Details of the new carrier's branding, management team and products and services will be announced later.

Mahantesh Sabarad, an analyst with Fortune Equity Brokers, told AFP in Bombay the Tata group had always wanted to be in aviation.

"Maybe their ambitions have been renewed after India relaxed investment norms for the aviation sector last year," the analyst said.

Sabarad said SIA "would be keen to be in India" due to its long-term growth potential.

The new airline would be the Tata group's second venture into India's aviation sector in recent months.

In March, Malaysia-based AirAsia won approval from India's foreign investment panel to set up an airline in a joint venture with the Tata group and entrepreneur Arun Bhatia's Telstra Tradeplace.

AirAsia will own 49 per cent, the Tata group 30 per cent and Telstra the balance of 21 per cent.

Speculation about foreign interest in Indian carriers has been brewing since the government in September last year said it would allow overseas airlines to take up to 49 per cent stakes in domestic operators, as part of a blitz of economic reforms.

The sector, once vaunted as a symbol of India's economic vibrancy, has seen its fortunes fade in the face of aggressive fare rivalry, a slowing economy, over-expansion, rundown infrastructure, high airport charges and expensive fuel.

Indian carriers need money to fund expansion and cut debt after years of losses caused by the fierce fare battles and rising fuel costs.

Only privately held low-cost carrier IndiGo was in profit in the year to March 2012, out of India's six main scheduled carriers.

Kingfisher Airlines, controlled by liquor baron Vijay Mallya and once the second-biggest carrier, remains grounded by a cash crunch.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/bus ... 19314.html
 
I'm starting to much prefer the A350 to the 777 already. It's so much more slender looking.
 
Boeing has delivered the first 787-10 over to Singapore Airlines. I must say the longer that plane gets, the better it gets.

On the hand I saw my first A350 in the flesh yesterday - definitely not a fan. It looks like something from a Lego kit.
 
Love the new A350 so much more than the B787 now they are common in Manchester with upto 5 a day
 
Here's a good review Singapore Airlines relaunched non stop New York to Singapore flight with the A350 900 ULR in Business Class.
 
The Jakarta Post has reported that Singapore Airlines has announced it is to freeze hiring and also looking at asking staff to go on voluntary no-pay leave due to the ongoing Coronavirus fears.
 

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