Keesje From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7996 times:
According to industry observers, the SQ interior will not be unveiled until September next year, as the culmination of a three-year effort to define what Singapore Airlines describes as the ultimate spaceship.
- The process started in 2002 with trend research, crew workshops and customer workshops. The customer workshops were conducted with frequent flyers in London, Singapore and New York.
- A total of 100 participants took part in a two-day think tank with 50 SQ staff and were asked to visualise travel in 10 years' time and what changes they would like to see. Together, they designed their perfect aircraft interior.
- The input from all groups was pooled to help form an overarching plan for the cabin design, cabin amenities and ground and in-flight service procedures.
- The ideas generated in the workshops were then presented to a group of diverse designers from fashion houses, luxury car makers and aircraft cabin specialists to translate the ideas into an actual cabin design.
- A 747 was fitted with four different economy seat designs and parked at one of the gates at Changi. Transiting passengers were invited to walk aboard and try them out. In the end, one design was overwhelmingly selected.
- About 300 frequent flyers and 150 Singapore Airlines staff were also asked to try the airline's first and business class cushions and mattresses for firmness and comfort.
However, the participants have yet to see the final product - all they have seen is small pieces of a much larger jigsaw.
I think the new A380 introductions will cause new product / service competition, mainly between Europe and Asia/Australia.
BTW Yes, I think SQ can do with a new livery, those cheat lines are beginning to look dated..
also from the Australian:
- A380 fuel burn and payload/range tests will be completed with MSN 004.
- the first 3 aircraft destined for Singapore Airlines are now in final assembly
- the wings for the first 2 Qantas aircraft, MSN 014& 15, are in final assembly in Britain
- the fuselage sections for the first 2 Qantas A380s are almost complete in Hamburg.
- Airbus had begun construction of parts for the 30th aircraft.
- all but 3 production slots until 2010 had already been sold
- Airbus approached airlines that have options but they don't want to give up their slots
BoogyJay From France, joined May 2005, 489 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7796 times:
Thank you very much for the news. Sounds interesting and exciting .
IMO, you're right that the A380 will introduce new features that will ultimately be spread over the whole fleets. If these features are going to be highly associated with the A380, it may add a bit of more pressure to airlines that don't have the A380 to order it, just to have the same modern image than the competition.
Quoting Keesje (Thread starter): - all but 3 production slots until 2010 had already been sold
- Airbus approached airlines that have options but they don't want to give up their slots
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21025 posts, RR: 60 Reply 3, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 7668 times:
Anyone one of the lucky pax who got to try out the interiors at Changi? Any comments from those people?
So if production of 30 aircraft has already begun, we should see a bunch of deliveries in a very short time at EIS, no?
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Mr. Champion has recently said that it will take 2 years to catch up. Recent press reports indicate SQ will not begin service until after Christmas 2006, with QF following in April, 2007. IMO, as the production tempo remains rather prosaic, you're not likely to see more than 20-25 A380s in service before the end of 2007.
Carpethead From Japan, joined Aug 2004, 2769 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 7039 times:
Correct me if am wrong but don't all experimental commercial aircraft undergo a comprehensive interior testing prior to entry of service. Since SQ is going to be the first customer, we will see an SQ interior that will be the same as the ones they will deploy once it is certified. Unless SQ/Airbus plans on testing a slightly inferior interior design and re-work everything at a later date. This scenario seems highly unlikely.
Therefore the vague SQ interior will be known months ahead of its first planned revenue flight.
PhilSquares From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 6989 times:
Quoting BoogyJay (Reply 2): you're right that the A380 will introduce new features that will ultimately be spread over the whole fleets
Not entirely correct. Had the 380 arrived as planned that statement would be true. However, the new cabin is likely to make it's introduction on the 777-300ER when it's introduced in mid 2006.
Abba From Denmark, joined Jun 2005, 1085 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 6949 times:
Quoting BoogyJay (Reply 2): If these features are going to be highly associated with the A380, it may add a bit of more pressure to airlines that don't have the A380 to order it, just to have the same modern image than the competition.
I think the point here is space and the fact that you can reserve all of the extra space for the front end - that is for first and business class. This means that you can give the front end passengers an experience on the 380 that cannot be matched by any other airline. The A380 might well be taking all premium paying passengers on the expense of 777/350 et al which might be reduced to cattle class only....
PhilSquares From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 6813 times:
Quoting MarshalN (Reply 8): A minor point, but.... is that the planned livery? EEEEEEWWWWWW
Take a look at the source for the picture. It's not a SQ product. I can tell you with 100% certainty, the 380 livery will look just about like every other SQ in current service!
MarshalN From Hong Kong, joined Sep 2005, 1521 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 6764 times:
Ah, right, I didn't realize it was an active link. Whoever dreamed that thing up... needs to take a design course, or not design anything more in his or her entire life.
Keesje From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 6521 times:
Quoting BoogyJay (Reply 2): If these features are going to be highly associated with the A380, it may add a bit of more pressure to airlines that don't have the A380 to order it, just to have the same modern image than the competition.
Champion said the rollout of the plane was now on track and Airbus was "committed to deliver the first aircraft by the end of 2006" to Singapore Airlines, the first airline to operate the jet.
He said production will be ramped up, but new A380 customers will have to wait at least six years to take delivery.
Thinking about BA, I looks like they have got themselves in a position that they are no longer in a position to order, or not to order.
Those 60 744 are not very old, but also not very young or very cheap to operate. Matching new (MESA/Asian) product specification could drive 744 seat counts under 250 (?) in a market that will probably grow 5% per year in the next 6 years..
The market seems to have answered the A380 question for them. Or .. ? Has BA been to careful & missed the boat? I don't think the last has been said on this, inside BA.
Manni From South Korea, joined Nov 2001, 4221 posts, RR: 23 Reply 14, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 6225 times:
"We have approached airlines that have options on the A380 but they don't want to give up their slots," he said.
Singapore Airlines, the first airline to operate the A380, has 10 firm orders and 15 options and is evaluating exercising some options or ordering the new Boeing 747 Advanced, which Boeing is expected to launch in December.
Sounds promising for Airbus then, if SIA does not want to give up its slots and is considering exercising options or ordering the new 747Adv.
Astuteman From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2005, 9135 posts, RR: 96 Reply 15, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 6143 times:
Quoting Manni (Reply 14): "We have approached airlines that have options on the A380 but they don't want to give up their slots," he said.
Quoting Manni (Reply 14): Sounds promising for Airbus then
Hard to argue with a statement like that, isn't it, yet you'll still find many on here (allegedly) convinced that the many launch customers will still want their (alleged) $500 000 back.....
(can't remember now whether that was the full purchase price or just the deposit......)
QANTASpower From Australia, joined Aug 2002, 516 posts, RR: 8 Reply 16, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 6055 times:
Qantas have stated that the new products being introduced with the A380's will be rolled out across the whole International fleet in order to stay competitive. QF intends to allocate at least the first 8 A380's to there MEL/SYD - LAX runs so will need to upgrade the 744's to stay competitive with SQ etc.
CPH757 From Denmark, joined Sep 2005, 684 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 5000 times:
Quoting Carpethead (Reply 5): Correct me if am wrong but don't all experimental commercial aircraft undergo a comprehensive interior testing prior to entry of service. Since SQ is going to be the first customer, we will see an SQ interior that will be the same as the ones they will deploy once it is certified. Unless SQ/Airbus plans on testing a slightly inferior interior design and re-work everything at a later date. This scenario seems highly unlikely.
Therefore the vague SQ interior will be known months ahead of its first planned revenue flight.
Isn't that what the article states? It says that the new interior will be unveiled in september next year, and if the first revenue flights isn't expected before Christmas 2006, they have 2-3 month
Last flight: SAW-CPH on H9 on 02/11/09 - Next Flights: 23/12/09 CPH-AAL on QI, 30/12/09 CPH-LHR on SK, 19/01/10 CPH-CDG-
EI747SYDNEY From Ireland, joined Oct 2005, 687 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 4967 times:
Quoting PhilSquares (Reply 10): Take a look at the source for the picture. It's not a SQ product. I can tell you with 100% certainty, the 380 livery will look just about like every other SQ in current service!
Which still looks rather nice if you ask me.
Rob
''Live life on the edge, Live each and every day like it's your last, Hell you only live once''
PyroGX41487 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 280 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 4451 times:
Jesus god. As much as I'd like SQ to get a new livery and keep that tail in some way, I think that livery posted with the threat starter reminds me a little too much of UAL. Gorgeous, don't get me wrong, in some form. But I can't see that on say, a B777. It would only look good on the A388 or the B744.
MD80Nut From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 870 posts, RR: 10 Reply 21, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 4144 times:
>>The A380 might well be taking all premium paying passengers on the expense of 777/350 et al which might be reduced to cattle class only....<<
Not likely to happen. The A380 isn't going to be used on all long distance flights, so you'll continue to see the smaller aircraft serving lower density routes and the airlines offering their premium products on them. The airlines ordering the A380 are still ordering other aircraft. Granted, the A380's size opens up an opportunity for even more spacious premium seating and A380 specific amenities, but they will continue to offer premium service on the smaller planes.
I think it's telling that the airlines in line are unwilling to give up their A380 delivery slots. Shows that there is a need and demand for the aircraft. I expect more A380 orders once it enters service.
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7694 posts, RR: 5 Reply 22, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 4077 times:
By the way, I have doubts that BA will buy the A380-800 anytime soon.
The reason is simple: BA controls enough slots at LHR that there is little pressure to buy the larger plane. As such, BA could easily just re-work their flight schedule with more flights between LHR and SIN to compete against SQ's A388 flights.
However, I do see SQ trying to get the A388 on some routes outside of the route between LHR and SYD via SIN. I wouldn't be surprised that we see the A388 flying the SQ 001/002 route between SIN and SFO via HKG by Summer 2007.
NA From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9602 posts, RR: 10 Reply 23, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3943 times:
I had the luck to be invited to test 4 different economy class seats/arrangements for a certain future A380 operator. All 4 options tested were far better than the current standard presented for comparison.
Btw the first A380 in SIA colours (and most likely the first A380 in any airline´s colours) might be shown on the airshow in February. If so, I don´t expect a newly designed livery. But a better day to introduce a new livery for an airline besides the day they launch A380 service will be hard to find over the next decade. SIA, LH, QF, Malaysian, Air France - all these liveries are pretty old. And besides the one of QF I don´t mind anyone changing it on this event!
Doona From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 3706 posts, RR: 14 Reply 25, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3784 times:
Quoting Keesje (Thread starter): QF recently lowered their seat count on the A380. EK recently introduced new First & Business class cabins that set new standards.
How come there are almost never "new standards" set in Y?
Cheers
Mats
Sure, we're concerned for our lives. Just not as concerned as saving 9 bucks on a roundtrip to Ft. Myers.
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