CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3803 times:
There are several articles online today talking about Silkair. They are looking to replace their fleet of A319s and A320s. Talks are being held or will be held with Boeing, Airbus and Embraer.
This does not appear to be a top off order or an easy expansion order for Airbus. Silkair said that they are taking Boeing's offerings seriously etc. Because they are looking for expansion also, I have to wonder if the 787 is going to come into play at all. Using this platform as growth platform could be a possibility.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
YOWza From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 4788 posts, RR: 17 Reply 2, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3776 times:
How far afield are Silkair looking to expand? Unless they plan on outside Asia/Australia they don't really have a huge need for real heavies. I would be inclined to guess at a split Airbus/Embraer order. Airbus to minimze crew issues and Embaers because apparently they are too good to not buy these days
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3724 times:
The jist of the overall article seemed to be that Silk Air was actually leaning towards Boeing. Thats why I brought up the 787. If Silk Air is loooking for mininal expansion on its routes, would the 787-3 be a good platform? What is the capacity jump from an A320 to a 787-3?
Embraer aircraft are being looked at for an additional RJ purchase. If there is a purchase I would think that Embraer is a lock for the RJ while Airbus is a 60-40 favorite in the A320 vs 737 competition.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Ex_SQer From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 1435 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3562 times:
My understanding is that they are looking at smaller aircraft than the A319/320 in order to operate to secondary cities in India, China and Indonesia. Their shortlived experiment with widebodies (2xA312) in the mid-90s was pretty much a disaster and I think they swore off widebodies then.
Centrair From Japan, joined Jan 2005, 3597 posts, RR: 21 Reply 5, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 3461 times:
Quoting CX747 (Reply 3): What is the capacity jump from an A320 to a 787-3?
It is quite a jump.
A320 = 150-164 pax
787-3 = 290 to 330 pax
If anything they are looking at more A320s (with some of the new updates), ERJ 190/195 and the 737 series.
Even in Asia capacity is starting to loose speed. JL and NH are the only carriers to order the 787-3 and they are looking to use them on domestic routes (slot restriction) and flights currently operated by 767s/A300s.
I would think that the boeings being offered are 737s. Maybe they were given a presentation but Silk Air doesn't need a plane as big as the 787.
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Georgiabill From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 545 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 3411 times:
Folks donot get excited. Let's look at that facts airbus will slip a few bucks in the right man or woman's pocket and Silk will buy Airbus. Another business day in Asia.
Oldeuropean From Germany, joined May 2005, 1918 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3396 times:
Quoting Georgiabill (Reply 6): Folks donot get excited. Let's look at that facts airbus will slip a few bucks in the right man or woman's pocket and Silk will buy Airbus. Another business day in Asia.
Yes, the same way Boeing does. (I just want to mention this before you forgett that fact)
Carpethead From Japan, joined Aug 2004, 2779 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3346 times:
First question is why would Silk Air replace its very new fleet of 319/320? The most recent one is only months only and oldest a few years. Next, doesn't SQ have a partial ownership in Silk Air. If they are to expand beyond A320-class aircraft, then it would somewhat compete with SQ. SQ has already made Tiger Air its LCC offshoot. Silk Air is going to fit somewhere in SQ's future plans whether to fly to places where there's not much LCC demand or to longer-haul leisure destinations like the relationship with Condor is to Lufthansa.
Aviasian From Singapore, joined Jan 2001, 1453 posts, RR: 16 Reply 9, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 3296 times:
Quoting Georgiabill (Reply 6): Folks donot get excited. Let's look at that facts airbus will slip a few bucks in the right man or woman's pocket and Silk will buy Airbus. Another business day in Asia.
If you are hinting at pockets being greased . . . I think you are looking at the wrong airline and country.
Some of the articles actually mentioned that if the Boeing 737 is ordered, it would be a total fleet roll-over. And I can imagine that this would probably refer to the B737-800 or B737-900/-900ERs. The reference to a regional jet is in the context of having such planes operate to thinner routes or to secondary airports where an A320/A319 could not operate from. Other forum members have mentioned the Embraer planes . . . perhaps planes such as the Bombardier CRJ900 could also be an attractive option.
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4664 posts, RR: 27 Reply 10, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3258 times:
First question is why would Silk Air replace its very new fleet of 319/320?
Not surprising that they want to keep the fleet young. New to you, old to them. Either that or this could be an option for future purchases when the Airbuses become really old (5 yrs...).
If they are to expand beyond A320-class aircraft, then it would somewhat compete with SQ.
Let's not forget that MI and SQ complements each other. MI flies to "secondary" cities that cannot be profitably served by SQ's 777s. These cities also have a demand for a premium class, which is what MI offers. As for Tiger Airways, they are just targeting a whole different segment.
Some of the articles actually mentioned that if the Boeing 737 is ordered, it would be a total fleet roll-over.
Indeed, it would be 2 roll-overs within a decade. Remeber they operated the 737-300s before being replaced by the A320s (some speculation this was due to the MI 185 crash).
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Zvezda From Lithuania, joined Aug 2004, 10511 posts, RR: 65 Reply 11, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3233 times:
Quoting Ryanair!!! (Reply 10):
Not surprising that they want to keep the fleet young. New to you, old to them. Either that or this could be an option for future purchases when the Airbuses become really old (5 yrs...).
5 years is not old for SQ/MI. The average fleet age at SQ is 5 years. If the fleet were not growing, that would mean that aircraft are retired/sold at 10 years. However, the fleet is growing so the actual average retirement age for SQ aircraft is about 12 years. The only times SQ have retired aircraft after 5 years has been when they were dissatisfied with the type. I see no reason why MI would be dissatisfied with the A320.
Ex_SQer From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 1435 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3047 times:
Quoting Ryanair!!! (Reply 10): Indeed, it would be 2 roll-overs within a decade. Remeber they operated the 737-300s before being replaced by the A320s (some speculation this was due to the MI 185 crash).
The decision to purchase A319/320 aircraft was made before the MI185 crash.
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3035 times:
Are you sure that the decision to purchase A320s was made before the crash? I thought one of the reasons for order the A320 was because of the crash. It was always fishy because more than likely there was something going on in the cockpit and it wasn't an actual mechanincal breakdown.
Do we have an actual timeframe on this order? Also, if they Silk Air does an entire fleet roll over or "re purchase" would they be getting outdated equipment circa 2012 when Boeing and Airbus are supposed to be unveiling new narrowbody entries?
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Ex_SQer From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 1435 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (7 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2845 times:
Got some more info. They are not looking at widebodies - it doesn't fit into their current business model and their last experience with widebody ops was too recent and too traumatic! Primarily they are looking at renewing their exisiting fleet. RJs are being considered if (and this is a very big if) the cost of operating an additional type balances out with (1) the benefits of improving efficiencies on routes for which the A319/320 is too large and expensive (eg Solo, Lombok, etc) and (2) the benefits of being able to open new routes with smaller RJs instead of jumping right in with A319/320s. Their earlier attempt at RJ ops (well, F70s, not exactly an RJ) was a positive one, but they decided to return the aircraft after their leases were up to conserve costs by operating just one fleet type. If they had stuck with the F70 they may not have given up some stations such as Pekanbaru. Anyway this is where things stand.
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