"SYDNEY has beaten London to become the world's first destination for a scheduled service by one of the new double-decker Airbus A380 superjumbo planes."
"Singapore Airlines expects to take delivery of the first commercial aircraft in November and to begin flights to Sydney in December."
"The airline confirmed yesterday its first flight would be into Sydney and said Singapore-Sydney would be its first route when scheduled services started, probably in late December."
What very good news!!
I choose to fly oneworld, as a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Spottingpete93 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2006, 55 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 9301 times:
Having flown SQ from SIN - SYD on a jam packed 744 in November 2004 (which isnt quite in the peak season) I would say if any route was going to beat SIN-LHR it would have been SIN-SYD.
I think its mainly due to the high number of Europeans who travel via SIN down to OZ!!
VHVXB From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 5508 posts, RR: 33 Reply 2, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 9239 times:
Thats good news.
From my previous visits to Sydney Airport i saw some construction happening. I was wondering if the A380 gate facilites were still being built or were they finished being built??
BHXDTW From French Polynesia, joined Feb 2005, 1046 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 9112 times:
I wonder what SQ have to say about this ?
When I worked for SQ they always said that LHR was its flagship route and that whatever new aircraft they have, they always put it onto the LHR route first..
obviously this doesnt include the shorter haul models such as the 757 and the Airbus 310's...
But if you look back the 747-200,300,400 have all been put into service on the LHR route and If I remeber correctly so was the DC-10.
I also remember them telling me after the initial order that they had already planned from the getgo that LHR would get it first....
hmmmm interesting...
Joe
next flights: LTN-EWR (Y7) / CAK-PHL-EWR (US) / EWR-LTN (Y7)
BHXDTW From French Polynesia, joined Feb 2005, 1046 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 8985 times:
Quoting N754PR (Reply 4): Did LHR get the A45 1st... don't think so!
Yeah Sorry about that.... thats shut me up !
hahaha... I forgot those !!
Ok these A345 birds, wernt they specifically designated for NYC/LAX routes tho ?
Also the previous Airbus 340's (cant remember if they were 200s or 300's )that they sold to Boeing, I do believe they didnt come to LHR also, so I apologise for my mis-info their...
But as far as Im aware the rest of my statement is still correct ..
Joe
next flights: LTN-EWR (Y7) / CAK-PHL-EWR (US) / EWR-LTN (Y7)
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 3811 posts, RR: 23 Reply 6, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 8900 times:
Quoting BHXDTW (Reply 3): I wonder what SQ have to say about this ?
Reading the article, SQ chose SYD over LHR because...
"We've decided on Sydney for two reasons," airline spokesman Stephen Forshaw said. "Firstly, the aircraft flight time is shorter than London. And the crewing requirements are lower than for London - we require a double crew to do London flights and the turnaround time for crew is longer for London than it is for Sydney."
In reality, I imagine it's to stick it to Qantas. SQ will have the media and the publicity and when QF introduce the place, it'll be 'ho hum, old news'. Considering there's no UK airline to stick it to, that's why SYD was chosen. Purely marketing!
I choose to fly oneworld, as a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer.
VSFLYER747400 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2005, 114 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 8890 times:
One other reason for SYD getting the A380 first is that its obviously much nearer to SIN so if there are any technical issues then the aircraft is much nearer to its home base than if it were flying to LHR.
Just my worth.
Being on: (in no order) VS BA AA EK CX MH DL EI BD KL HV NW RC LH AF DA TG QF US FR LX AC SK AZ PG SQ UA PA
BHXDTW From French Polynesia, joined Feb 2005, 1046 posts, RR: 9 Reply 8, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 8775 times:
Quoting ClassicLover (Reply 6): In reality, I imagine it's to stick it to Qantas. SQ will have the media and the publicity and when QF introduce the place, it'll be 'ho hum, old news'. Considering there's no UK airline to stick it to, that's why SYD was chosen. Purely marketing!
Theres a lot of truth in that !!!
good call.
next flights: LTN-EWR (Y7) / CAK-PHL-EWR (US) / EWR-LTN (Y7)
EasternSon From United States, joined Jun 2006, 557 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 8717 times:
I agree that it's probably a pretty good stick to Qantas to fly to Sydney first.
It begs the questions though, what do you think QF will do in response? When do they put their A380s into service? Do they hit back by going directly after Singapore and London?
"The only people for me are the mad ones...." Jack Kerouac
BHXDTW From French Polynesia, joined Feb 2005, 1046 posts, RR: 9 Reply 10, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 8666 times:
Quoting EasternSon (Reply 9): It begs the questions though, what do you think QF will do in response? When do they put their A380s into service? Do they hit back by going directly after Singapore and London?
Id assume they put it onto a trans pacific route, be the first on that journey ..
failing that then perhaps the SYD-SIN-LHR leg
next flights: LTN-EWR (Y7) / CAK-PHL-EWR (US) / EWR-LTN (Y7)
Zvezda From Lithuania, joined Aug 2004, 10193 posts, RR: 71 Reply 11, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 8634 times:
Quoting ClassicLover (Reply 6): In reality, I imagine it's to stick it to Qantas. SQ will have the media and the publicity and when QF introduce the place, it'll be 'ho hum, old news'. Considering there's no UK airline to stick it to, that's why SYD was chosen. Purely marketing!
Yes, this is retaliation over the denial of SYD-LAX rights.
SQ's original plan was to introduce the WhaleJet on SQ1/SQ2 SIN-HKG-SFO-HKG-SFO, however, it turned out not to have the promised payload/range performance to fly the SFO-HKG sector year-round with a commercially viable payload. The second plan was SQ317/SQ322 SIN-LHR-SIN, which is now the second flight pair that will get the WhaleJet. SIN-SYD-SIN is the third and current plan.
RJpieces From United States, joined Nov 2003, 7456 posts, RR: 54 Reply 12, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 8634 times:
Quoting ClassicLover (Reply 6): "We've decided on Sydney for two reasons," airline spokesman Stephen Forshaw said. "Firstly, the aircraft flight time is shorter than London. And the crewing requirements are lower than for London - we require a double crew to do London flights and the turnaround time for crew is longer for London than it is for Sydney."
What does this mean--Do they need a double crew for LHR currently or did they mean that on the 380 they would need a double crew. Do they deadhead crews to LHR now?
"Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon"
KLMcedric From Belgium, joined Dec 2003, 727 posts, RR: 29 Reply 13, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 8572 times:
[quote=Zvezda,reply=11]it turned out not to have the promised payload/range performance to fly the SFO-HKG sector year-round with a commercially viable payload.
Zvezda, could you provide me with a link where this statement has been
officially confirmed? I'd like to know more about this issue.
( please do not link me to posts where Philsquares claims this, but official
info from either Airbus or SQ)
DrP From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 279 posts, RR: 8 Reply 14, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8565 times:
Quoting RJpieces (Reply 12): What does this mean--Do they need a double crew for LHR currently or did they mean that on the 380 they would need a double crew. Do they deadhead crews to LHR now?
I presume they mean that crew who fly SIN-LHR need more rest than SIN-SYD crew due to the length of duty, plus the fact that they'd need 2 crews for the flight because of duty hours limitations.
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 3811 posts, RR: 23 Reply 15, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8519 times:
Quoting DrP (Reply 14): I presume they mean that crew who fly SIN-LHR need more rest than SIN-SYD crew due to the length of duty, plus the fact that they'd need 2 crews for the flight because of duty hours limitations.
I imagine so. SIN-SYD is just under 8 hours, while SIN-LHR is around 13 hours. As it'll be the first aircraft in service, I imagine the 380 trained crew pool will be relatively small. It's easier to schedule the shorter flight.
I choose to fly oneworld, as a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer.
EK413 From Maldives, joined Nov 2003, 1536 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8519 times:
VHVXB
Thats good news.
From my previous visits to Sydney Airport i saw some construction happening. I was wondering if the A380 gate facilites were still being built or were they finished being built??
Yes, currently 1 bay is complete capable of handling the A380 from both lower & upper decks..Work is well underway on the 2nd A380 capable bay which is bay 21 if I am not mistaken....When work is complete Sydney will have a total of 4 A380 bays...
EasternSon From United States, joined Jun 2006, 557 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8465 times:
Forgive me for being behind, but why only four bays? How many A380s has QF ordered? Wouldn't they have to anticipate more than 4 of these bohemoths at a time?
"The only people for me are the mad ones...." Jack Kerouac
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 3811 posts, RR: 23 Reply 19, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8453 times:
Quoting EasternSon (Reply 17): Forgive me for being behind, but why only four bays? How many A380s has QF ordered? Wouldn't they have to anticipate more than 4 of these bohemoths at a time?
Qantas has ordered 12 plus 12 options. I wouldn't expect more than four on the ground at gates at once. You have to remember that they'll be away in other cities as well. Obviously if four isn't enough, they'll make more.
I choose to fly oneworld, as a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer.
KLMCedric From Belgium, joined Dec 2003, 727 posts, RR: 29 Reply 20, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8410 times:
Quoting ClassicLover (Reply 19): Qantas has ordered 12 plus 12 options. I wouldn't expect more than four on the ground at gates at once. You have to remember that they'll be away in other cities as well. Obviously if four isn't enough, they'll make more.
Well at the later stage it seems inevitable SYD airport will have to accomodate
more then 4 A380's at a time, if you consider the QF fleet and also others
flying into SYD with the A380(SQ,MH,EK,TG?,KE?,)
EK413 From Maldives, joined Nov 2003, 1536 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8382 times:
Correction guys.....
Bay 23 is the 2nd bay with work well under way to be able to handle the A380....
3rd bay I believe will be bay 33 & lucky last will be bay 34 (the 2 bays BA010 & BA016 operate from)......
EasternSon From United States, joined Jun 2006, 557 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8367 times:
Exactly my point, Cedric.
What to do if there are six of them on the ground at the same time. Unloading those things is going to take forever. I deplaned from the back of a B737 last week and it took nearly 25 minutes after the doors opened.
Can you imagine being stuck on the tarmac after a 16 1/2 hr. flight from LAX waiting for two or three A380s to empty and clear the gate in front of you?
It'd be mutiny.
"The only people for me are the mad ones...." Jack Kerouac
AirlineAddict From United States, joined Jan 2005, 380 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 8300 times:
Quoting ClassicLover (Thread starter): Singapore Airlines expects to take delivery of the first commercial aircraft in November
Wasn't there just a thread about Airbus stating aircraft would not be delivered to SQ until the end of the year? Sounds like Singapore received a positive update on date of delivery.
Usairways85 From United States, joined Nov 2001, 2627 posts, RR: 9 Reply 24, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 8194 times:
Doesn't it typically take some time for an airline to introduce a new aircraft into the fleet for training purposes and all. They are only waiting a month before commericial service starts. That seems rather short especially considering the A380.
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 3811 posts, RR: 23 Reply 25, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 8194 times:
Quoting AirlineAddict (Reply 23): Wasn't there just a thread about Airbus stating aircraft would not be delivered to SQ until the end of the year? Sounds like Singapore received a positive update on date of delivery.
Well, November is still the end of the year. The first revenue flight is expected at the end of December.
Quoting EasternSon (Reply 22): What to do if there are six of them on the ground at the same time. Unloading those things is going to take forever.
Interestingly enough, if you look at all the pics that EK413 took, you can only see two QF 744s at most on the ground at one time. This is when they fly 35 747s. I don't think it's going to be such a big issue for quite a while yet.
I choose to fly oneworld, as a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer.
26 A350: In that case you should be happy that it wasn't a FR flight. After 25 minutes you would already have been on the way back home A350
27 Ikramerica: November for first jet, December for first route has been the plan for a LONG time now. Nothing has changed, but as we get closer to those dates, the
29 Boysteve: Not necessarily, there are plenty of good reasons to choose SYD first over LHR etc regardless of the Oz-US traffic rights as this thread has demonstr
30 EasternSon: ClassicLover, if that is your real name, look at picture #4. (sorry having fun) I count seven different B747s from five different carriers. This will
31 ClassicLover: At this point, we only know that QF and SQ will operate the A380 in Sydney. At this point, four bays will be enough. Obviously if the A380 becomes th
32 TurkishWings: Wouldn't an airline normally use a new type on regional flights for crew familiarization? I remember SQ used the 345 to JKT long before LAX.
33 SunriseValley: It is unlikely that Airbus would confirm this change of plan by SQ!
34 Glideslope: This is the tip of the Iceberg. Let's see just how much the public enjoys flying on the Whales. IMO, it's going to take a loooong time to tune the bo
35 EasternSon: I'm not just blowing smoke either, I've done LAX-SYD twice before and each time we were delayed after landing, before getting to the gate. Once, they
36 PlaneHunter: If ever? So you fear that passengers have to stay on board forever once they have entered? Seriously, some airlines and airports have planned careful
37 StarGoldLHR: IMO, it's going to take a loooong time to tune the boarding and deplaning of these beasts, if ever. Only at US Airports maybe ? Who seem to be relucta
38 Gemuser: QF will recive its firts A380 MSN14 in April 07. Services should start in May/June 07 on MEL-LAX. SYD-LAX will follow. See http://www.qantas.com.au/i
39 Glennstewart: I went to a talk the other night delivered by the project manager of the A380 extensions. The work is still continuing but is expected to be finished
42 Gemuser: VS dont operate LHR-SIN except as a code share on SQ!!! So there is no UK airline to stick it to. Gemuser
43 KSYR: Anyone from A.net going to be on one of the initial flights? I heard something a while ago that SQ was having some sort of lottery to see who would be
44 QANTAS077: neither, Qantas will utilise it's first A380 on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route, gradually expanding it to Sydney-Los Angeles and eventually London,
46 QANTAS077: becuase Melbourne was first ready for the A380 and it also set's a record for a certain amount of passengers over the longest distance nonstop. http:
47 EK413: ClassicLover At this point, we only know that QF and SQ will operate the A380 in Sydney. At this point, four bays will be enough. Emirates Airlines wi
48 767ER: Does anyone know which flights will operate SIN SYD SIN sectors. My bet is on for SYD SIN is the late afternoon flight!
49 EK413: 767ER Does anyone know which flights will operate SIN SYD SIN sectors. My bet is on for SYD SIN is the late afternoon flight! I believe the SQ222 will
50 Rick767: If they take delivery of the A380, VS are using it on the JFK, LAX and SFO flights initially, not SYD.
51 Iain: How do you get tickets for one of the first flights? I have regestered interested with SQ on their website and get the monthly newsletters etc, but re
52 Pieinthesky: That was when he thought they would 'clean up' on their SYD flights, which has proved to be wrong as they have struggled to get the anticipated share
53 MEA-707: I have been in Darwin (flights from Indonesia) and Coolangatta (New Zealand) and was never aware they were bigger then Sydney.
54 ZK-NBT: Glenn means in terms of expansion, SYD has nowhere to expand anymore. SYD is by far the busiest International Airport in Australia! Anyway good to se
55 QANTAS077: nonsense...SQ's CEO was interviewed in Australia in early 2005 and made it perfectly clear back then that Sydney would be the first destination of th
56 Pieinthesky: It's not nonsense at all my friend, I know someone who sat in on meetings discussing it. The first flight was to be SIN-LHR, then the same a/c was go
57 ZK-NBT: Personally I doubt that it has anything to do with being denied SYD-LAX. Problem here is that you need 3 aircraft to run it daily and SQ won't recieve
58 A340Driver: VS aren't taking the A380, look out for a climbdown soon. 'Rumour' suggests A346 deliveries will stop at No.19 followed by delivery of A330 or 777.
60 Pieinthesky: I think the key word in the bit you quoted is 'was'. I was talking about the first 2 flights of the first a/c, period. There had been no decisions ma
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