SQ has surpassed QR as the world's largest A350 operator. SQ now has 55 A350s and has a few more to be delivered. The carrier is the only airline to operate 3 variants of the A350. Congrats SQ!

https://simpleflying.com/singapore-airlines-worlds-largest-a350-operator/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=echo&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2K19qt2cOcNQWQqSx0xplf194_9IU3IwoqyJebaoTWMB66C-PVBueZmSE#Echobox=1617624653

3 variants is a major stretch, They operate the A359 and A359ULR. The “Regional Aircraft” are just a different configuration and probably a paper derate. Shoot, I’d argue the ULRs are pretty damn close to what the standard A359 is today.

ikolkyo wrote:

3 variants is a major stretch, They operate the A359 and A359ULR. The “Regional Aircraft” are just a different configuration and probably a paper derate. Shoot, I’d argue the ULRs are pretty damn close to what the standard A359 is today.

ooooof. Sorry, 3 different variants with 3 different configurations. Long Haul, Ultra long haul and Regional, something other A350 operators aren't doing.

blooc350 wrote:

ikolkyo wrote:

3 variants is a major stretch, They operate the A359 and A359ULR. The “Regional Aircraft” are just a different configuration and probably a paper derate. Shoot, I’d argue the ULRs are pretty damn close to what the standard A359 is today.

ooooof. Sorry, 3 different variants with 3 different configurations. Long Haul, Ultra long haul and Regional, something other A350 operators aren't doing.

Ah, I gotcha. Not too surprising though, the A350s replaces the 772(77E derates), 77E and 773s at SQ. Lots of different configurations to replace plus the addition of the ULR flights. I think JAL will be another operator that ends up with Domestic A350s and Long-Haul A350s.

Somehow in my mind the a350 was launched just recently. Then I see numbers like this and am amazed.

Ironic, given that I was on the first a350 flight ever.

Congrats to a damn good aircraft for a damn good airline.

ikolkyo wrote:

3 variants is a major stretch, They operate the A359 and A359ULR. The “Regional Aircraft” are just a different configuration and probably a paper derate. Shoot, I’d argue the ULRs are pretty damn close to what the standard A359 is today.

Your latter instinct would pretty much be the case, as today's standard A359s have the wing twist, (multiple available) 280 tonne weight variants, physical fuel sensor/pump configuration, and modified winglets, now factory-standard.

Only real differences are installed cargo-loading hardware in the forward cargo hold, and software.

Antarius wrote:

Somehow in my mind the a350 was launched just recently.

Then it'll really freak you out, to reckon with the 787 having been rolled out 14yrs ago, and maiden flight 12yrs ago. Time flies!

QR still not far behind with 53 (combined A359/A35X), and QR have more to be delivered than SQ.

I remember when SQ were also the largest 777 operator before EK came and eclipsed everyone.

A fine looking aircraft. I look forward to riding one sometime.

ikolkyo wrote:

blooc350 wrote:

ikolkyo wrote:

3 variants is a major stretch, They operate the A359 and A359ULR. The “Regional Aircraft” are just a different configuration and probably a paper derate. Shoot, I’d argue the ULRs are pretty damn close to what the standard A359 is today.

ooooof. Sorry, 3 different variants with 3 different configurations. Long Haul, Ultra long haul and Regional, something other A350 operators aren't doing.

Ah, I gotcha. Not too surprising though, the A350s replaces the 772(77E derates), 77E and 773s at SQ. Lots of different configurations to replace plus the addition of the ULR flights. I think JAL will be another operator that ends up with Domestic A350s and Long-Haul A350s.

JAL has or will have 13 A350-1000 for long haul and 18 A350-900 currently for domestic use only. Will JAL have long haul A350-900 or not ? Reading the tea leaves from Tokyo, it seems only the -1000 will be the international airplanes. The 787-9 will fly the long thin routes like Boston, DFW, Moscow and Helsinki.

jfk777 wrote:

ikolkyo wrote:

blooc350 wrote:

ooooof. Sorry, 3 different variants with 3 different configurations. Long Haul, Ultra long haul and Regional, something other A350 operators aren't doing.

Ah, I gotcha. Not too surprising though, the A350s replaces the 772(77E derates), 77E and 773s at SQ. Lots of different configurations to replace plus the addition of the ULR flights. I think JAL will be another operator that ends up with Domestic A350s and Long-Haul A350s.

JAL has or will have 13 A350-1000 for long haul and 18 A350-900 currently for domestic use only. Will JAL have long haul A350-900 or not ? Reading the tea leaves from Tokyo, it seems only the -1000 will be the international airplanes. The 787-9 will fly the long thin routes like Boston, DFW, Moscow and Helsinki.

Yep, some A350s domestic (-900) and others international (-1000).

jfk777 wrote:

ikolkyo wrote:

blooc350 wrote:

ooooof. Sorry, 3 different variants with 3 different configurations. Long Haul, Ultra long haul and Regional, something other A350 operators aren't doing.

Ah, I gotcha. Not too surprising though, the A350s replaces the 772(77E derates), 77E and 773s at SQ. Lots of different configurations to replace plus the addition of the ULR flights. I think JAL will be another operator that ends up with Domestic A350s and Long-Haul A350s.

JAL has or will have 13 A350-1000 for long haul and 18 A350-900 currently for domestic use only. Will JAL have long haul A350-900 or not ? Reading the tea leaves from Tokyo, it seems only the -1000 will be the international airplanes. The 787-9 will fly the long thin routes like Boston, DFW, Moscow and Helsinki.

I believe the a359 is the replacement for the domestic 777s. The a35K will supplement and likely eventually replace the 77Ws.

LAX772LR wrote:

Your latter instinct would pretty much be the case, as today's standard A359s have the wing twist, (multiple available) 280 tonne weight variants, physical fuel sensor/pump configuration, and modified winglets, now factory-standard.

Only real differences are installed cargo-loading hardware in the forward cargo hold, and software.

I was not aware of the fact, the fuel sensor/pump/piping of the ULR is now linefit. Is there a source for that? Just curious, because to my knowledge the capacity in the wing tanks is slightly lower in the ULR Version but lot higher in the Center Tank because of the different piping.
So there are no new builds in BASIC config (acc. TCDS) anymore?

a320fan wrote:

I remember when SQ were also the largest 777 operator before EK came and eclipsed everyone.

I believe that at one point they were also the largest 747 operator. Certainly the largest 744 operator, including the -400F.

Surprisingly SQ do not order any A35K

airbazar wrote:

I believe that at one point they were also the largest 747 operator. Certainly the largest 744 operator, including the -400F.

Sorry. That’s incorrect, Singapore Airlines never had the biggest 747 fleet or the most -400s. It was Japan Airlines with the biggest, and then for a long time more recently British Airways.

Singapore only ever had 43 747-400s, and operated at total of 79 individual 747 frames but not simultaneously. Japan Airlines had 44 -400s and 114 different aircraft at different times, while BA had 57 -400s from a total of 101 747s they ever operated.

A35K looks like a perfect aircraft for the SQ fleet. They can replace the 77W's.

windian425 wrote:

A35K looks like a perfect aircraft for the SQ fleet. They can replace the 77W's.

SQ has 31 777Xs on order to replace the 77W (11 of which were converted from 787-10s earlier this year).

SQ did have 70 planes on order but reduced it down to 63 in July 2015 at Airbus' request to release seven of its orders back to them:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/singapore-ai ... 23496.html

Later in October 2015 the firmed up a conversion of 7 planes to ULR version and an additional firm order for 4 planes taking them up to the current 67 they have on order.

https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press ... 0-900.aspx

Seems all a bit long winded just to rejig an order. Given SQ's preference for having a young fleet of aircraft they'll probably top up their A350 order at some point in the future and "re-order" those cancelled 3 planes.

Polot wrote:

windian425 wrote:

A35K looks like a perfect aircraft for the SQ fleet. They can replace the 77W's.

SQ has 31 777Xs on order to replace the 77W (11 of which were converted from 787-10s earlier this year).

The SQ/TR Group seem to have a preference of a rough 50/50 split of Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Crosswind wrote:

airbazar wrote:

I believe that at one point they were also the largest 747 operator. Certainly the largest 744 operator, including the -400F.

Sorry. That’s incorrect, Singapore Airlines never had the biggest 747 fleet or the most -400s. It was Japan Airlines with the biggest, and then for a long time more recently British Airways.

Singapore only ever had 43 747-400s, and operated at total of 79 individual 747 frames but not simultaneously. Japan Airlines had 44 -400s and 114 different aircraft at different times, while BA had 57 -400s from a total of 101 747s they ever operated.

It's pretty hard to calculate which airline had the largest fleet at any moment in time but I vaguely recall SQ announcing they were the largest at one point. As for your initial statement that SQ "never had the biggest 747 fleet or the most -400s", this article seems to contradict that:
https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/bn/m ... b2012-1528
"In 1994, SIA took delivery of its 23rd B747-400, making the Airline the largest B747-400 operator in the world"

So again, at one point in time they may have been the largest but they were certainly the largest -400 operator.

And also, they had 59 -400, 17 of which were freighters, not 43. 2 more than BA. But again, don't think they operated them all at the same time as most SQ birds were replaced fairly young.