First 777-300ER Being Retired?

TXspotter · Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:53 pm

FlightRadar24 notified me of Singapore 777-300ER MSN 9V-SWP landing at VCV today. This would be the first 777-300ER slated to be retired / scrapped. SIA has been known to retire their B777 types early to garner the most resale value possible.

Line number: 710
Built: 2008
Owner: Singapore Airlines
Config: F8J42Y228 = 278 seats

1. Is it correct the plane landed at VCV today?
2. Thoughts on it being re-leased vs scrap?

http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/9v-swp/#91b73c6

UA444 · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:05 pm

I have a feeling this will be picked up. By who is the question.

DocLightning · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:07 pm

Quoting TXspotter (Thread starter):

FlightRadar24 notified me of Singapore 777-300ER MSN 9V-SWP landing at VCV today. This would be the first 777-300ER slated to be retired / scrapped. SIA has been known to retire their B777 types early to garner the most resale value possible.

You know VCV does a lot of things other than scrapping, right? I can't imagine even SQ scrapping an 8yo 77W.

zkojq · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:12 pm

Haven't Kenya Airway's 77Ws been retired already?

TXspotter · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:13 pm

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 2):
You know VCV does a lot of things other than scrapping, right? I can't imagine even SQ scrapping an 8yo 77W.

Absolutely. A few of the EX SIA planes are currently in storage there, most owned by lessors though.

But, a few devils advocate points for why it may be slated for part-out
1. SIA is also known to be one who is willing to be near the first to scrap a fleet type. See MSN 28511,28512,28518. A few years earlier than the current 77E's.

2. Wouldn't we have heard about someone picking up a 77W?

3. Low seat count in this A/C

4. Emirates has stated they plan to retire some 77W's this year.

TXspotter · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:14 pm

Quoting ZKOJQ (Reply 3):

Yes, but IIRC those already found a home with Turkish Airlines. It seems odd a 8 year old 77W would be stored with no buyer already lined up. That's why I took this flight to VCV as highly likely to be it's last.

TXspotter · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:17 pm

Looking closer at FR24 it appears this plane turned back to SIA. But I definitely got an alert email from FR24 with this MSN destined for VCV...

PA515 · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:28 pm

Quoting TXspotter (Reply 6):
Looking closer at FR24 it appears this plane turned back to SIA. But I definitely got an alert email from FR24 with this MSN destined for VCV...

Don't think it turned back. Looks like a post maintenance test flight SIN-SIN on 16 Mar. VCV not involved.

PA515

DocLightning · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:29 pm

Quoting TXspotter (Reply 4):
1. SIA is also known to be one who is willing to be near the first to scrap a fleet type. See MSN 28511,28512,28518. A few years earlier than the current 77E's.

2. Wouldn't we have heard about someone picking up a 77W?

3. Low seat count in this A/C

4. Emirates has stated they plan to retire some 77W's this year.

1) Fair enough, but usually more than 8 years after purchasing.

2) Not if it's being sent there for maintenance

3) Seats can be reconfigured.

4) EK will probably scrap birds built in 2003-2004, not 2008.

skipness1E · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:34 pm

Quoting TXspotter (Thread starter):
FlightRadar24 notified me of Singapore 777-300ER MSN 9V-SWP landing at VCV today.

It lied to you then.

UA444 · Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:45 pm

Quoting TXspotter (Reply 5):

Planes get stored without a buyer all the time. Sometimes it takes a little while, while other times it's pretty quick. Nothing unusual about it. I

PA515 · Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:08 pm

According to a thread on sqtalk 9V-SWP has just finished an eight week refit. So it's not going to VCV.

PA515

tjh8402 · Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:27 pm

Wasn't BA looking for used 77Ws along with the used A380s? Maybe this is the deal DL has been waiting to make...

IslandRob · Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:31 pm

So, in other words, the premise behind even starting this thread is false? -ir

aznmadsci · Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:40 pm

Wow! I have ridden on this plane many times back and forth on IAH-DME-SIN.

TXspotter · Wed Mar 16, 2016 10:08 pm

Quoting IslandRob (Reply 13):

Yep, I thought i was the first with some interesting info. Turns out this thread should be deleted.

I have an email definitely stating its destination is VCV. Oh well, maybe it was reusing the flight number of the 777-300A that flew a few days earlier.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 8):
1) Fair enough, but usually more than 8 years after purchasing.

2) Not if it's being sent there for maintenance

3) Seats can be reconfigured.

4) EK will probably scrap birds built in 2003-2004, not 2008.

1. Yes agreed
2. True, never heard of SIA getting MX at VCV. SIA has their own heavy MX facilities
3. True, I bet it would be awfully expensive for that many seats. Even 77Ws aren't what they used to be
4. Agreed. Seems early but if Emirates is doing it, why not be first.

I think this was a FR24 error and this plane will be kept at SIA. However the first 77W for scrap will definitely be done in 2016

RayChuang · Wed Mar 16, 2016 11:47 pm

The first 77W's that head for the scrapper will likely be the birds originally sold to AF--the launch customer for the plane.

Singapore 777 · Thu Mar 17, 2016 12:03 am

It was 9V-SYK that was returned to its lessor and flown to VCV for storage.

9V-SWP was out on a test flight after undergoing heavy maintenance and cabin refit.

debonair · Thu Mar 17, 2016 12:06 am

Quoting Singapore 777 (Reply 17):
9V-SWP was out on a test flight after undergoing heavy maintenance and cabin refit.

For which new airline?!

res77W · Thu Mar 17, 2016 12:25 am

Quoting debonair (Reply 18):

No new airline. Just a cabin refit with the new seats including premium economy.

Norcal773 · Thu Mar 17, 2016 1:31 am

Quoting ZKOJQ (Reply 3):
Haven't Kenya Airway's 77Ws been retired already?

They weren't retired, they were 2 years old for crying out loud. TK picked them up.

If SQ was retiring 77Ws, it sure wouldn't be SWP going first.

theSFOspotter · Thu Mar 17, 2016 3:33 am

I think I hear UA calling for a cheap 77W to help speed up the 744 retirement program!

Lentini2001 · Thu Mar 17, 2016 11:07 am

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 8):
4) EK will probably scrap birds built in 2003-2004, not 2008.

I didnt know EK had 77Ws that old, I thought their oldest ER was A6-EBA which is 11 years old?

na · Thu Mar 17, 2016 11:18 am

Quoting Lentini2001 (Reply 22):
I didnt know EK had 77Ws that old, I thought their oldest ER was A6-EBA which is 11 years old?

EK will start 77W retirement this year via lease returns. What happens then with those frames is not EKs business.

Quoting TXspotter (Reply 15):
I think this was a FR24 error and this plane will be kept at SIA. However the first 77W for scrap will definitely be done in 2016

What makes you so sure of that? I do not think so, at least for the first few 77Ws coming off-lease I expect that there is some interest in the market, from BA and others, only if the price is right of course. Only when 77Ws are being retired by the dozen by EK and SQ towards the end of this decade scrappings are more than just likely.

SIA747Megatop · Thu Mar 17, 2016 7:10 pm

Quoting na (Reply 23):
What makes you so sure of that?

It's on its way back from DXB as I type this.

Edited to add: DXB was the first route flown after being refit to 4F/48J/28S/184Y cabin.

[Edited 2016-03-17 12:12:50]

blacksoviet · Wed Jan 18, 2017 5:59 am

The oldest 77W at Air France is 12 years old and it is still running strong.

77west · Wed Jan 18, 2017 6:52 am

I don't think we will see a 77W scrapping until at least 2018-2019 barring any unforseen issues like a fire or other damage.

migair54 · Wed Jan 18, 2017 7:14 am

blacksoviet wrote:
The oldest 77W at Air France is 12 years old and it is still running strong.

And it will be running for many more years with AF.

I don't think this SQ plane will be scrapped, EK will be retiring some 77W soon, I am quite sure that most of that planes will get a new home sooner than later, even some of the B773 with RR engines are moving to CX from EK, and that planes are less desired than a B77W.

One of the problems of the B77W is the size, many operator of charter flights may find the plane a bit too big, the A330 and B767/B787 is a much more practical plane for many airlines.

One of the possible market for the B77W could be the conversion into freighter, if Boeing starts the program, many Dc10/MD11 could be replaced with B777, I know Boeing advertise the B77F as a replacement of this planes, but the price of a new B77F is too high, however 10-12 years planes can have a good price for the mission.

tjh8402 wrote:
Wasn't BA looking for used 77Ws along with the used A380s? Maybe this is the deal DL has been waiting to make...

,
They can get both from EK if they want, with so many A380 still to be delivered EK can easily offload some of the early planes in a couple of years.