SQ pulls A380 from Melbourne, MH A330 to PER/MEL/ADL/BNE, China Southern to PER

[markis10]

In what must be a worrying move for QF, SQ have pulled their A380 from MEL and replaced with 777 equipment, which begs the question if SQ cannot make an A380 work to SIN once a day ex MEL, what chance do QF have for other ports ex MEL? They have also announced an all J upper deck service to London and Zurich

In other news MY has gone to A330 equipment for all Aus cities while China Southern is to start a PER service.

Details from: AIRLINE ROUTE

Singapore – Melbourne Aircraft changes, including the end of Airbus A380 service
SQ227/238 eff 15JAN12 Boeing 777-300 replace Airbus A380 (MEL from 16JAN12)
SQ237/238 eff 16JAN12 Boeing 747-400 replace 777-300
SQ217/218 Service Remains Daily Boeing 777-300ER

The Low-Density Airbus A380, configured in 409 seats, features all-upper deck Business Class service (A8E), but leads to capacity reduction, loss of 62 seats per flight per direction.
Planned A8E flight and dates (Subject to last minute changes) as follows:

Singapore – London Heathrow SQ318/321 eff 01OCT11
Singapore – Zurich eff 01OCT11

---

MH changesfrom late SEP

Kuala Lumpur – Adelaide Airbus A330-300 (333) replace Boeing 777-200ER
Kuala Lumpur – Melbourne All 2 Daily service operates with Airbus A330-300 (333), replace Boeing 777-200ER
Kuala Lumpur – Perth
26SEP11 – 30NOV11 Reduce from 10 to 9 weekly, all Boeing 777-200ER service
01DEC11 – 14FEB12 MH125/126 Daily flight operates with old A330-300 aircraft (330)
15FEB12 – 24MAR12 All 10 weekly service operates with NEW A330-300 aircraft (333)
New Airbus A330-300 (333) continues to operate Kuala Lumpur – Brisbane

---

AS per 05AUG11 GDS inventory display, China Southern from 01NOV11 is to launch 3 weekly Beijing – Guangzhou – Perth service, its 4th destination in Australia.
At time this post goes to press, reservation is not yet open:

CZ319 PEK1730 – 2045CAN2220 – 0620+1PER 333 246
CZ320 PER0930 – 1750CAN2000 – 2310PEK 333 357

 

[oz_mark]

In what must be a worrying move for QF, SQ have pulled their A380 from MEL and replaced with 777 equipment, which begs the question if SQ cannot make an A380 work to SIN once a day ex MEL, what chance do QF have for other ports ex MEL? They have also announced an all J upper deck service to London and Zurich

I'm not sure it means that it doesn't work - more that they decided that it was more optimal to use it on other routes. HAving said that, Qantas may decide that there is no competitive reason to reatin their A380 on the same route, and use it elsewhere.

 

[cove]

I lack sympathy here for MEL flyers seeing we don't get Big Bird ever in Perth. The A330 is always close to chockers running between Perth and Singapore. The 777 is still really good!

 

[mannej]

The old MH 330 is a bit of a downgrade, be interesting to see what their new 330's are like.

Reading into it further, The 126/127 going to a 777 for a while is better then the regional config ac's, but it would be good to see the newer A330's MH have to offer

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I lack sympathy here for MEL flyers seeing we don't get Big Bird ever in Perth.

No sympathy required cove - 747 and and 777-300 means 2 flights daily where we can redeem J Savers out of Melb rather than 1 as of now - delicious!

 

[richie9x]

In what must be a worrying move for QF, SQ have pulled their A380 from MEL and replaced with 777 equipment, which begs the question if SQ cannot make an A380 work to SIN once a day ex MEL, what chance do QF have for other ports ex MEL? They have also announced an all J upper deck service to London and Zurich

I think MEL-SIN is over supplied at the moment. With both Emirates and Jetstar offering offering heavily discounted fares. So I think it is a wise move for SG. Cut back a little and don't engage in a price war. Wait and see how things go. Use the A380 on a more profitable route.

In other news MY has gone to A330 equipment for all Aus cities while China Southern is to start a PER service.

You had me worried there for a second as I have an F class reward flight booked with MAS later this year. Luckily Malaysian airlines appear to still be flying a 747s to Sydney. But A330s to other cities.

 

[dajop]

The trouble with the A380 service it that it is on the wrong rotation out of MEL - when the 744 was the bigger capacity/prestigious aircraft it was always on the European connection flight out in the afternoon. But I assume for utilisation reasons they put the 380 on the daytime flight instead.

 

[cove]

I am pleased that Cruiser Elite has put some balance to my no sympathy comment. Those discounted points flights are wonderful value so if SQ is making MEL into a backwater I will start looking at making it an optional departure point for Europe and the US thru SIN.

 

[pauly7]

No sympathy required cove - 747 and and 777-300 means 2 flights daily where we can redeem J Savers out of Melb rather than 1 as of now - delicious!

Totally agree. More than happy for the SQ A380 to disappear completely from this POV

 

[airbound]

Airline Route is also reporting that OZ is reducing ICN-SYD and SYD-ICN flights from daily to six weekly (and increasing ICN-LHR and LHR-ICN flights from four weekly to daily) from 30 October 2011:

Seoul Incheon – Sydney Reduce from Daily to 6 weekly, except 14DEC11 – 05JAN12. This is the service reduction for the first time in recent years
OZ601 ICN2020 – 0820+1SYD 777 x3
OZ602 SYD1010 – 1840ICN 777 x4

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

I wonder if SQ replaced MEL with LAX ?
I'm with Cove, more opportunity and I think I prefer the 777, particularly now the 300's are re-fitted.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I lack sympathy here for MEL flyers seeing we don't get Big Bird ever in Perth. The A330 is always close to chockers running between Perth and Singapore. The 777 is still really good!

Agree Cove, the 777 is a marvelous aircraft, especially if it is configured to latest J class which I doubt out of Perth. Considered regional I would say PER SIN .....??

 

[dajop]

I wonder if SQ replaced MEL with LAX.

Looking at the January timing it seems that the 380 may be needed for SIN-FRA-JFK.

 

[markis10]

Looking at the January timing it seems that the 380 may be needed for SIN-FRA-JFK.

Wonder what that will do to QFs plans, although I have a feeling they are cast before this move was made!

 

[tuapekastar]

Coincidentally while I was driving to Bendigo this morning I saw an SQ A380 leaving MEL. Almost looked slow motion as it crossed the Calder Freeway.

 

[dajop]

Wonder what that will do to QFs plans, although I have a feeling they are cast before this move was made!

Curious. but I do wonder if it would have much of a bearing at all, given that the SQ change may be temporary awaiting further A380 deliveries (and phasing out of the 744 altogether) , and in capacity terms it represents a reduction of only 7% of SQ J seats and 10% of their Y seats. SQ can't seem to quite get MEL right, chopping and changing the fleet all the time, at one point they dropped the longstanding 77W service and if you believe what you read on bulletin boards it was quickly re-instated after some big corporates protested. It may be that for the flights it operates, it is too big for MEL and the 77W/new 773 too small, which is why the 744 fits nicely.

 

[SenZubEanS]

Will be sad not to see SQ A380 @ MEL. (Stupid SYD still having twice daily!!!!)

 

[markis10]

Will be sad not to see SQ A380 @ MEL. (Stupid SYD still having twice daily!!!!)

Although people booked late Sept on might want to check their flight numbers:

Starting 07SEP11, Singapore Airlines is adjusting Airbus A380 operation on Singapore – Sydney service. There are no changes to A380 operating flight out of Singapore, but Sydney departure will see operation changes.
Details:

SQ231 SIN0035 – 1020SYD 388 D
SQ241 SIN0700 – 1630SYD 772 D
SQ211 SIN0925 – 1855SYD 773 D
SQ221 SIN2010 – 0555+1SYD 388 D
SQ212 SYD0810 – 1430SIN 773 D
SQ232 SYD1120 – 1745SIN 388 D
SQ222 SYD1515 – 2140SIN 388 D
SQ242 SYD1750 – 0010+1SIN 772 D
SQ212 SYD morning departure service from 07SEP11 sees Boeing 777-300 replace Airbus A380
SQ232 SYD late-morning departure service from 07SEP11 sees Airbus A380 replace Boeing 777-300

Changes will be maintained in Northern Winter 2011/12 season effective 30OCT11

 

[markis10]

MH keep changing things too:

Kuala Lumpur – Adelaide eff 26SEP11 NEW Airbus A330-300 (333) replace Boeing 777-200ER
Kuala Lumpur – Melbourne eff 26SEP11 NEW Airbus A330-300 (333) on all 2 Daily service
Kuala Lumpur – Perth
26SEP11 – 29OCT11 Reduce from 10 to 9 weekly, all Boeing 777-200ER service
30OCT11 – 30NOV11 MH127/126 Day 6 from KUL, Day 7 from PER, OLD Airbus A330-300 (330) replace 777-200ER. The Remaining 8 weekly operates with Boeing 777
01DEC11 – 14FEB12 All 10 weekly flights operated by OLD Airbus A330-300 (330), except MH127/126 Day 4 from KUL, Day 5 from PER with NEW Airbus A330-300 (333)
15FEB12 – 24MAR12 NEW Airbus A330-300 (333) Operates 10 weekly service

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Although people booked late Sept on might want to check their flight numbers:

Starting 07SEP11, Singapore Airlines is adjusting Airbus A380 operation on Singapore – Sydney service. There are no changes to A380 operating flight out of Singapore, but Sydney departure will see operation changes.
Details:

I got excited with a recent redemption out of Sydney that included 212 for early next year - A380 in a suite - until I checked SIA timetable.
However nothing wrong with 777's - I know its not an 380 but after my first ride in an A380 earlier this year I'm just as happy in the 7's and they
are re-fitted. Also easier to book if you have to use points.