Singapore Airlines to retire four A380s by 2Q18

Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi) will retire four of its A380-800s by March of next year, ahead of the expected delivery of three new aircraft of the same type. The fleet change plans were highlighted in its annual report which was released last week.

Other aircraft to be removed from the fleet are two A330-300s, two B777-200s and one B777-200(ER). Their removal will make way for the addition of ten A350-900s as well as the afore-mentioned A380-800s.

Presumably, Singapore will be looking to phase out the elder of its A380s. According to ch-aviation fleet data, the oldest of the aircraft in Singapore's fleet are 9V-SKA (msn 3), 9V-SKB (msn 5), 9V-SKC (msn 6), 9V-SKD (msn 8) and 9V-SKE (msn 10) all delivered during 2006 and 2008 and leased from DS Aviation/Doric Asset Finance.

The carrier anticipates that the changes in its fleet will lead to a marginal capacity increase of 0.4%