Singapore Airlines orders 20 Airbus A350 XWB-900s and 9 Airbus A380s

Singapore Airlines has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase 20 Airbus A350 XWB-900s and nine additional Airbus A380-800s, with options on another 20 A350 XWB-900s and six A380-800s.

The A350 XWB family of twin-engine next-generation aircraft is the newest offering from Airbus and was unveiled this week at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK.

At manufacturer catalogue prices, the value of the 29 aircraft on firm order is US$ 7.5 billion.

Deliveries for the A350 XWB-900s are scheduled to begin in 2012 and run through to 2014. The deliveries for the nine additional A380s will commence in late 2008 and run until 2010.

The A350 XWB-900 can carry up to 314 passengers in a three class configuration, over a range of 8,500 nautical miles (approx 15,750 kilometres). It can also carry over 20 tonnes of cargo.

The range allows this aircraft to operate on routes to continental Europe, Australia, the Middle East and East Asia.

The decision to order nine more A380s comes after extensive discussions with Airbus about delivery positions, as well as existing and forward contractual obligations.

These orders follow the decision, announced in June, to order 20 Boeing 787-9s for delivery between 2011 and 2013, with purchase rights over another 20.

To fill the airline’s capacity requirements on an interim basis until the delivery of new aircraft ordered from the two manufacturers, Singapore Airlines will enter into a lease arrangement with Airbus for 19 A330-300 aircraft for delivery from early 2009 until late 2010.

“It is heartening that Airbus has listened to customer airlines and has come up with a totally new design for the A350. The technical specifications and guaranteed performance will make it a very competitive aircraft in its class for the coming decades.

“Separately, Airbus has demonstrated to Singapore Airlines’ satisfaction that the engineering design of the A380 is sound. It has performed well in flight and certification tests, and the delays in its delivery have been caused more by production, rather than technical, issues.

“This latest order, together with Singapore Airlines’ order in June for 20 Boeing 787s, will position the Airline well for future growth and uphold our policy of continuous fleet renewal and modernisation,” said Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chew Choon Seng.

The engines to power the new aircraft on order have not yet been confirmed.

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