Singapore Airlines (SIA) plans to retrofit 14 of its Airbus A380 aircraft.

...

The media report indicates that the new cabin configuration will also be used in five new A380s. Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that they will arrive between October 2017 and May 2018.

These five aircraft will help SIA keep the size of its A380 fleet at 19 aircraft following the departure of SIA's first five A380s, which will be returned to lessors.

KarelXWB wrote:

Refurbishment of the A380s should keep the fleet going for many years to come, and basically means the leases of these aircraft will be extended.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) plans to retrofit 14 of its Airbus A380 aircraft.

...

The media report indicates that the new cabin configuration will also be used in five new A380s. Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that they will arrive between October 2017 and May 2018.

These five aircraft will help SIA keep the size of its A380 fleet at 19 aircraft following the departure of SIA's first five A380s, which will be returned to lessors.

Article
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... 0s-439812/

CRJ900 wrote:

"The number of suites will be halved to six from 12" the article says. I guess SQ will add more Y+/Y seats to lower CASM even more.

Geoff1947 wrote:

Been waiting for news of what SQ planned to do with these 14. Good news for the A380 that they will keep the fleet at 19. Hopes for more A380s in future as replacements.

Today, our fleet of 106 aircraft is some of the youngest in the industry, with the average age standing at seven years and eight months.

Revelation wrote:

It's good news that they're keeping them, but in the good old days one would think SQ would be getting replacement A380s rather than refreshing the cabins and extending the leases, and that would be even better news for the A380.

These days, they're really feeling pressure from the competitors.

Planesmart wrote:

Revelation wrote:

It's good news that they're keeping them, but in the good old days one would think SQ would be getting replacement A380s rather than refreshing the cabins and extending the leases, and that would be even better news for the A380.

These days, they're really feeling pressure from the competitors.

By the end of the year, there will be a new statistic in circulation. Forget the average fleet age. The new boast will be interior update average age or similar.

tealnz wrote:

Could also be taken as an sign they're happy not just with performance but also with maintenance and other operating costs of the A380 (apart from the early build frames they're handing back). Maybe the big bird has a few virtues after all.

tealnz wrote:

Could also be taken as an sign they're happy not just with performance but also with maintenance and other operating costs of the A380 (apart from the early build frames they're handing back). Maybe the big bird has a few virtues after all.

maortega15 wrote:

CX still has some of the first 777's and A330's to come off the line, but the interiors are in line with their current longhaul seats.

r2rho wrote:

I wonder if SQ will install any of the "cabin enhancements" that Airbus has been announcing lately with the refurbishment.

PlanesNTrains wrote:

tealnz wrote:

Could also be taken as an sign they're happy not just with performance but also with maintenance and other operating costs of the A380 (apart from the early build frames they're handing back). Maybe the big bird has a few virtues after all.

I think it has many virtues, and in the right network it probably is a gold star. SQ sees value in investing in them, including new birds, so that's a pretty strong endorsement of the aircraft.

maortega15 wrote:

CX still has some of the first 777's and A330's to come off the line, but the interiors are in line with their current longhaul seats.

IMO, it's how you take care of your fleet and how often update the interiors to match with today's standards and technology that counts.

DarkSnowyNight wrote:

maortega15 wrote:

CX still has some of the first 777's and A330's to come off the line, but the interiors are in line with their current longhaul seats.

IMO, it's how you take care of your fleet and how often update the interiors to match with today's standards and technology that counts.

Not just some... The oldest. I recently had the opportunity to fly with B-HNL, the oldest and first 777 (also the only one to ever change engine types ).

While obviously not brand new, this 77A was in great shape an clearly did conform to CX standard for regional travel.

Nothing has been announced, just a "project" that is related to a new sub-version

r2rho wrote:

Nothing has been announced, just a "project" that is related to a new sub-version

Some of the cabin enhancements are unrelated to A380Plus and can be retrofitted. A380Plus is just a packaging of all these cabin mods + aero improvements. Airlines can AFAIK install some of these cabin mods already, without necessarily going for Plus.

Revelation wrote:

r2rho wrote:

Nothing has been announced, just a "project" that is related to a new sub-version

Some of the cabin enhancements are unrelated to A380Plus and can be retrofitted. A380Plus is just a packaging of all these cabin mods + aero improvements. Airlines can AFAIK install some of these cabin mods already, without necessarily going for Plus.

Personally, I'm interested to see if SQ picks up any of the interior mods that were marketed as the Plus package, such as sidewall sculpting and front/rear staircases, as a part of both their new purchases and/or their refurbish effort. It'll tell us if they want to go for more efficiency, or retain the high-luxury image of the A380. The new birds are already being built, but as you note, a lot of this interior rework has been discussed for quite a while now.

Jayafe wrote:

Airbus has already stated that there will be no retro-fitting available. Plus package as a whole so far.

Motorhussy wrote:

With the suites in First going from 12 to six, and probably moving upstairs, it'll be in interesting to see if they go two rows of 1-1-1.

Great news that SQ are endorsing the A380, passengers' favourite long-hauler, and refreshing it with new cabins.

Revelation wrote:

My understanding is that the winglets and related wing twist are not available as a retrofit.

Revelation wrote:

Jayafe wrote:

Airbus has already stated that there will be no retro-fitting available. Plus package as a whole so far.

Not so sure about the interior mods.

no retro-fitting available. Plus package as a whole so far.

ManchesterMAN wrote:

It is my understanding that it will be a single aisle configuration upstairs with 1-1 seating like EY.

Revelation wrote:

Geoff1947 wrote:

Been waiting for news of what SQ planned to do with these 14. Good news for the A380 that they will keep the fleet at 19. Hopes for more A380s in future as replacements.

It's good news that they're keeping them, but in the good old days one would think SQ would be getting replacement A380s rather than refreshing the cabins and extending the leases, and that would be even better news for the A380.

Airbus has been selected by Singapore Airlines (SIA) to provide cabin retrofit services for 14 A380 aircraft currently in service with the carrier. The retrofit programme, which will be undertaken at SIA Engineering Company in Singapore, will see the airline’s recently launched cabin products installed on the aircraft. The new cabin products will debut on five new A380s to be delivered this year and next year.

Tedd wrote:

Not forgetting that it`s also the passengers choice above anything else. It`s smooth, very quiet, & offers
luxuriousness to those that choose it. Loads on A.net are down on it for their own reasons, & while it`s
true it`s future is very uncertain, no one can deny it has some incredible attributes that would be sorely
missed by the flying public & quite a few airlines if it were to cease in the near future. This SQ cabin
refresh is great news & could provide a boost to other companies who aspire to offer similar levels of
refinement by the likes of SQ, Emirates Qatar, LH, BA, AF, & others.

aerogt3 wrote:

Tedd wrote:

Not forgetting that it`s also the passengers choice above anything else. It`s smooth, very quiet, & offers
luxuriousness to those that choose it. Loads on A.net are down on it for their own reasons, & while it`s
true it`s future is very uncertain, no one can deny it has some incredible attributes that would be sorely
missed by the flying public & quite a few airlines if it were to cease in the near future. This SQ cabin
refresh is great news & could provide a boost to other companies who aspire to offer similar levels of
refinement by the likes of SQ, Emirates Qatar, LH, BA, AF, & others.

Really? I've been equally happy on the 350 and 787 (seat width aside, though that's an airline choice more than the airframe itself). The specs of all three seem to back up that the A350 should possibly be even better (pressure, humidity, common seat width)

The refurb makes sense as it seems the market for secondhand 380s is.... non existent?