Singapore Airlines 777x

Almost four years ago, Singapore Airlines agreed to buy 20 Boeing 777-9s. Better known as 777Xs, the then untested plane was promising big things. But a lot has happened in the time since. That’s seen the Singapore Airlines 777X order take a few twists and turns along the way.

The order, made in February 2017, was a double deal. Singapore Airlines wanted some more Dreamliners as well. All up, the buy was valued at US$13.8 billion based on published list prices.

Boeing's 777X is a next-generation jet that will fly into here-and-now challenges. Combining the best attributes of the familiar and long-running Boeing 777-200 and -300 family with the high-tech advantages of the 787 Dreamliner's clean-sheet design, the big twin-engine plane might prove too big for airlines to fill in the immediate wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Like a lot of airlines, Singapore Airlines has put a lot of focus on dual engine twin-aisle aircraft in recent years. Orders such as this Boeing 777-9s lead to considerable speculation about the immediate future of the big jets like the A380 – of which Singapore still has 19 in service.

“We are continuing to invest for the future of the SIA Group,” said Singapore Airlines CEO, Mr Goh Choon Phong at the time.

Back then, the 777Xs were due to start landing in Singapore from the 2021/22 financial year.

Stay informed: Sign up for our daily aviation news digest.

777X delays may be a blessing in disguise for Singapore Airlines

The trials and tribulations of the 777X are well-known. In 2011, Boeing anticipated the 777X to be flying by 2017/18. One year later, that was pushed back to 2019 amid claims of a parsimonious, risk-averse, and backpedaling culture at Boeing that was putting the brakes on the plane’s design and initial production.

As it turned out, the first test flight of Boeing’s 777X didn’t occur until January 2020. Boeing now hopes commercial production will begin next year, with the first deliveries slated to start in 2022.

Before the travel downturn, that wasn’t really the kind of news Singapore Airlines wanted to hear. But as 2020 grinds to an end, the delay may be a blessing in disguise for the airline (and other airlines who have ordered the 777X).

Earlier this year, before the downturn kicked in, Singapore Airlines was keeping the faith in the 777X. It was planning to use the new planes to replace older Boeing 777-300ERs and at the same time introduce the next generation of Singapore Airlines’ seats.

“We believe when we launch it, we will set an industry-standard… [Singapore Airlines will] be going out to our consumers and customers to get better ideas about what it is they really want in the next quantum leap of service and product,” said Goh Choon Phong earlier this year.

Travel downturn curbs Singapore Airlines’ ambitions

By the middle of 2020, the gloss was wearing off as the travel downturn radically curtailed Singapore Airlines flights and revenue.

“We continue to engage aircraft manufacturers to negotiate adjustments to the delivery stream of existing aircraft orders,” Singapore Airlines said in a media statement.

While demand remains patchy, Singapore Airlines is now cautiously optimistic there is some light on the horizon. It says passengers are becoming more confident about traveling as border restrictions ease and a vaccine appears to be around the corner.

But Singapore Airlines doesn’t think passenger demand will return to 2019 levels before 2024. With that in mind, it has quietly shelved plans to use the 777X to rollout new seats in its premium cabins.

The move was hardly a surprise. In a cash-constrained environment, spending huge amounts of money installing new seats is unlikely to be a priority at any airline right now.

But Singapore Airlines is holding firm on its 777X order. Boeing’s order book was recently updated, and the Singapore Airlines order sits among a handful of airlines who’ve ordered the plane. After a very protracted birth, Boeing promises the 777X will be the most efficient twin-engine commercial jet in the world with the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial airplane. For a long-haul airline feeling considerable financial pain, that could be the perfect plane.

News and notes from around the interweb:

Singapore Airlines 777x Flight

• Lufthansa Group will start requiring lounge guests to be on the same flight as the person sponsoring them starting May 22. No more guesting in work colleagues traveling to a different destination.
• Rumored to be the new Singapore Airlines first class concept for their Boeing 777X
• Qantas wants to reduce cabin crew from 5 to 4 on Sydney – Melbourne flights they are only required to have 4 for safety but the 5th was on board to help expedite meal service on the sub-500 mile flight.
• An argument against serving alcohol at events
• 200 Israeli tourists were stuck in the Dubai airport overnight, unable to enter the UAE because the country ‘changed its visa rules’ while they were inflight. It’s not entirely clear what changed or why, but after senior diplomatic interventions they were allowed to apply for e-visas.