Airline Musings (Part 3)

The completion date of the Airbus A380 has been delayed yet again. This is prompting airlines namely Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas to take some action. They threaten to file for compensation if their planes are further delayed. The most recent delay is apparently caused by some problems in wiring this enormous flying giant.

To those who do not keep track on the latest planes, the A380 stands to be the largest airliner in the world surpassing the might and size of the aging Boeing 747. It can seat a max of 555 passengers while still boasting larger seats and aisles as well as wider seat pitches. This two-level plane will have swirling staircases and flowing waterfall fountain like things. Some airlines are even planning to include casinos, bars, duty-free shops and even rooms in it. I think you all can imagine how huge it will be without me confusing you with all its technical specs.

The delays are just mainly bugging SIA in my opinion. They have been boasting their 'First To Fly the A380 In 2006' motto thingamajig like forever. SIA actually launched a newsletter specially on the developments of the A380 which sad people like me subscribe to. They were supposed to have already received the planes in May this year but the delays have dragged the date till the end of the year and if worse still, early next year.

On the financial side, SIA may stand to lose a substantial amount of money with the delays being one of the A380's biggest customers. SIA currently has 19 firm orders and 6 on option. I repeat .. 19 orders of a 555-seater plane which they plan to operate on the so called 'Kangaroo Route' --> London-Singapore-Sydney route. The reason why SIA desires the Singapore-Australia-LA route so much is preety clear now.

SIA has gone on one hell of a big shopping spree lately. At the recently concluded Farnborough Airshow, they had signed an agreement to purchase 20 new A350 XWB (exended wide body) planes. Makes me wonder how much they'll really grow and expand in the years to come. If that's not enough, SIA also has another 20 new Boeing 787-9 planes on order. Just marvel at SIA's finances for yourself .. The biggest a Malaysian airlines probably got to is probably Air Asia's purchase of 60 Airbus A320's and 40 more on option. Another major expansion coming up ..

Once again we come back to controversial MAS. MAS too made an early order for 6 Airbus A380's. My biggest question now is not really the funding but on how MAS plans to fill more than 500 seats on one go. The only destinations I can think of to fill the plane would be London, Frankfurt, Paris, Melbourne, Sydney and maybe Los Angeles. MAS does plan to utilise the A380 on these routes. I have always seem to think of London as MAS's only profitable destination. They have 3 daily flights there .. amazing.

I'm sure passengers to Japan, China and Korea may easily fill up the plane but it would be kind of a waste to use the A380 on considerably short journeys like that. Perhaps, MAS will be thinking of some expansion probably in Europe or Canada. There are no direct routes from Kuala Lumpur to Canada. My mum's friend had to shockingly pay almost rm 5000 for her ticket to Toronto or Vancouver. MAS could probably do well adding Wellington or Christchurch in New Zealand on their network even though MAS already flies to Auckland.

As you can see, MAS only has artistic imageries of how their A380's look like in their already boring and almost hideous basic livery. Even though the A380 had already made its visit to KLIA at the end of last year, it only came with Malaysia Airline's name and their 'wau' logos on the engines (click to enlarge). Not even the MAS logo on the tail-fin. Compare it to what Airbus did for SIA and Emirates ! Airbus's being biased .. geez