SIA’s New Airbus
Singapore Airlines has added a new Airbus type to its fleet with the delivery of its first of the 19 A330-300s it has on order.
Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the high-capacity A330 fleet will fly on regional and medium haul routes, initially linking Singapore with destinations in Australia and Japan. The airline is configuring its A330s in a high comfort layout seating 285 passengers in two classes, with accommodation for 30 in Business Class and 255 in Economy.
The A330 joins an existing Airbus fleet at Singapore Airlines that includes the double deck A380 and the ultra-long haul A340-500. The carrier has also selected the all-new A350 to meet future requirements in the mid-size widebody category, with the delivery of 20 aircraft on firm order due to begin in 2013.
“The new aircraft will also help fill capacity gaps in the regional and medium haul fleet prior to the delivery of the next generation of wide-body aircraft such as the A350, in future years, said SIA’s Executive Vice President Operations and Services Mak Swee Wah.”
With the basically same fuselage and wings and almost identical cockpits, both the twin-engined A330 and the four-engined A340 can be flown by the same pilots, offering airlines far greater flexibility in operations planning and crew rostering.
