Australia A380 Seasonal Increases NS15

[MLflyer]

Anyone think its a bad idea to pull the A380 off MEL for good? Interesting that SQ will be placing them on SQ217/218.

Singapore Airlines in Northern Summer 2015 season is reinstating 2nd daily A380 service on Singapore – Sydney route, on limited-time basis only. SQ231/222 will see A380 operation from 18JUN15 to 12JUL15, instead of Boeing 777-300ER. Planned schedule as follow.

SQ231 SIN0045 – 1025SYD 388 D
SQ241 SIN0705 – 1645SYD 772 D
SQ211 SIN0925 – 1905SYD 773 D
SQ221 SIN2015 – 0555+1SYD 388 D

SQ212 SYD0755 – 1415SIN 773 D
SQ232 SYD1115 – 1740SIN 388 D
SQ222 SYD1510 – 2130SIN 388 D
SQ242 SYD1800 – 0020+1SIN 772 D

From 10SEP15 to 16SEP15 and 24SEP15 to 11OCT15*, Singapore – Melbourne route sees the temporary return of Singapore Airlines’ A380 operation, on SQ217/218 service (SQ218 from 11SEP15 to 17SEP15, and from 25SEP15 to 12OCT15).
SQ217 SIN1040 – 2000MEL 388 D
SQ218 MEL0005 – 0600SIN 388 D

* Current SQ217/218 schedule loaded until 11/12OCT15

Northern Summer 2015 schedule remains subject to change, therefore additional adjustment is highly possible in the next few months.

http://airlineroute.net/2014/10/13/s...n=social141013

[SQ228]

This doesn't completely surprise me. When SQ switched SQ228 from A380 to 77W, it reduced flight time by 15 minutes, which is standard as the A380 takes longer to fly the route. Back when they originally introduced the A380 to MEL, I remember the flight time was lengthened by 15 minutes.

I have three bookings for SQ228- Dec/14, Mar/15, Jun/15. The last of these three shows the flight time lengthened by 15 min to that of an A380 even though the currently planned craft is 77W. I particularly noted that as interesting, as though perhaps they had set up the schedule for the longer flight time to allow the option of changing it to A380 at a later date. They were certainly offering some attractive fares out of MEL in late June.

The SQ217/8 A380 assignment from September instead of SQ227/8 could be for a number of reasons. SQ227/8 ties up an A380 for more than 24hr due to the long layover, whereas SQ217/8 only needs one craft to support itself. I can't speak for SQ218's loadings as I've never flown it, but I have flown SQ217 countless times as that flight is always packed solid. I thought the introduction of SQ207 would lighten the load factor but I've seen no evidence it at all. SQ217 also gets a huge number of passengers transiting from ovenight flights from India, China and Europe, many that don't arrive into SIN early enough to connect with SQ207. Maybe the A380 flights from India are putting even more pressure on SQ217.

Also in late September is when so many Australian families return home from visiting extended family in Italy and Greece etc. and those connecting flights feed into SQ217. Personally, I now do everything I can to avoid SQ217. It is consistently the worst flight experience I ever have on SQ, being so crowded, chaotic and packed with stressed children and parents coming off overnight flights and always so many passengers who seem to feel justified in "monopolising" the cabin crew's time and effort...

[Metropolitan Airlines]

Disappointed as SQ231/232 is being upgraded to A380, SQ212 and SQ242 still not being upgraded and they are still served with regional B772 and B773s with old AVOD interface...

[SQ228]

More increases to SYD capacity mid-next year in addition to the increased A380 services:

Singapore Airlines in late-July 2015 will increase Singapore – Sydney service, as overall operation increases from 28 to 30 weekly, between 17JUL15 and 31JUL15. Planned new flights as follow.

SQ251 SIN0730 – 1710SYD 333 57
SQ252 SYD1825 – 0045+1SIN 333 57

http://airlineroute.net/2014/11/07/sq-syd-jul15/

It only amounts to four extra flights in total but it is quite telling of SQ's obvious decision to expand further into Australia. For many years, once the regular flights were full, that was it.

The timing of these flights is a bit curious- they are not at the same time as SQ251/2 operating from next week to end of JAN '15. Rather they operate in both directions about 30 minutes after SQ241/2.

[Metropolitan Airlines]

The seasonal increase between 17-31/7/2015 looks like is to cater increased demand from uni students going back to school...

[MLflyer]

I can see further increases throughout the year, especially come DEC.

Could AKL sustain A380's year round? If not MEL will be happy to accept them back miss seeing those whales parked at the ramp!

[Metropolitan Airlines]

Now the 5th daily to Sydney is getting permanent, for flights Thur-Sat only:

Singapore Airlines Expands Sydney Service from late-July 2015
by JL
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Update at 1155GMT 20MAR15

Singapore Airlines starting 30JUL15 is increasing Singapore – Sydney operations, as it’ll offer 31 weekly flights, instead of 28. Planned new SQ251/252 service is scheduled to operate permanently on year-round basis, with Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

SQ251 SIN2335 – 0915+1SYD 333 456
SQ252 SYD1325 – 1945SIN 333 567

Source: http://airlineroute.net/2015/03/20/sq-syd-jul15update3/

I hope they can delay the departure time for SQ868 so passengers for HKG can opt for a later departure ex-SYD.

[ASUDan130]

Any chance over the holiday season this year that all SYD SQ flights fly either the A388 or 777-300ER? I would imagine that is one of their busiest time periods?

[SQ228]

Any chance over the holiday season this year that all SYD SQ flights fly either the A388 or 777-300ER? I would imagine that is one of their busiest time periods?

The big problem with SYD and MEL is that the demand for the incoming flight rarely matches the demand for the matching outgoing flight, so to upscale all flights doesn't always work. For example, when the A380 to MEL was a combination of SQ227/238, they struggled to fill SQ238 and SQ228 was a 773 and far too small for the late afternoon demand. That's why adding SQ208 works so well. SQ207/8 adds capacity to SQ217 & SQ228 which is really strategic.

[MLflyer]

I heard that MEL will also be bumped up to x5 daily on selected 3 days of the week, anyone else heard the same? The flight is apparently being added by the end of the year during the Q4. Could the new flight be a early morning departure mirroring SQ212?

[SQ228]

I heard that MEL will also be bumped up to x5 daily on selected 3 days of the week, anyone else heard the same? The flight is apparently being added by the end of the year during the Q4. Could the new flight be a early morning departure mirroring SQ212?

Well we were increased to 5x on 3 days over the Dec/Jan period just gone, so clearly it must have paid off if they are considering it again.

SQ247 left SIN around 1245 if I remember correctly, arriving in MEL very late around 2230 for a quick turnaround, returning as SQ248 about half an hour earlier than SQ218. It was an A330 which would have been ideal as the flight mostly soaks up excess holiday travellers. I wouldn't take much notice of the timings for SYD, because their airport is heavily congested and has a curfew which really makes scheduling flights to SIN much more complex.

As for these extra flights becoming a permanent fixture, I'll believe it when I see it. I can't imagine there'd be enough demand in late Feb/early Mar for example. Having said that, unlike in 2014, there hasn't been much cancellation of SQ207/8 happening on Tuesday or Wednesday during the weaker times this year. Last year that flight pair was reduced to 4x weekly for most of March.

[SQ228]

I can see further increases throughout the year, especially come DEC.

Could AKL sustain A380's year round? If not MEL will be happy to accept them back miss seeing those whales parked at the ramp!

Just noticed your old post again. I think you were onto something here.

AKL has already lost the A380, although where it has currently been redeployed to is a mystery. It's coming back to MEL though for a while beginning some time in June as SQ227/8 and then apparently in Sept/Oct on SQ217/8.