MAS A380 - Fleet to be Retained

[Jamie H 0]

510 seats??? Hmmm..... Isnt that a bit dense for a 4 class config? (QF has only 450)

 

Adios 34" Y !!

Edited January 24, 2010 by Jamie H

[KK Lee 5]

Since MH Y products is perceived inferior than its peers, Y+ is a product differentiation and a way forward. Just hope, MH RTM department will not raise expectation beyond stratosphere. Ideally, Y+ will have a better seat pitch but this will contradict MH management KPI in bringing down their CASM. May be they have or good reason to abandon CASM in their KPI.

 

Having leather EY seats in A33E will have the LCC atmosphere and feel. Not sure it is idea for a legacy carrier.

 

Without suitable aircraft like 787, MH won’t able to offer daily service to EWR, LAX, FRA, etc at profit or high yield.

 

[Isaac 0]

So new seats and new IFE system. Leather seats like those on FireFly and MASwings? While it may suits the B738s, do you guys think it is ok for the longer range A33Es?

Hell no. We all know it gets uncomfortable sitting on a leather seat for too long.

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

Some update from the MH Rumour Department with regards to the article:

 

IKA (Tehran Iran) and New York (or any other US destinations) are a no go because of problem with equipment. MH is planning to go to MCT (Muscat, Oman). REP (Siem Reap, Cambodia) will be closed. CHC (Christchurch, New Zealand) is confirmed, but most likely will be routed via BNE (Brisbane, Australia) or ADL (Adelaide, Australia).

 

So which one is true? We'll find out soon.

[BC Tam 2]

Having leather EY seats in A33E will have the LCC atmosphere and feel. Not sure it is idea for a legacy carrier.

I believe your statement there is based on assumption MH intends to remain in direct competition with the more established 'legacy carriers' (read SQ, CX, TG, etc) - and their perceived superior product offerings ?

 

It's a long shot idea, but why not try and establish an early foothold in the grey area (vacuum ?) existing currently between the 'pampered' (full fare) and the 'you get what you pay for' (LCC) models ?

 

It's a worthy gamble, since it's near impossible for MH to compete effectively at either extremes anyway

Will make allowances for 'learning curve' losses more palatable

But ultimately, the current crop of 'responsibles' won't likely be around to face the music when it's time to hand out report cards !

[Sing Yew 1]

Some update from the MH Rumour Department with regards to the article:

 

IKA (Tehran Iran) and New York (or any other US destinations) are a no go because of problem with equipment. MH is planning to go to MCT (Muscat, Oman). REP (Siem Reap, Cambodia) will be closed. CHC (Christchurch, New Zealand) is confirmed, but most likely will be routed via BNE (Brisbane, Australia) or ADL (Adelaide, Australia).

 

So which one is true? We'll find out soon.

 

Well if they are routing it via ADL then it will give them a monopoly over the ADL - CHC route. Currently only NZ flies 1x daily between ADL and AKL.

May work out well since the B772 is just sitting idle in ADL for 8-9 hours anyway.

 

I wonder if they'll have 5th freedom on the ADL - CHC sector though.

[KK Lee 5]

ATW Daily News

 

Singapore Airlines A380s stealing market share, Airbus claims

 

The A380 is proving a winner on medium-range routes and is lifting passenger loads by up to 8%, Airbus claims. Speaking exclusively to ATWOnline in Singapore, Director-Product Marketing-A380 Richard Carcaillet said Singapore Airlines is delighted with the aircraft's performance on the medium-range Singapore-Hong Kong and Singapore-Tokyo Narita routes.

 

On the Narita service, SIA, the dominant carrier on the route, has lifted its passenger count by 8% after introducing the A380 while all other airlines have experienced declines, according to Sabre booking data analyzed by Airbus and supplied to this website. ANA dropped 13%, JAL 19%, United Airlines 22% and Delta Air Lines 7%.

 

While some of the decrease can be attributed to the economic downturn, these figures, which heretofore have been confidential, cover the period of May-December 2008 before the full impact of the downturn was felt. SIA and Qantas are averaging an 83% load factor across their A380 flights, Airbus says.

 

Carcaillet also told this website that SIA's A380s are achieving a 20% reduction in fuel burn over the 747-400. He said this supports Airbus figures that show the A380 with 525 seats has an 8% fuel burn advantage over the yet-to-fly 405-seat 747-8. Airbus has adjusted its seating figures to reflect the new business class flat beds, while Boeing claims there is just a 100-seat difference between the two jets.

 

On reliability, Carcaillet said the A380 had a 97% technical dispatch record in the first year, which compares favorably with the 777 at around 98% and is well ahead of the 747-400, which swung between 89% and 93% when it entered commercial operations. Airbus is targeting 98% reliability for the A380 this year. The first major batch of software upgrades was introduced on Ship 33, the first for Air France, and these are "making a difference," he said. The upgrade is being refitted to the other 26 aircraft in service. The A380 has generated approximately 100,000 revenue flight hr. on 10,000 flights.

 

On the production front, Carcaillet said Airbus will deliver 20 aircraft this year, including three that were supposed to have been delivered in 2009. "We are at 1.5 aircraft a month and moving up to two a month by year end," he noted.

by Geoffrey Thomas

 

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=19287

 

Although this piece of news is from Airbus but nevertheless it was not a good idea for MH financially to delay delivery of A380.

 

[flee 5]

If the A380 was doing so great with SQ, why did they also defer their deliveries of their new aircraft?

 

I suspect that cash flows have weakened and the ability to finance the giant whalejet is somewhat difficult. They want to buy some time so that their debt repayments will not be so stressful once business picks up again later.

[KK Lee 5]

If the A380 was doing so great with SQ, why did they also defer their deliveries of their new aircraft?

 

Recently?

 

[flee 5]

Singapore Airlines delays A380 deliveries

(AFP) – Sep 3, 2009

 

SINGAPORE, Singapore — Recession-hit Singapore Airlines (SIA) said Thursday it had agreed with Airbus to defer the delivery of eight A380 superjumbo jetliners by six to 12 months.

 

The airline, which posted its first quarterly loss in six years during the June quarter, already has nine A380s in operation with two more due for delivery in the current financial year.

 

"The revised schedule will see the 12th aircraft delivered in October 2010 rather than April 2010, while the 19th aircraft will be delivered in January 2012 rather than January 2011," the airline said in a statement.

 

SIA said in July it lost 307.1 million Singapore dollars (213.26 million US) in the April to June period, its first quarterly loss since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003.

 

The airline earned a net profit of 358.6 million dollars in the same quarter last year. Revenue declined 30 percent to 2.87 billion dollars and the airline warned it expected to report a full-year loss if the downturn continues.

 

"I'm surprised they haven't done it sooner," said Shukor Yusof, an aviation analyst with Standard and Poor's Equity Research.

 

"I've always had reservations about the operational viability of this aircraft ever since the programme was announced and during the launch," he said.

 

"The ramifications to the A380 project as a whole are serious because the deferral suggests SIA is finding it increasingly hard to fill its premium seats on this plane -- 60 business and 12 first class suites -- especially on the London-Singapore sector.

 

"SIA is seen as a bellwether in the industry and if the market leader has difficulty in maximising yields on the A380, then other airlines that have ordered it will find the going even tougher."

 

The global airline industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn as companies cut back on business travel and families defer holiday plans.

 

SIA particularly relies on premium travellers for its margins.

 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Tuesday that more than 50 global airlines lost 2.021 billion US dollars in the second quarter, bringing industry losses for the first half to more than 6.0 billion US dollars.

 

But while European and Asian-Pacific carriers were worse off than a year ago, North American airlines managed to trim their losses while Latin American and Middle Eastern carriers reported a rise, IATA said.

 

IATA had earlier forecast losses for the full year would reach about 9.0 billion US dollars.

 

Sixteen Asian-Pacific carriers posted losses of 1.29 billion US dollars during the second quarter, compared with losses of 958 million US dollars a year ago.

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

An update for the thread. MH's A380s to feature a Premium Economy cabin. Rumours are circulating that MH's A380s will have 510 seats across 4 classes of cabin. Here is the comparison of MH's configuration with the other 5 operators of the A380 in the world inclusive of Lufthansa (as of 13 March 2010):

 

SQ - 12R, 60J, 399Y = 471 pax

EK - 14F, 76J, 399Y = 489 pax 'Ultra Long Range' (A6-EDA, EDB, EDC, EDD, EDE)

EK - 14F, 76J, 427Y = 517 pax 'Long Range' (A6-EDF, EDG, EDH)

QF - 14F, 72J, 32Y+, 332Y = 450 pax

AF - 9F, 80J, 449Y = 538 pax

LH - 8F, 98J, 420Y = 526 pax

 

I think MH's configuration is quite competitive (read: tight) for a 4 class configuration. But I wish someone leak the breakdown.

 

MAS may offer 'premium economy' class

Published: 2010/03/01

 

Malaysian Airline System Bhd, the national carrier, may introduce “premium economy” seats in its double-decker Airbus SAS A380s as tighter corporate travel budgets damp demand for business-class seating.

 

“A premium-economy cabin in our A380s would provide another option for our passengers,” Amin Khan, the carrier’s senior general manager for network and revenue management, said in an e-mailed reply to Bloomberg questions today. It would serve “those organizations that maintain economy-class travel policy for their employees, even after the recession.”

 

The carrier may include premium-economy class in its six on-order A380s to lure travelers seeking more comfort than is available in coach at prices lower than in business class. Corporate travelers forced to fly coach during the recession may never return to business-class cabins, as companies seek permanent reductions in spending on travel, the International Air Transport Association said last month.

 

Passenger yield, or the average price a traveler pays to fly one kilometer, won’t return to pre-crisis levels “just yet” even though business travel has begun to recover, Amin said. “During the recession we observed a shift down from business to economy,” he said.

 

Malaysian Air may spend RM460 million to furnish its A380s, a Daily reported in January, citing a circular to shareholders.

 

The carrier gained as much as 8.2 per cent to RM2.25 at noon break. Of 16 analysts tracked by Bloomberg data over the past 12 months, two recommended investors buy the stock, eight had “sell” ratings, while the remainder said hold. -- Bloomberg

 

As for the delivery time of the A380s, the first one is now expected in August 2011, followed by 1 A380 per month until January 2012.

[BC Tam 2]

Four classes ?!

In the same aircraft ?

I suppose it's quite in line though with what is current in Malaysia - segmentize and cater/pander to needs of each separate group, even if you need to be two (or even multiple) faced about

Signature dish should be changed to a rojak of sort

 

(Pieter : rojak = a local salad of vege and/or fruits, very nice. But colloquially meaning a mish-mash of different things !)

Edited March 13, 2010 by BC Tam

[Ja Singh 2]

MH should forget putting economy on A380 but just put premium economy (37") on a plane this big meant for long haul..just price it a little above economy price on same sector and guranteed that all MH seats will fill up first on any sector before any other airline's one does.Simply bercause any extra leg space is more than welcomed in a metal tube.

 

That will be a good marketing plan.

[flee 5]

Not so sure about that - even SQ has not dared to do that. If anyone can get away with not having economy class, SQ can! Furthermore, if MH "abolishes" economy class, it is telling us that if we want lower priced tickets, we should go to D7! I doubt that is what is going to happen.

[Ken M. 0]

Wish MH would opt for a 3 class Airbus A380.

Business, Premium Economy & Economy.

 

Believe First to be a waste of aircraft space these days.

 

MH should aim to offer excellence in all three cabins.

They have a long way to catch up on the competition but have had plenty of time to think about it.

Edited March 21, 2010 by Ken M.

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Believe MH will still keep its First Class for VVIP

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

Agreed, and that is inevitable. But hopefully MH can reduce the FCL seats by as many as they can. LH is only having 8 FCL seats on their A380, AF 9 seats. MH can copy this formula.

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

Yet another sensational news being leaked by MH Rumour Department!

 

MH's first A380 will be delayed beyond August 2011!!!

 

Airbus COO John Leahy confirms further delay in A380 delivery to MH beyond 2H 2011. "There's a possibility of a small delay," Leahy says, didn't provide further details.

[Tamizi Hj Tamby 1]

OMG,Another delay!

[mohd sukri abd hamid 0]

Not MH fault for further delay

Edited March 31, 2010 by mohd sukri abd hamid

[Y. J. Foo 0]

Not MH fault for further delay

But it'll be MH's fault if they don't use the opportunities to somehow reap some form of compensations from the delay...

 

 

 

[Izhar Z 1]

So these delays for MH, is it caused by Airbus or requested by MH themselves?

[Johan Z 0]

So these delays for MH, is it caused by Airbus or requested by MH themselves?

 

Airbus

[flee 5]

MH sees the A380 as a burden and liability. According the AirAsia X CEO Azran, MH has asked the Malaysian government to protect it from competition on the KUL-SYD route because MH was forced to buy the A380! So I guess that MH views the A380 negatively whereas other airlines (e.g. SQ, EK, etc) sees it as a money spinner. Sad reflection on the MH management - still looking for tongkat.

[Ja Singh 2]

MH sees the A380 as a burden and liability. According the AirAsia X CEO Azran, MH has asked the Malaysian government to protect it from competition on the KUL-SYD route because MH was forced to buy the A380! So I guess that MH views the A380 negatively whereas other airlines (e.g. SQ, EK, etc) sees it as a money spinner. Sad reflection on the MH management - still looking for tongkat.

QUITE TRUE. Just liking making wrong decisions about leasing the A330's vs owning yhem. Its not about "oh we changed our policy we want to own them and not lease them" and also " we cant lease so many A330's with the eame configuration".The decision to own vs lease is market driven and hence its clear which is a better option.Buy old technology and use it for next 20 years or pay a little more and lease it and then buy planes with the latest technology.

 

Both of the above is already done by SQ.Leases A330's till new ordered planes arrive.(SQ).MH will be the last customers for A330 pax version before they cease production.Airbus will be forced to produce A330's For MH while they produce A350 for others at the same time.

 

And can we please change this title and remove the word rumour and title it as MH A380 thread?

Edited April 1, 2010 by jadivindra