Singapore Airlines to buy more fuel efficient aircraft, hopes to sign agreement with Boeing

Airbus seems to be blown out of the competition as the Boeing has an increase in its net orders in the first nine months of the year.

FILE PHOTO: A man looks at a Singapore Airlines (SIA) signage outside an SIA service center in Singapore February 10, 2016.
Reuters

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will decide it's final order on the 39 Boeing Aircraft, worth US$13.8 Billion (S$18.8 billion), when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visits Washington DC next week. The biggest battle out of this deal would be between the Airbus and the Boeing.

Airbus seems to be blown out of the competition as the Boeing has an increase in its net orders in the first nine months of 2017.

Also read: Singapore Airlines passenger numbers, load factor rise in September

PM Lee told CNBC that Singapore hoped to sign an agreement with Boeing to buy more aircrafts for Singapore.

In February, SIA stated that it would invest in 20 777-0 and 19 787-10 body parts, to help modernise its fleet but there is still no final deal on that with Boeing yet.

The flag carrier airline is moving to invest in a more modern and fuel-efficient aircraft, to help cut costs with its competition from the Chinese and Middle Eastern rivals.

Airlines usually get a discount on jet offers, but the list price of a Boeing order is US$13.8 billion. SIA is the first airline to order and being the launch customer for the 787-10, they have made 30 firm orders for the Dreamliner. Boeing is a month ahead of delivery, which was supposed to be in the first half of 2018 and has already assembled its final assembly of the airlines first 787-10 early this October.

SIA has been moving into a more efficient and holistic approach to the running of its airline. On October 11, they announced their efforts to enhance sustainability practices in its in-flight food and beverage menus. Their new initiative "From Farm to Plane" was introduced to help support local farmers, their communities and encourage environmental sustainability.

The airline works with a variety of partners both overseas and in Singapore as well, to source these ingredients. The airline plans on implementing the new menu to Suites' customers on selected routes, starting later this year.

READ MORE