In late March 2018, Singapore Airlines received its first Boeing 787-10 (9V-SCA), becoming the first operator of the type in the world. The second 787-10, 9V-SCB, was delivered to the airline in April, and the two aircraft have been operating crew familiarization flights on the short Singapore – Bangkok and Singapore – Kuala Lumpur routes.
The aircraft are equipped with 36 lie-flat business class seats with direct aisle access and 301 economy class seats. And, Singapore Airline plans to put the aircraft into service on regular routes, including routes to Japan, in May 2018.
All photos kindly provided by Siola Pingardi.
SQ618/619 & SQ622/623: Singapore – Osaka Kansai and Back
The very first route that will see a regular 787-10 service will be Singapore – Osaka Kansai.
Singapore Airlines plans to introduce its new regional flagship on one of its two daily rotations between the two cities starting from May 3, 2018. The 787-10 will operate on the route as follows:
- SQ618 from Singapore to Osaka KIX: depart at 1:25AM, arrive at 9:05AM
- SQ619 from Osaka KIX to Singapore: depart at 10:55AM, arrive at 4:40PM
Then, from May 7, 2018, the aircraft will be introduced on Singapore – Perth before also being put on the second daily rotation between Singapore and Osaka from May 16, 2018:
- SQ622 from Singapore to Osaka KIX: depart at 1:55PM, arrive at 9:35PM
- SQ623 from Osaka KIX to Singapore: depart at 11:25PM, arrive at 5:05AM the next day
SQ638/637: Singapore – Tokyo Narita and Back
Not long after its debut on the second daily rotation between Singapore and Osaka, the Singapore Airlines 787-10 will also become a regular visitor at Tokyo Narita airport.
The airline plans to introduce it on one of the two daily services between Singapore and Tokyo Narita (not the one that continues to Los Angeles) with the first flight departing Singapore on May 18, 2018, and from then on operating with the following schedule:
- SQ638 from Singapore to Tokyo NRT: depart at 11:55PM, arrive at 8:00AM the next day
- SQ637 from Tokyo NRT to Singapore: depart at 11:10AM, arrive at 5:20PM
More Routes to Japan Planned in the Near Future
While the above two routes are the ones that we know details of, at this point it is also clear that Singapore Airlines plans to introduce the aircraft on the Singapore – Nagoya Centrair and Singapore – Fukuoka routes as well.
On all of the routes except for the Tokyo Narita one, the new 787-10 will replace Airbus A330-300. In business class, the equipment change will mean a considerable upgrade given that the 787 features brand new lie-flat seats with direct aisle access compared with the A330 which features angle flat seats in a “2-2-2” configuration.
And, while the Tokyo Narita route product will be downgraded from the long-haul business class seats of the 777-300ER to the new 787-10 regional ones, it will also mean that the route will be bookable with non-Singapore Airlines miles.
