Scoot To Consider A Mixed 787 Fleet

Long-haul low-cost carrier Scoot could take a mix of Boeing 787s instead of all 20 of the -9 variants ordered by its parent Singapore Airlines.

Details are being worked out with Boeing and Scoot would ideally like to have a mix of aircraft, say company sources. This could include both the -8 and the prospective -10 variants.

The airline declines to comment on the possible mix and will only confirm that the order, as it stands, is for 20 -9 variants.

SIA ordered the 20 aircraft in 2006 for delivery between 2011 and 2013, but the massive delays to the 787 programme mean that the first aircraft will not arrive until 2014. The Star Alliance carrier has since ordered 40 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, including 20 that it announced on 24 October.

The airline also said on 24 October that the 787s will be transferred to Scoot, which began operations earlier this year on medium and long-haul routes out of Singapore. It says the first aircraft will start arriving from late 2014.

Scoot's fleet comprises four Boeing 777-200s that it acquired from SIA and refurbished for its own use and the airline says it expects to receive only one more of the type before the 787s begin to arrive. Having a small fleet of five aircraft is likely to allow Scoot to focus on increasing their utilisation and keeping its costs low.

The airline flies to Sydney and Gold Coast in Australia, Bangkok, Taipei in Taiwan and various destinations in China. It will fly to Tokyo's Narita airport from Taipei starting 29 October. It has also signed an interline agreement with SIA associate Tiger Airways, a Singapore-based short-haul low-cost carrier.