Aircraft

Singapore Airlines has reached an agreement with Airbus to defer the delivery of eight Airbus A380s that it has on order, by between six months and a year.

The Star Alliance member, the launch customer for the aircraft, has taken delivery of nine A380s. It will receive two more in the fiscal year that ends 31 March 2010 as scheduled.

Under the revised delivery schedule, however, Airbus will deliver the 12th aircraft in October 2010 rather than April 2010. SIA will receive its last and 19th aircraft in January 2012 rather than January 2011. The airline has another six A380s on option.

"This move will help Singapore Airlines to better match capacity to demand during the downturn," says SIA.

It adds that it is satisfied with the operational and commercial performance of its A380s, which were launched on the Singapore-Sydney route nearly two years ago.

SIA flies the A380 twice a day to London, and daily to Sydney, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong, and starting from 29 September to Melbourne as well.