The formal handover of SilkAir’s first 737-800 in Seattle. (Boeing)
Singapore regional carrier SilkAir has taken delivery of its first of 23 Boeing 737-800s as it commences its regional fleet replacement program.
The airline, which until now has been an exclusive A320 and A319 operator, is transitioning to the 737 through the acquisition of the 737-800s and 31 737 MAX 8s over the next eight years.
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“The new Boeing 737 aircraft will support our network expansion plans,” SilkAir CEO Leslie Thng said in a statement. “The transition to an all-Boeing fleet will enable us to efficiently serve more destinations, fly longer routes and increase capacity on existing routes.”
The first 737 will enter service in late February and will initially fly short range services to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
Changing from an all Airbus to an all Boeing fleet. Interesting.
Brett
says:
One of the only airlines changing from an all Airbus fleet to Boeing. Most other airlines do the opposite. Doesn’t make much sense as the pilots are trained flying airbus’s and all of the maintenance engineers would need to be re-trained and equipment would need to be changed. And isn’t the Airbus A320 supposed to be more efficient across short to medium haul routes? According to Air New Zealand it is.
Mick
says:
Bringing Boeing back
Al
says:
Must have been one helluva deal from Boeing – money talks!
australianaviation.com.au
says:
Their A320s and A319s were getting on a bit, so a fleet renewal was due. When you’re talking about a 20+ year commitment to a type, there may have been sufficient operational and financial benefits to make the short-term pain of switching types worthwhile.
Another consideration is that, with most of the other regional carriers in Asia (except Lion Air) already using A320s, part of SilkAir’s reasoning in choosing the 737 may have been to give it a product differentiator.
Cheers
Andrew
krish
says:
A320 has the best safety records in comparison to 737.
May be they got the best deal with Boeing.After all it’s all about the costs.
Al2
says:
How accurate is this article? Silkair may have been all Airbus recently, but it did have Boeings in the past. After all it was a Silkair B733 that crashed in 1987.
australianaviation.com.au
says:
That was 1987. Until last week, SilkAir’s fleet was all 320s and 319s.
Cheers
Andrew
iscover
Ante C
says:Changing from an all Airbus to an all Boeing fleet. Interesting.
Brett
says:One of the only airlines changing from an all Airbus fleet to Boeing. Most other airlines do the opposite. Doesn’t make much sense as the pilots are trained flying airbus’s and all of the maintenance engineers would need to be re-trained and equipment would need to be changed. And isn’t the Airbus A320 supposed to be more efficient across short to medium haul routes? According to Air New Zealand it is.
Mick
says:Bringing Boeing back
Al
says:Must have been one helluva deal from Boeing – money talks!
australianaviation.com.au
says:Their A320s and A319s were getting on a bit, so a fleet renewal was due. When you’re talking about a 20+ year commitment to a type, there may have been sufficient operational and financial benefits to make the short-term pain of switching types worthwhile.
Another consideration is that, with most of the other regional carriers in Asia (except Lion Air) already using A320s, part of SilkAir’s reasoning in choosing the 737 may have been to give it a product differentiator.
Cheers
Andrew
krish
says:A320 has the best safety records in comparison to 737.
May be they got the best deal with Boeing.After all it’s all about the costs.
Al2
says:How accurate is this article? Silkair may have been all Airbus recently, but it did have Boeings in the past. After all it was a Silkair B733 that crashed in 1987.
australianaviation.com.au
says:That was 1987. Until last week, SilkAir’s fleet was all 320s and 319s.
Cheers
Andrew