infrastructures Article The Strategic Deployment of the Airbus A350-900XWB Aircraft in a Full-Service Network Carrier Route Network: The Case of Singapore Airlines Glenn Baxter ID and Panarat Srisaeng * ID School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Suan Dusit University, Hua Hin, Prachaup Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +66-32-522-508 Received: 7 June 2018; Accepted: 17 July 2018; Published: 19 July 2018 Abstract: In the global airline industry, an airline’s fleet routing affects its profitability, level of service and its competitive position. Using a qualitative research approach, this paper examines Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900XWB fleet deployment and route network development for the period 2016 to 2018. The qualitative data was examined using document analysis. The study found that Singapore Airlines has deployed the Airbus A350-900XWB aircraft on new air routes from Singapore to Cape Town via Johannesburg, Düsseldorf and Stockholm via Moscow and return. The Airbus A350-900XWB aircraft are also replacing older, less efficient aircraft as part of the company’s fleet modernization strategy. Singapore Airlines is also acquiring the new ultra-long-range variant of the Airbus A350-900XWB for use on its proposed new non-stop services from Singapore to Los Angeles and Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey, USA. The longest flight stage length is the Singapore to San Francisco route which is 7339 nautical miles (13,594 km) in length. The shortest stage length is between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (160 nautical miles or 297 km). The new non-stop services from Singapore to Los Angeles and New York City will be the longest non-stop services operated by Singapore Airlines.