Scoot will commence Boeing 787 operations on February 5, with Singapore-Perth chosen as the low-cost carrier’s inaugural route with the Dreamliner.
The airline is due to take delivery of its first Dreamliner – a 787-9 named “Dream Start” with registration 9V-OJA, line number 240 and msn 37112 – later this week, with the aircraft scheduled to arrive in Singapore, after a series of test flights, on February 2.
The 787s will replace replace all of Scoot’s current fleet of six Boeing 777-200ERs by the end of August.
Trent 1000 engines built at Rolls-Royce’s Singapore facility are powering the 20 Dreamliners – a mix of 787-8s and the larger 787-9s – Scoot has on order.
“As a Singapore-based airline we support all things Singapore – and it’s especially fantastic to be able to feature Singapore-built engines on our brand-new 787s,” Scoot chief executive Campbell Wilson said in a statement.
“Rolls Royce’s Trent 1000 engines, along with the 787’s other advances, will save us fuel so that we can keep saving you money in the form of great value airfares.”
The arrival of flight TZ8 at Perth Airport at 1815 on Thursday February 5 will bring to three the number of airlines that have operated commercial 787 flights to the West Australian capital.
Currently, Air NZ uses the 787-9 on its Perth-Auckland route, while Thai Airways flies a 787-8 from Bangkok.
February was also the month Scoot increases its Perth service to daily from five weekly, coinciding with the withdrawal of Tigerair Singapore on the route from February 7.
In August 2014, the Competition Commission of Singapore gave the two carriers the green light to work together on schedules, routes and pricing, as well as integrate their respective reservations systems.
The pair said recently its customers would soon be able to book each other’s flights on either airline’s website.
The number of connecting passengers between each other’s flights, which was regarded as a key plank of both Tigerair Singapore and Scoot’s growth plans, had doubled since the alliance was approved, the airlines said in a statement on January 14.
Singapore Airlines owns 100 per cent of Scoot and holds a majority stake in Tigerair Singapore.
Scoot currently flies to three Australian destinations – Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast – from its Singapore hub. It was due to start service to Melbourne from November 2015.
Scoot’s 787s were in a two-class configuration, with the 787-8 fitted with 335 seats and 787-9 with 375 seats. Five of its 777-200ERs have 402 seats, while a sixth has 323 seats.
The 787s will have wifi internet connectivity for a fee, as well as in-seat power throughout the cabin and a wireless streaming option for inflight entertainment.
