Singapore Airlines was the launch customer of the B787-10, and its first example arrived four and a half years ago. Far less popular among airlines than the B787-8 and B787-9, the B787-10 has the highest passenger and freight capacity and maximum payload but, to enable that, the shortest range.
A higher gross weight version is being developed, increasing payload and range and enabling more effective replacement of other types – such as B777-200ER and B777-300ER – for carriers globally.
Singapore Airlines has 15 B787-10s
Registered 9V-SCA, Singapore Airlines' first B787-10 arrived in May 2018 and entered commercial service the following month from Singapore to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Its last B787-10 arrived in November 2019. Singapore Airlines currently has more B787-10s than any of the other nine airlines using it.
All of Singapore Airlines' B787s have 337 seats. Each has the same configuration: 36 fully flat business beds and 301 seats in economy. Of all the carrier's widebodies, its B787-10s have the fewest business seats and, except for the A380, the most in economy. Its market position – high density, less premium, relatively short routes – is clear to see.
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How many B787-10s are active?
Of its 15-strong subfleet, ch-aviation.com shows that all but two aircraft are active. The sole exceptions are 9V-SCI and 9V-SCN. Delivered in March 2019, Flightradar24 indicates that -SCI left for Victorville in August 2022 and presently remains there. It's unclear when it'll return to Asia. Meanwhile, -SCN last flew on September 22nd and is in Singapore.
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Where are its B787-10s flying?
Between October 4th and 29th, Cirium shows that the B787-10's average length of haul is just 1,879 miles (3,024km). That's significantly shorter than Singapore Airlines' A380s (4,369 miles, 7,031km), B777-300ERs (3,992 miles, 6,425km), and A350-900s (3,870 miles, 6,228km).
Indeed, all of its B787-10 flying is within Asia and, to a far smaller extent, Australia (Perth). Examining Cirium schedules information reveals 15 routes involving 11 countries, led by India, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam; high density, less premium, and generally fairly short routes indeed.
Tokyo Narita is its longest B787-10 route by distance and time (up to 7h 10m), and Ho Chi Minh City is its shortest (as little as 2h).
What else is happening?
In the Northern Hemisphere winter season (October 30th-March 25th), Singapore Airlines will continue to deploy its B787s on those routes, although Bangkok won't be served.
Looking ahead to summer 2023 (beginning March 26th), there's quite a lot of change – and, as it's so far away, more may happen. There's no Chongqing (CKG), Kathmandu (KTM), or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), but there is Colombo and Dhaka; it'll be the first time they've seen the B787-10. And significantly, Perth will welcome the B787 3x daily – the highest number yet.
Have you flown the airline's B787s? If so, share your experiences in the comments.