Singapore’s Scoot takes first A321neo

Scoot (TR, Singapore Changi) took delivery of its first two of its largest narrowbodies to date, the A321-200Ns, on May 29, 2021. 9V-NCA (msn 10229) and 9V-NCB (msn 10345) were ferried from Hamburg Finkenwerder via Dubai World Central to Singapore Changi. The two aircraft, which are owned by Scoot, have yet to be inducted into revenue service. Their schedules have yet to be published either. According to Singapore Airlines Group’s annual report for the year ended March 31, 2021, Scoot will add ten A321-200NXs by the end of March 2022. The low-cost carrier of the group has six aircraft on firm order from Airbus (including the two already delivered), while the remaining four will most likely come from lessors. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Scoot also operates twenty-six A320-200s, five A320-200Ns (including four in permanent storage and no longer due to return), ten B787-8s, and ten B787-9s. Besides the A321neo, it has a further twenty-eight A320neo, three B787-8s (including two scheduled for delivery by the end of March 2022), and two -9s on firm order from the manufacturers. Back in 2019, Scoot planned to add up to sixteen A321neo, including six from the manufacturer and ten from lessors, with deliveries scheduled to commence in late 2020. Following the end of operations of full-service sister carrier SilkAir (MI, Singapore Changi), Scoot remains the sole operator of Airbus narrowbodies in the Singapore Airlines Group. SilkAir used to operate both A319-100s and A320-200s but with the absorption of its regional sister, so Singapore Airlines will induct its B737-800s and B737-8s. All of SilkAir’s A320 Family jets have already been retired. However, Vistara, in which Singapore Airlines Group holds a 49% stake, operates twenty-eight A320neo and is due to start inducting A321neo shortly.