Singapore Airlines in $7.5 bn Airbus deal

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is ordering five more Airbus A380 superjumbos and 20 A350s in a deal worth $7.5 billion, the leading Asian carrier said Wednesday. Deliveries for the firm orders are due to begin in 2017, SIA said in a statement. "This major order will provide us with additional growth opportunities and is consistent with our long standing policy of maintaining a young and modern fleet," said SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong. "The aircraft will enable us to further enhance our network, providing more travel options to our customers," he added. "They will also feature the next generation of in-flight cabin products to keep us at the forefront of airline product innovation." As part of the new deal, Airbus will take back five of SIA's long-haul A340-500s, which will be removed from service in the fourth quarter of 2013. This will result in the cancellation of non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles, as well as the Singapore-Newark route, SIA said.