Singapore Airlines has committed to expansion of its Airbus A380 fleet with the signing of a contract for an additional nine orders and six new options, details of which were announced by the airline on 21st July 2006. The delivery positions were protected by options accompanying the airline's original firm order for ten aircraft in 2001. The first A380 is scheduled for delivery to Singapore Airlines in October 2007. The airline also signed an agreement to lease nineteen new A330-300s.

The A380 is the solution for today and tomorrow's market requirements to satisfy airlines operating the world's major long-haul routes. Its ability to carry 555 passengers in a standard three-class layout will provide vital extra capacity to meet the growing demand for air travel without having to increase the number of flights. It will also give them the flexibility they need to install lower density seating without reducing the number of seats available - especially important in the highly competitive business class market.

Thanks to its leading advanced technology, the A380 will set new standards in economy, environmental friendliness and cabin comfort. With a lower fuel-burn rate, lower maintenance costs, and other savings, the A380's costs per seat run at 15 per cent less than the largest widebody existing today. This makes the A380 a more profitable aircraft for airlines to accommodate the predicted increase in passenger traffic.

"Singapore Airlines' reputation for innovation, excellence and efficiency has consistently kept it at the forefront of the industry. Airbus is proud that its aircraft have contributed to the airline's success over almost 30 years and now looks forward to an era of even closer co-operation involving the A380, A330 and also, the A350 XWB-900 in the future," said Louis Gallois, President and CEO, Airbus.

Airbus' partnership with Singapore Airlines dates back to 1979, when the airline placed its first order for the company's original wide-body, twin-engine aircraft, the A300B4. In 1999, the carrier ordered five A340-500s to meet future ultra long-range requirements and inaugurated non-stop operations between Singapore and Los Angeles in February 2004, taking it into the record books with the longest commercial air service in the world. The airline beat its own record in June 2004 with an even longer no-stop flight of 18 hours 18 minutes on the 9,000 nm/16,600 km route between Singapore and New York.