Delayed Boeing 777-9 deliveries force Singapore Airlines widebody fleet reduction

Singapore Airlines is preparing to shrink its widebody fleet for the first time since the pandemic era after continued delays to the Boeing 777-9 forced changes to the airline’s long-haul expansion plans.

The development was outlined in the carrier’s latest fleet roadmap released alongside its annual financial results and first reported by aviation publication Aviation A2Z.

The airline’s long-haul fleet will fall from 75 aircraft to 74 during the financial year ending March 31, 2027, following the retirement of one Boeing 777-300ER without an immediate replacement.

Boeing delays alter fleet planning

Singapore Airlines had originally expected the Boeing 777-9 to enter service earlier and support long-haul growth. However, repeated programme delays have forced the airline to extend the operational life of older aircraft while adjusting retirement timelines.

The latest fleet plan confirms that no Boeing 777-9 deliveries are expected before March 2027.

According to Mainly Miles, Boeing pushed initial customer deliveries of the aircraft from 2026 to 2027 last year, marking the fifth delay since the programme was launched at the Dubai Airshow in 2013.

The revised schedule means the airline will continue relying on ageing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft longer than originally planned.

Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong had previously acknowledged that delivery delays forced the airline to retain older widebody aircraft beyond their planned retirement period.

Long-haul fleet set to contract

The airline’s updated fleet figures show only modest overall expansion despite additional narrowbody deliveries.

Key fleet movements for FY2026/27 include:

• Total passenger fleet increasing from 148 to 152 aircraft
• Addition of five Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
• Retirement of one Boeing 777-300ER
• No Boeing 777-9 deliveries during the financial year
• No new Boeing 787-10 deliveries scheduled

Singapore Airlines’ long-haul fleet currently includes:

• 34 Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft
• 7 Airbus A350 Ultra Long Range aircraft
• 12 Airbus A380 aircraft
• 22 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft

Once the retirement is completed, the Boeing 777-300ER fleet will reduce to 21 aircraft.

The aircraft leaving service will become the sixth 777-300ER removed from the airline’s fleet in recent years.

Cabin retrofit programme could deepen capacity pressure

The fleet reduction may have a greater operational impact than headline numbers suggest.

Singapore Airlines plans to begin retrofitting its Airbus A350 Long Haul and Ultra Long Range fleets with updated First and Business Class cabins from late 2026.

According to the report, aircraft undergoing refurbishment will temporarily leave active service for several weeks at a time.

As a result, the airline could face periods where two or three long-haul aircraft are unavailable simultaneously.

The retrofit programme forms part of a broader premium cabin upgrade strategy that will also include new First and Business Class products on future Boeing 777-9 aircraft.

Boeing 777-9 remains central to long-term strategy

Despite delays, the Boeing 777-9 remains a critical component of Singapore Airlines’ future long-haul operations.

The airline has 31 firm orders for the aircraft type, although early deliveries are expected to replace existing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft rather than significantly expand capacity.

Industry observers expect substantial long-haul fleet growth from the programme only towards the end of the decade.

The first Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-9 test aircraft reportedly flew in August 2025, while at least 10 aircraft in the orderbook already hold production line numbers.

However, carriers including Lufthansa, Emirates and Qatar Airways may receive aircraft earlier in the delivery queue.

Lufthansa is expected to become the launch operator for the Boeing 777-9 in 2027.

Premium capacity remains under pressure

The retirement of another Boeing 777-300ER will also reduce premium seating availability across Singapore Airlines’ network.

The withdrawn aircraft currently carries:

• Four First Class seats
• 48 Business Class seats

According to the report, Singapore Airlines’ total First Class and Suites inventory stood at 160 seats as of March 2026, down significantly from pre-pandemic levels.

Future Airbus A350 Ultra Long Range retrofits and incoming Boeing 777-9 aircraft are expected to gradually rebuild premium capacity with upgraded cabin products and enhanced onboard technology, including expanded connectivity services.

For now, however, Singapore Airlines appears focused on maintaining operational stability while awaiting the arrival of a delayed but strategically important new widebody fleet.