Dreamliner arrival heralds new dawn for Scoot

Scoot launched its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on the Singapore-Perth route yesterday, marking the start of a new era for the low-cost carrier, as it moves towards an all-B787 fleet.

And speaking to Travel Daily on Friday morning, Scoot’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, said the new aircraft is “all we had hoped for and more”.

Scoot has ordered 20 B787s, including 10 375-seat B787-9s – the type that operated the inaugural route – and 10 335-seat B787-8s, which will start being delivered later this year. Both versions will come equipped with two seating classes, economy and ScootBiz, with in-seat power outlets, Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment streaming. The aircraft will also feature child-free ‘ScootinSilence’ areas.

Wilson told Travel Daily that the new aircraft will have a “significant impact” on Scoot’s operations.

“From an economic perspective they are incredible fuel-efficient,” he said. “[Fuel accounts for] 40-50% of our operating costs, so this will help significantly.” He added that ownership and maintenance costs would also be reduced.

Scoot will receive 11 B787s this financial year, the first six of which will be used to replace its old B777-200s. By August 2015 it will become the first airline in the world to operate an all-B787 fleet.

Scoot's new aircraft takes off from the Boeing factory in Seattle
Scoot’s new aircraft takes off from the Boeing factory in Seattle
Following the Perth launch (which will be linked to Hong Kong, via Singapore), Scoot plans to roll out the new aircraft on its Sydney-Singapore service, continuing onwards to Bangkok. The Gold Coast will also welcome the new jets this year.

In terms of new routes, Wilson revealed that new North Asian destinations would be added in June and July this year, followed by the previous-announced Melbourne service in November.

And the airline’s future focus will be on “Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India”, according to Wilson. “New Zealand is not on our radar,” he said, and while European destinations are “not something in the immediate planning”, the CEO added that they weren’t out of the question. “Never say never,” Wilson told us.

Moving forward, Wilson said the 20 B787s Scoot has ordered will be enough for the airline’s immediate growth plans. “It already more than triples out fleet, so that’s quite significant growth.” He didn’t rule out further orders in future, but will “probably not” opt for the largest version of the Dreamliner, the B787-10.

sourced:traveldailymedia.com