Singapore Airlines and its Boeing 757 Fleet

Singapore Airlines has been known for many years as a widebody aircraft operator.

Even with some short, regional routes around the Far East, it has operated types like the Boeing 747, 777, Airbus A310 and A350, and only introduced a fleet of narrowbody Boeing 737-800 and MAX 8 types in recent years following its merger with SilkAir.

However, in its early years, Singapore Airlines flew a number of narrowbody types, including the Boeing 707, 727 and the 757-200.

History of Singapore Airlines Boeing 757 Fleet

Photo (c) Pete Macklin

When its fleet of Boeing 727s were set to be replaced, Singapore Airlines was on the search for a more modern types to replace them.

These aircraft were used on shorter routes out of Singapore, such as to neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. These routes didn’t require a long range, nor a large payload of passengers.

The Boeing 757 was a new type in the early 1980s, and at the same time Airbus was pushing its A300 and A310 products to a similar market.

Singapore Airlines decided to order both the 757 and the A310 in small numbers to service its regional routes, with the anticipation of a larger follow-up order should either type prove more successful.

Despite its popularity in North America and Europe, the Boeing 757 had not found much interest in Asia and Singapore Airlines became the first operator in the region when it ordered 4 of the type.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 757 Fleet

9V-SGL. Photo (c) Pete Macklin

The first Boeing 757 was delivered to Singapore Airlines in late November 1984 (interestingly, its first Airbus A310 also arrived that month).

It was configured with 180 seats, with both First Class and Economy seating.

The fleet comprised:

9V-SGK (23125/44) 757-212

9V-SGL (23126/45) 757-212

9V-SGM (23127/47) 757-212

9V-SGN (23128/48) 757-212

All arrived during November and December 1984 and went on to serve destinations such as Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Medan and Penang from Singapore. These were notably the airline’s shortest routes.

The competitor Airbus A310 was also serving regional destinations, but on longer sectors as far away as China, India and South Korea.

What Happened to Singapore Airlines’ 757s?

9V-SGL became N750AT with American Trans Air and later Delta. Photo (c) Aero Icarus

With both the A310 and 757 under scrutiny, Singapore Airlines eventually decided on the Airbus product. It ordered 17 of the newer A310-300 variant, with the type enjoying service with the airline for over 20 years.

The decision was based partly on the smaller freight capacity of the 757, which could not handle underfloor containers.

The small Boeing 757 fleet, meanwhile, would be retired between November 1989 and June 1990. All were sold to International Lease Finance Corporation, who leased the aircraft to American Trans Air.

They were later sold to Delta Air Lines, with whom they operated until eventually being retired and scrapped in 2017. Sadly none survive today.

Boeing 757 Timelines

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Title image (c) Aero Icarus