Rumor in Brazil: SQ on SIN-GRU via BRU or BCN

[BrightCedars]

A well rated senior member on another forum reports that there is strong rumour in Brazil of SQ envisaging opening up a SIN-GRU route via either BRU or BCN. Let's hope it materializes and kills two birds in one throw. The return of SQ on SIN, and the reopening of South America service. I believe BRU would provide better connections within Star Alliance's network than BCN might. SQ would be able to tap a very big market by offering their renowned product to Brazil and offering the network of SN at BRU.

Fingers crossed!

[RoMax]

I've no idea about BCN, but BRU would work I think. There is demand for the route BRU-GRU, several Brazilian and Belgian companies made clear they want a non-stop link between Brazil and Belgium. And BRU-SIN could work but only in combination with another destination. I don't think there is enough (high yielding)demand for a BRU-SIN route without a combination with another destination.
SN could provide feed for both GRU as SIN, so let's hope for this. It would be a wonderfull come back of SQ in BRU.

[cnc]

BCN has the upperhand in this case though

[sdbelgium]

BCN has the upperhand in this case though

Why is that? Can you elaborate? Not saying this isn't the case, but I'm curious to what the reasons are. What are your sources?

[fretn]

The distance doesn't really matter, as Brussels & Barcelona aren't that far away.
Plus Spain is very well connected with South-America already. Also there is a strong demand for a link between BRU & GRU. Also above all, except for Spanair there isn't a major Star Alliance partner in Spain, SN is.

[cnc]

well just think about it, they already serve BCN which is JK's home.
there are no startup costs at BCN, already handling contracts etc, spain is a gateway to south america and partner JK doesn't fly longhaul so SQ will have a lot of JK pax on board.
also flight time will be less from BCN

[RoMax]

The only advantage is the fact that SQ already flies to BCN (trough MXP).

But SN could feed more to both GRU and SIN than Spanair can do. And as said before there is demand for a route to GRU and in combination with another destinations SIN could work fine out of BRU.

[VEX802]

A well rated senior member on another forum reports that there is strong rumour in Brazil of SQ envisaging opening up a SIN-GRU route via either BRU or BCN. Let's hope it materializes and kills two birds in one throw. The return of SQ on SIN, and the reopening of South America service. I believe BRU would provide better connections within Star Alliance's network than BCN might. SQ would be able to tap a very big market by offering their renowned product to Brazil and offering the network of SN at BRU.

Fingers crossed!

Just out of curiousity, but on which forum are they talking about this rumour?
I know that in december 2009 dutch media already speculated that SQ is also considering SIN-BRU-GRU as an alternative to SIN-BCN-GRU. At that time SQ was considering 3 possible stop-overs for their SIN-GRU flights: BCN, FRA and BRU.

[BrightCedars]

I don't think BCN has the upper hand here, but it can be a close tie.

The local Star Alliance carrier (Spanair) is more a regional carrier than anything else. BCN is also a weaker Star Alliance hub in comparison to BRU. Last but not least, it's more MAD that is a LatAm hub than BCN, and there is a very effective Star Alliance hub to Brazil in place Southwest of BCN and MAD: LIS. Sure this could support SQ's BCN service and maybe help make it nonstop, but I don't think it's that ripe yet.

BRU can support a SIN service with feed from GRU and all over Europe plus some African connections and connections at the other end as long as they are not a backtrack such as BKK. Mor economical jets such as the B787 and A350 support this kind of business case and SQ is certainly eager not to leave the Brazil-China market to those who are already positioned or are poised to play this game (EK, QR, Tk, TP).

[cnc]

The only advantage is the fact that SQ already flies to BCN (trough MXP).

But SN could feed more to both GRU and SIN than Spanair can do. And as said before there is demand for a route to GRU and in combination with another destinations SIN could work fine out of BRU.

Now i'm curious why you think SN would be able to provide more pax. i don't believe there's enough demand

[sdbelgium]

Now i'm curious why you think SN would be able to provide more pax. i don't believe there's enough demand

Well, I'm not so sure. We are in need of a connection to Latin America, which SQ could provide. Furthermore, the BCN catchment area (Catalunya) is only about seven million people, opposed to 10 million in Brussels. As mentioned above by BrightCedars, I too believe that SN's extensive Africa operations could be a very good feeder for AFI-Asia traffic, a booming market. Combine this with a very strong competition for Latin America-bound traffic from MAD and LIS, and I think BRU is a pretty decent choice.

[RoMax]

Well, I'm not so sure. We are in need of a connection to Latin America, which SQ could provide. Furthermore, the BCN catchment area (Catalunya) is only about seven million people, opposed to 10 million in Brussels. As mentioned above by BrightCedars, I too believe that SN's extensive Africa operations could be a very good feeder for AFI-Asia traffic, a booming market. Combine this with a very strong competition for Latin America-bound traffic from MAD and LIS, and I think BRU is a pretty decent choice.

And don't forget that several Brazilian and Belgian companies are frequently in talks with possible airlines to operate BRU-GRU. Brazil is a booming country and several Belgian companies are active overthere, a non-stop route would make it a lot easier for these companies. These companies could deliver some nice high yielding pax. Combine this with the other traffic (Belgian tourists, connecting pax...) to Brazil and the pax comming from Singapore and you get a well performing route.
For the SIN-BRU part: first of all, you have all the pax flying from SIN to GRU, than you have a lot of toerists, from Indonesia for exemple(altough this is mostly low yielding traffic), connecting pax to the rest of Europe AND Africa...
If you ask me, this route can work very good.

[Atlantis]

SQ could provide such a route via BRU but also TAM with a three weekly flight with their A332. TAM is in meanwhile working together with SN.

[NCB]

European airlines serving GRU: AF, KL, AZ, BA, IB, LH, LX, TP.
I think that the potential for BRU-GRU is marginal (and so is BCN-GRU). LH already serves it through MUC and FRA and LX through ZRH. SQ's smallest aircraft that could do the route is a B772ER.
If they think that they can make money with it, then they should try it. It would be nice for SN to be SQ's feeder, I don't know if Singapore is doing any major trades in Africa.

On the other hand, BRU-SIN using B787-9 from 2014 sounds like a very viable plan.

I think that SQ would be better off operating to Bogota than Sao Paolo. It's the South American hub for cargo and it's an emerging market that is growing and growing with still alot of potential, and Avianca the Colombian flag carrier is likely to join Star Alliance, making BOG a new Star hub. There is no KL, no BA, no LX, no AZ yet and Avianca doesn't have a big international network like TAM has out of GRU.
Also, SIN-BRU-BOG is almost the same distance as a direct SIN-BOG.

[9vsmu]

Note that SQ know the South American market. They used to fly cgo there (almost same period and destinations as CBB at that time)

Don't know why they gave up after CBB went broke.

[Atlantis]

Note that SQ know the South American market. They used to fly cgo there (almost same period and destinations as CBB at that time)

Don't know why they gave up after CBB went broke.

SQ Cargo is going to choose between BRU and AMS for their European cargo hub (they know it already ) . They have in meantime transferred some flights to AMS. Note that SQ cargo has also a flight on Sunday from BRU to AMS.

The time, three years ago, that we could see three B744F of SQ at the same time at Brucargo is history.

[regi]

SQ coming back to BRU will give them certainly some BKK passengers. SQ was regarded as the upper class of flying to BKK. ( but season depending )
And Brasil...the distance between Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte is 500 km. Guess who is at BH? Right: Mittal.
Brasil manufactures great Embraers. It is 1 hour driving from Sao Paulo to the Embraer factory.
Btw , about Embraer: some Belgian companies are supplying Embraer
Just 1 example : http://www.sonaca.com/page.asp?id=1923&langue=FR

So yes, that would be a great happening for BRU.

Question: if it would go ahead in the near future, which aircraft would they use? B777 or A330 or...A340 ? ( disregarding the not yet supplied B787 or A350 )
( no, I don't dream about filling a A380 between Singapore and Sao Paulo )

[NCB]

If it's immediate, it would have to be B772ER. A330 does not have enough range, A345 is a ULH workhorse and SQ has too few to waste one on this route, B773/B744 are too large.
If you combine all the Sonaca and Arcelor demand potential, you wouldn't be able to fill a single B772ER per year.

[Airbus A330]

A well rated senior member on another forum

Can you tell me which forum it is ?

[9vsmu]

Note that SQ know the South American market. They used to fly cgo there (almost same period and destinations as CBB at that time)

Don't know why they gave up after CBB went broke.

SQ Cargo is going to choose between BRU and AMS for their European cargo hub (they know it already ) . They have in meantime transferred some flights to AMS. Note that SQ cargo has also a flight on Sunday from BRU to AMS.

The time, three years ago, that we could see three B744F of SQ at the same time at Brucargo is history.

Please enlighten us with your knowledge. You say A, you need to say B