SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) has placed an order for eight additional Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to support growth plans for the future.

The fleet expansion comes despite the airline posting an 82 per cent drop in first quarter net profit, from S$253 million (US$208 million) a year ago to S$45 million.

Goh Choon Phong, SIA CEO, said: “These additional B777-300ERs will help support our ongoing programme to further strengthen the Singapore Airlines network, providing more travel options to our customers.”

The new aircraft, scheduled for delivery starting 2013/14, will be configured in a three-class layout and operated on medium- and longhaul routes.

The aircraft will join 19 B777- 300ERs already in service.

Meanwhile, the airline is planning to boost capacity on the Singapore–Jakarta route to meet increased demand, with the introduction of an eighth daily service from September 15.

The additional service will be operated using a 288-seat Boeing 777-200 aircraft in a three-class configuration.

With the additional daily flight, SIA will operate a total of 77 weekly flights to Indonesia, including 21 weekly flights to Bali. Regional arm SilkAir also operates 53 flights per week to eight points in Indonesia.