Delta – Singapore Essay Example

longer haul trips put more stress on the airplane, and that might explain Singapore’s conservative depreciation especially since both companies probably maintain their fleet well.

Delta has older aircraft than Singapore Airlines, so I am perplexe as to why they would be so conversative since the newer aircrafts usually mean newer technology, which could mean more “shelf life.”

Delta was losing money from 1991 to 1993 ($1. 2 billion), so they were probably looking to cut any depreciation expenses whereas Singapore remained profitable and could absorb their conservative depreciation expenses.Using Delta’s 1993 depreciation policy for the average value of flight equipment (8872 million dollars) , the company will have a depreciation expense of 288 million dollars . If Delta used Singapore Airlines depreciation policy, it would have a 709.76 million dollars depreciation expense for the same period. The difference is 421. 76 million dollars!

The depreciation policy used by Singapore Airlines is a reflection of its business strategy.

Singapore Airlines success is based in large part to its’ top level service and new airplanes.The architecture of the depreciation policy used by Singapore Airlines supports this business plan by creating an incentive for newer fleet by depreciating these less each period than the older airplanes, ultimately increasing profit. They can afford to depreciate their aircraft over shorter periods of time because they can then record the gains on their sale of the aircraft, quite possibly to Delta.

In the case of Singapore Airlines, the age of the fleet makes an important difference.

Airplanes under 5 years will be depreciated over a 10 year period while those older will be depreciated over a 5 year period.The depreciation policy used by Delta is the

same regardless of the age of the airplane. Singapore Airlines tends to sell their aircraft while it still hold much value. Per exhibit 5, they sold their flight equipment, on average, for a gain of $134 million Singapore dollars (appx. $74 million). Whereas, Delta made, on average, $30. 4 million on the sale of flight equipment. By depreciating as they do and using younger aircraft, Singapore Airlines is averaging twice what Delta is on the sale of their flight equipment.