Singapore Airlines grounds A380s until next week

SYDNEY - Three of Singapore Airlines' Airbus A380 superjumbos will be out of service until at least next week after the airline pulled them from its network because of engine problems.

But Singapore Airlines says schedules have not been affected and other planes would be used to replace the three A380s.

Replacement planes for flights from Singapore to Sydney and Melbourne and from Sydney and Melbourne to Singapore had been scheduled until Wednesday of next week.

Some flights would be operated by Boeing 777s and others by Boeing 747s, with extra flights scheduled if the 747s did not have enough capacity for all passengers.

"While the situation remains fluid, no other A380 services are affected at this point in time," the airline said on its website.

"Singapore Airlines is also planning to mount supplementary flights to and from Sydney and Melbourne where needed."

The airline said it would carry out "precautionary engine changes" on the three A380s.

The move follows Qantas' decision last week to ground its six A380s, after a plane flying from Singapore to Sydney was forced to turn back when one of its engines exploded.

Qantas said on Monday that testing on its aircraft's Trent 900 Rolls-Royce engines was continuing, after oil leaks were discovered on three planes - two in Los Angeles and one in Sydney.

Singapore Airlines' regional vice president Subhas Menon told AAP the engine changes were "precautionary".

"Last week ... we did inspect all our aircraft and engines and as a result of the manufacturer analysing these findings further, we have been advised to carry out further checks on three engines as a precautionary measure," he said in Sydney.

Asked if there were concerns for the safety of the airline's 11 A380s prior to the engine changes being carried out, Mr Menon said: "No such concerns. These are precautionary checks."

- AAP