Are we not just a little carried away here re SIA ? They are only slot applications, and as we know, it is routine for slots to be applied for and never activated.
2 things with this:
Firstly, there is a lot more behind the scenes than just the slot request. Note that the slot request doesn't even give the destination, so, it's not just a lot of excitement over that. The slot request is the only piece of information that can be shared publicly. The other evidence cannot.
Secondly, yes, slots can be applied for and never used, but as I've said previously, I'm not aware of any other time in Singapore Airlines history at MAN that they have applied for slots and never used them, the only slots they have applied for have been duly utilised, so that in itself is promising.