Two of SIA’s four daily flights linking Singapore with Sydney will soon be operated by A380 super jumbos, an increase on the current one A380 flight per day. The remaining two flights will be given over to smaller B777-200 aircraft.
The move, which takes effect from October 31, means that SIA will be able to fly an extra 200 or so passengers a day each way on this increasingly popular route.
SIA will roster the A380s for both its overnight Singapore-Sydney flights. In the return direction, the A380s will, as at present, be used for one of the morning flights out of Sydney. But SIA’s long-standing teatime service (which connects at Singapore with the overnight flights to Europe and which was downgraded to a B777-300ER earlier this year – see online news February 3) will be restored to an A380 operation.
This is good news for passengers flying out of Sydney to Europe who, in the case of London Heathrow, Paris CDG and Zurich) will be able to fly right through with the A380.
The revised schedules also mean that SIA is wooing the growing market between mainland China, Australia and vice versa. Its A380 schedules between Sydney, Singapore and return now dovetail perfectly with SIA flights to/from Beijing and Shanghai.
But not everything is perfect. The new schedules mean that:
- SIA will withdraw first class seating from the B777-200s used on this route. It means that passengers wishing to fly first class will have to pay more for suites accommodation on the A380. (SIA’s A380 do not have regular first class)
- It also means that loyalty card holders seeking to redeem their points or miles for first class may be unable to do so as SIA maintains a restrictive policy for its suites
- Business class confusion continues to reign. While the A380 has a consistent product (fully flat seats disposed four across 1-2-1) the B777-200 does not. According to seatplans.com there are several different layouts for the B777-200 so passengers might be accommodated either six (2-2-2) or seven (2-3-2) across. The “Show Schedule” link on SIA’s website does not clarify the issue. A further point is that the B777-200’s seating does not recline to the horizontal.
Details of the new schedules effective October 31:
Singapore-Sydney
SQ231 0030-1120. Operated by A380
SQ241 0700-1740. Operated by B777-200
SQ211 * 0940-2020. Operated by B777-200
SQ221 * 2035-0725 (next day). Operated by A380
Sydney-Singapore
SQ212 0915-1425. Operated by A380
SQ232 1240-1745. Operated by B777-200
SQ222 * 1630-2140. Operated by A380
SQ242 ** 1850-2355. Operated by B777-200
Note: * Connector flights to/from Europe. ** This service alone can connect with A380-operated flight SQ346 departing Singapore for Zurich at 0110.
For more information visit singaporeair.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
