Singapore Airlines boosts A380 flights to Sydney, Melbourne in 2015
By David Flynn, October 14 2014
UPDATE | Singapore Airlines is boosting its Airbus A380 flights to Sydney and reintroducing the superjumbo to Melbourne, but only for a few short weeks in 2015.
Sydney's daily SQ231/222 flights from June 18 through to July 12 2015 ditch the Boeing 777-300ER in favour of the A380 over the Australian school holiday period, although the Boeing bird returns from July 13.
Melbourne residents, which are losing SQ's A380 from October 26, will again be able to fly on the world's largest passenger plane out of their home port next year – but only in September and October.
The A380 reappears on services to the Victorian capital from September 10 2015 until September 16 on SQ217/218, and again from September 24 until October 11 2015.
A Singapore Airlines spokesperson told Australian Business Traveller that the schedule shake-up was the result of "seasonal demand patterns during the busy Northern Summer travel period", and confirmed that Melbourne would retain the Boeing 777-300ER on flights outside of these dates.
PREVIOUS - April 22 2014 | Singapore Airlines is cutting back its Airbus A380 flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Singapore, including axing the airline's sole superjumbo out of Melbourne.
A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines confirmed the changes to Australian Business Traveller this morning, describing the moves as being due to "operational requirements across our network."
As to when the A380s would be rostered back onto those flights, the spokesperson said "Singapore Airlines constantly review the route network to match capacity to demand so this will be determined as we move forward."
From May 30th the daily Sydney-Singapore flights SQ231/222 will shift from an A380 to a Boeing 777-300ER, reducing Sydney to a single A380 service each day (the superjumbo remains on the SQ221/232 services).
Melbourne's sole Singapore Airlines A380 flight will be dropped from October 26, with the daily SQ227/228 run also being handed over to a Boeing 777-300ER.
However, the Singapore Airlines spokesperson said the airline had not yet determined if this would be one of the newer aircraft fitted with the latest first class and business class seats.
While the new Boeing 777 business class seats are a significant improvement on their first-generation A380 counterparts, the first class cabin sports open 'mini-suites' (shown above) rather than the private first class suites of the superjumbo – a swap which may not please passengers who value the privacy and indulgence of the A380 suites.
The airline says it will be contacting "affected customers" who have already booked on the A380 flights.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
13 Dec 2013
Total posts 4
If I'm not mistaken, I think it's SQ227/228 that is now the 77W, not SQ237/238 out of MEL
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 131
I'm not suprised - fares have been so cheap lately. I flew to KL via SIN recently with SQ and paid just over $1000, and I booked the week before. Some flights to SIN were under 800 bucks.
I just wish they'd upgrade the economy cabins in some of the 777s. The old economy is really oudated now, particularly the old 773 they use for SQ211. It seems odd that they are already upgrading some 777s to an even newer economy than that found on teh A380, yet some of the 777s don't even have that fit out (better IFE, seat power etc).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
Which flights were cheap, though? If it's SQ 242...
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 353
I certainly hope we get the new Boeing 777s with the new seats, but can't say I am surprised to see some of the A380s go. With SQ finally cleared to fly A380s into India (a huge market for them) plus the growing China market, they will get better value by putting the superjumbos onto these routes.
30 May 2011
Total posts 37
is there any information on which version of the A380 (economy on main deck or economy on main and upper deck) SQ flies to sydney?
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 146
Honestly, for the flight time invoved on this leg I've got no problem with J class in a 777-ER. IMHO the seats are more comfortable than those in the 380, and the lack of a fully flat bed, as opposed to a lie-flat in the 777 isn't a major issue for me.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1245
The J seats on the B77W are almost identical to those on the A380, and are fully-flat.
09 Sep 2012
Total posts 139
Bit of a shame for the privileged few to whom it makes a difference.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1518
It is cool and I love SQ, though their prices usually on high side :-(
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