After a few months of carnage, finally some good news: Singapore Airlines will be scaling up its schedules for June and July, adding 11 new cities from 8 June and planning an additional 500+ flights. This brings the total destinations in its network to 26.
It doesn’t mean we’re all going on a summer holiday, but it’s yet another step on the road to recovery. More importantly, it means that some of SIA’s pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff can return to their jobs, and a potential shot in the arm for Changi Airport’s tenants and personnel.
Some perspective is important:Â Singapore Airlines notes that even with the expanded schedule, it’s still a whopping 94% cut of scheduled passenger capacity.
With today’s announcement, SIA has cut approximately 94% of the passenger capacity that had been originally scheduled for June and July 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. SIA and SilkAir will continue to adjust our capacity to match the demand for international air travel.
And yet, I’ll take some optimism wherever I can find it.
What destinations has Singapore Airlines added?
April and May 2020 represented absolute rock bottom for Singapore Airlines, with the carrier serving just 15 cities with 300-325 flights scheduled per month. June was initially set to be more of the same, but plans have now changed.
Singapore Airlines is adding the following destinations to its schedule from 8 June onwards:
- Amsterdam (AMS)
- Auckland (AKL)
- Barcelona (BCN)
- Brisbane (BNE)
- Cebu (CEB- served by SilkAir)
- Christchurch (CHC)
- Copenhagen (CPH)
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- Medan (KNO- served by SilkAir)
- Melbourne (MEL)
- Osaka (KIX)
Don’t get too excited- this doesn’t mean more vacation options for us in Singapore. Rather, these destinations have likely been chosen because Singapore Airlines assesses them to have good potential for connecting passengers. Changi will reopen to transit passengers from 2 June, which allows Singapore Airlines to solicit for passengers looking to fly between Europe and the rest of Asia (and vice versa).
I currently don’t see any connecting options available for sale on the Singapore Airlines website in June/July, but I assume that will change once transit plans are approved. Airlines are required to submit their proposals for transfer lanes through Changi Airport to CAAS, which intends to keep transit passengers sterile (in more ways than one.
What flights are operating in June and July?
Here’s the list of Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights that will operate in June and July 2020. Any flight not listed below is cancelled.
South East Asia
| Flight Number | Route | Operating Dates |
| SQ967 | CGK-SIN |
June 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 July 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31 |
| SQ966 | SIN-CGK |
June 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 July 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31 |
| MI233 | KNO-SIN |
June 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 July 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 |
| MI234 | SIN-KNO |
June 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 July 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 |
| SQ105 | KUL-SIN |
June 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29 July 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31 |
| MI323 | KUL-SIN |
June 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 July 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 |
| SQ104 | SIN-KUL | June 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29 July 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31 |
| MI324 | SIN-KUL |
June 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 July 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 |
| MI559 | CEB-SIN |
June 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 |
| MI560 | SIN-CEB |
June 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 |
| SQ917 | MNL-SIN | June 1, 5, 9, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29 July 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31 |
| SQ910 | SIN-MNL |
June 9, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29 July 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31 |
| SQ979 | BKK-SIN |
June 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 29 July 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 24, 26, 27, 31 |
| SQ976 | SIN-BKK | July 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 24, 26, 27, 31 |
| SQ175 | HAN-SIN |
June 5, 12, 19, 26Â July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 |
| SQ177 | SGN-SIN |
June 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 July 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 |
North Asia
| Flight Number | Route | Operating Dates |
| MI971 | CKG-SIN |
June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July 6, 13, 20, 27 |
| MI972 | SIN-CKG |
June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July 6, 13, 20, 27 |
| SQ833 | PVG-SIN |
June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July 6, 13, 20, 27 |
| SQ830 | SIN-PVG |
June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July 6, 13, 20, 27 |
| SQ891 | HKG-SIN | June 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25, 27 July 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30 |
| SQ890 | SIN-HKG | June 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25, 27 July 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30 |
| SQ623 | KIX-SIN |
June 12, 19, 26 July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 |
| SQ622 | SIN-KIX |
June 12, 19, 26 July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 |
| SQ637 | NRT-SIN |
June 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, 28 July 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26, 30 |
| SQ638 | SIN-NRT |
June 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, 28 July 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26, 30 |
| SQ609 | ICN-SIN | June 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 July 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 |
| SQ600 | SIN-ICN | June 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 Â July 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 |
South West Pacific
| Flight Number | Route | Operating Dates |
| SQ278 | ADL-SIN |
June 9, 16, 23, 30 July 7, 14, 21, 28 |
| SQ279 | SIN-ADL |
June 8, 15, 22, 29 July 6 ,13, 20, 27 |
| SQ288 | BNE-SIN |
June 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 July 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31 |
| SQ288 | SIN-SYD-BNE |
June 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 July 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31 |
| SQ218 | MEL-SIN |
June 9, 16, 23, 30 July 7, 14, 21, 28 |
| SQ238 | MEL-SIN |
June 13, 20, 27 July 4, 11, 18, 25Â |
| SQ237 | SIN-MEL |
June 8, 15, 22, 29 July 6, 13, 20, 27 |
| SQ217 | SIN-MEL |
June 12, 19, 26 July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 |
| SQ232 | SYD-SIN |
June 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30 July 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 30 |
| SQ288 | SYD-BNE-SIN |
June 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 July 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31 |
| SQ211 | SIN-SYD | June 2, 5, 7 |
| SQ231 | SIN-SYD |
June 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29 July 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29 |
| SQ288 | SIN-SYD |
June 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 July 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31 |
| SQ282 | AKL-SIN |
June 10, 17, 24 July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 |
| SQ286 | AKL-SIN |
June 13, 20, 27 July 4, 11, 18, 25 |
| SQ 285 | SIN-AKL |
June 9, 16, 23, 30 July 7, 14, 21, 28 |
| SQ 281 | SIN-AKL |
June 12, 19, 26 July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 |
| SQ 298 | CHC-SIN |
June 16, 23, 30 July 7, 14, 21, 28 |
| SQ297 | SIN-CHC |
June 14, 21, 28 July 5, 12, 19, 26 |
Europe
| Flight Number | Route | Operating Dates |
| SQ351 | CPH-SIN |
June 20, 27 July 4, 11, 18, 25 |
| SQ352 | SIN-CPH |
June 18, 25 July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 |
| SQ325 | FRA-SIN | June 1, 4, 6, 8 |
| SQ25 | FRA-SIN |
June 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29 July 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 |
| SQ326 | SIN-FRA | June 3, 5, 7 |
| SQ26 | SIN-FRA |
June 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 July 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 |
| SQ323 | AMS-SIN |
June 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 July 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 |
| SQ324 | SIN-AMS |
June 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30Â July 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 |
| SQ387 | BCN-SIN |
June 13, 20, 27 July 4, 11, 18, 25 |
| SQ388 | SIN-BCN |
June 11, 18, 25 July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 |
| SQ345 | ZRH-SIN |
June 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29 July 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 |
| SQ317 | SIN-ZRH |
June 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28 July 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31 |
| SQ317 | LHR-SIN |
June 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29 July 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 |
| SQ322 | SIN-LHR |
June 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 July 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 |
USA
| Flight Number | Route | Operating Dates |
| SQ37 | LAX-SIN |
June 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 July 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29 |
| SQ38 | SIN-LAX |
June 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28 July 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31 |
What if my flight has been cancelled?
If your flight has been cancelled, you’re entitled to a 100% refund in cash, or a 100% refund in flight credits with a S$75-500 bonus.
| This assumes your ticket has not been used at all. If the ticket is partially used, you’ll receive a pro-rated refund of the remainder (calculated at SIA’s discretion). You will not be entitled to bonus flight credits. |
To make the point clear: flight cancellations initiated by Singapore Airlines/ SilkAir entitle you to a refund regardless of when your ticket was issued. This is stated in black and white in the FAQs on Singapore Airline’s website.
However, even if your flight has not been cancelled, you may still be entitled to a refund.
If your travel date is up to 31 July 2020, and your ticket was issued before 15 March 2020, you can request a refund and receive a 100% refund in cash, or in flight credits with a S$75-500 bonus. Tickets purchased from 16 March 2020 onwards are only entitled to free date changes.
For those of you with travel from 1 August 2020, sit tight. We can expect to hear news on August’s schedule by early July at the very latest.
Other important Covid-19 travel information for Singapore Airlines can be found here.
Conclusion
Transit passengers are an important segment for Singapore Airlines, and this revised schedule allows them to once again compete for this market. Global air traffic volumes may not be what they used to be, but based on historical preferences, we know a lot of ASEAN passengers opt for one-stop options with Singapore Airlines where available.
These latest schedule changes bring the total destinations served by the SIA group to 32 (26 from Singapore Airlines/SilkAir, six from Scoot).
Baby steps.
