Singapore Airlines has announced its schedule for September, adding four new destinations and operating 7% of its originally planned capacity. The four new destinations are Milan and Taipei (served by Singapore Airlines), and Cebu and Phnom Penh (served by SilkAir).
A total of 700 flights are scheduled for September 2020, the highest since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis.
None of this means much to the average Singapore resident, given the de facto travel ban currently in place. However, it’s good news for those with essential travel needs, as well as for those stuck overseas and trying to get home. Moreover, it provides some much-needed economic activity for Changi Airport, which thankfully saw a bit of a rebound in June’s passenger numbers.
700 flights may be the highest number since the start of Covid-19, but it still represents a 93% cut of scheduled capacity. The pain will go on for some time yet.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir have increased the frequency of selected services in their passenger network in August and September 2020, and reinstated flights to Cebu, Milan, Phnom Penh and Taipei. As a result, the Groupโs passenger capacity in August and September 2020 will reach approximately 7% of its pre-Covid-19 levels respectively
Where will Singapore Airlines fly in September 2020?
The map above shows Singapore Airlines and SilkAir’s planned route network for September 2020.
As a reminder of how we got here:
- April and May represented absolute rock bottom for Singapore Airlines, with the carrier serving just 15 cities through 300-325 scheduled flights
- June and July saw the addition of 12 new destinations (11 at first, then Paris coming a bit later) and 500+ flights scheduled.
- In August, Perth and Istanbul were added to the network
The biggest difference for September, apart from the addition of Cebu, Milan, Phnom Penh and Taipei, is that Hong Kong goes to a daily service (from 3x weekly in August), and Seoul goes to 3x weekly (from 2x weekly in August).
New destinations mean greater connection possibilities for transit passengers through Changi, although their experience will be very different from before.
Singapore Airlines will carry transit passengers through Changi again. Here’s what to expect
There’s still no First Class inventory for September, with the A380-800s in storage, and the fuel-efficient Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 787-10s favored over the Boeing 777-300ERs and 777-300s (which have First Class seats).
What flights are operating in September 2020?
Hereโs the summary of Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights that will operate in September 2020. Any flight not listed in the PDF schedules is cancelled.
South East Asia
Singapore Airlines September 2020 South East Asia Schedule
North Asia
Singapore Airlines September 2020 North Asia Schedule
South West Pacific
Singapore Airlines September 2020 South West Pacific Schedule
Europe
Singapore Airlines September 2020 Europe Schedule
USA
Singapore Airlines September 2020 USA Schedule
What if my Singapore AIrlines/SilkAir 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, as per the flowchart below.
If your travel date is up to 30 September 2020, and your ticket was issued on/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 October 2020, sit tight. Singapore Airlines should be extending its travel waiver policy if the situation remains unresolved by then.
Covid-19: Singapore Airlines and Scoot extend travel waiver and refund policy to 30 September
Other important Covid-19 travel information for Singapore Airlines can be found here.
Conclusion
September 2020 is an ever-so-incremental improvement for Singapore Airlines, with four new destinations and increased service to Hong Kong and Seoul. That said, there’s only so much capacity that can be added so long as travel restrictions remain in place.
While some airlines like Qantas have taken the drastic step of cancelling all international flights till early 2021, that’s not really an option for Singapore Airlines (no domestic market), Thankfully, it’s also unnecessary, given Singapore’s natural positioning as a transit hub. Nonetheless, it’s a clear reminder of how far we are from normality.
Singapore Airlines should announce October’s schedule the same time next month.
