SIA “step-up frequency” of Singapore-Canberra-Wellington services

Singapore Airlines was the first airline to run a regular service from Singapore to Canberra and Wellington, when it established the route in September 2016, but the success of the ‘Capital Express’ route means it’s time for an upgrade.

Pushing the service to a more frequent operation is all part of the airlines restructuring of the current Singapore-Canberra-Wellington services, where the Canberra-Wellington flights will be de-linked and Canberra served on a daily basis.

In its place, Singapore Airlines will be operating services to Wellington via Melbourne (Singapore-Melbourne-Wellington, while services to Canberra will operate via Sydney (Singapore-Sydney-Canberra-Singapore).

This restructure has been driven by the recent upsurge in traffic between the two capital cities, according to Tan Kai Ping (below), SIA’s senior vice president of marketing and planning, who said.

“We have seen growth in international travel into and from both Canberra and Wellington since the launch of our new services in 2016. These new routings will allow us to serve Canberra and Wellington better, and provide Canberra with a step-up in frequency.”

The connection will be operated four times per week, as SQ247 starting 3 May 2018. Return services will be operated as SQ248 on a Wellington-Melbourne-Singapore routing, subject to regulatory approvals. Tickets will be made available for sale progressively through the various distribution channels.

Another addition to Singapore Airlines’ coverage in May will see the launch of a daily service from Singapore to Canberra, via Sydney, operating as SQ288 on the Singapore-Sydney-Canberra routing. The service will be also operate as SQ288 on the return Canberra-Singapore routing.

The Airline will operate services to Canberra via Sydney using its 264-seat Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with four First Class seats, 48 Business Class seats, 28 Premium Economy Class seats and 184 Economy Class seats.