Singapore Airlines sets February 5 for launch of Perth VTL flights
Singapore Airlines is optimistic about the restart of Perth-Singapore travel, planning a whopping 17 flights per week.
By Matt Lennon, January 17 2022
Western Australia will reopen its international borders on Saturday 5 February, and Singapore Airlines says it’s ready to begin long-awaited Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights to Singapore.
Those VTL services, which offer quarantine-free visits to the Lion City under a gamut of conditions, were briefly pushed back to 1 March, with the airline citing unspecified ‘regulatory requirements’ as reason for the four-week delay.
However, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed to Executive Traveller this evening that February 5 is once again the official VTL kickoff, based on “the latest guidance from the authorities”
"All VTL flights from Perth that were scheduled between 5 February 2022 and 28 February 2022, will retain their VTL flight status", the spokesperson said. "Customers with existing bookings on these flights can continue with their travel plans."
Singapore Airlines is hoping to capitalise on not just West Australians flying up to the city state and onwards to the rest of the world, but also inbound trips from students, skilled workers and tourists under the VTL arrangement.
SQ’s Perth-Singapore VTL flights
Singapore Airlines will have a solid roster of 17 weekly flights, all of them featuring the modern Boeing 787-10 (click here to read the Executive Traveller review of SQ's Boeing 787-10 business class) on two daily services, SQ223 and SQ225.
SQ223 is scheduled to depart Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 at 10am local time, touching down at 3:10pm Perth time and pulling up to Terminal 1.
For the night owls on the red-eye, the second daily service is SQ225 which pushes back ten minutes into the new day and lands bright and early at 5:25am.
On Wednesday, Friday and Monday each week from March 2, there’s also SQ215 which leaves Singapore at 6:40pm and delivers passengers to the WA capital just before midnight at 11:55pm.
Before those flights, business class passengers will be able to check out the all-new SilverKris Business Lounge – a spacious, modern and well-appointed space which finally deserves its flagship status – while there’s also a fresh KrisFlyer Gold lounge for Gold-grade frequent flyers booked into economy.
Singapore Airlines' new SilverKris Lounge at Changi T3.
Out of Perth, the flights to Singapore will also run twice daily – but you’ll need to be a very early riser for the first one as SQ224 leaves Perth at 6:40am, touching down just before lunchtime at 11:55am.
Alternatively, for the afternoon departure on SQ214, it’s wheels-up at 4:45pm and you’ll set foot on Singapore soil at 10pm in time for a nightcap if you’re so inclined.
On Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday, nocturnal flyers can set off for Singapore at 1:10am, landing in time for breakfast at 6:20am.
At the end of March services will be ratcheted up further, becoming three-times daily until well into October 2022, although SQ214 will leave slightly later in the day at 5:10pm, arriving in Singapore at 10:35pm.
Notably, SQ214 will also shift to an Airbus A350, which while retaining the same lie-flat business class as the Boeing 787-10, also adds a premium economy cabin.
As previously reported, Singapore Airlines will provide two free hours of inflight WiFi to every passenger until March 31, so you'll be able to stay connected for almost half of your flight without pulling out your credit card.
Scoot’s Perth-Singapore VTL flights
Singapore Airlines' low-cost offshoot Scoot is also offering VTL flights from Perth commencing 5 February (flight TR9) and 9 February (TR17) on boards its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Scoot’s Boeing 787s are crowned by 35 ‘ScootBiz’ business class recliners in a 2-3-2 layout, making this more like a premium economy experience – although the extendable leg rest boosts comfort somewhat on what is, after all, a relatively quick five-hour hop.
There’s plenty more photos and detail in our review of Scoot's Boeing 787 ‘ScootBiz’ business class – and if you are booking one of these, check out our expert guide to the best ScootBiz seats on Scoot's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners (hint: any of the ten D or F seats, which are on the aisle of the middle block of three seats, are the first ones to pick).
01 Dec 2012
Total posts 68
Great news. I can't wait to fly SQ to SIN and beyond. The twice daily departures from PER are actually available now and through January (plus once daily on Scoot, which has a passable PE section), as long as the return to Perth is from 5 February onwards.
There's obviously strong two-way freight demand with Singapore Airlines plus Scoot flying a triple daily schedule for some time now. Particularly prickly passengers are WA crayfish heading to Asian markets.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
01 Apr 2018
Total posts 10
There is also at least one flight a week after Feb. 5 where SIA are utilising the A350 long haul variant. Allowing passengers to select PE seats at no extra cost.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 461
would adelaide people using Virgin be allowed to connect up with the SQ services assuming we are allowed in come February.The outbound works well as does the return(using the night flights for the latter)if one ex Adelaide cannot get a seat on SQ278 OR SQ279 and the schedules don't work for SQ276/SQ277.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
Not sure why such a long wait in Perth a 2-ish hour layover would see a pre midnight arrival in Singapore
Etihad - Etihad Guest
19 Mar 2018
Total posts 68
I understand that Singapore government will push Perth to Singaporeans as the new Hong Kong, being literally the same flight time to and from SIN as is HKG. Fares have been controlled by Qantas and Singapore Airlines for far too long, with the intention of pushing FSC Y fares to SGD 320 average. To this end, I understand that a whole horde of airlines such as EK, AF, KL, LH, CX, CZ, KE, OZ etc have all been offered full fifth freedom rights.
Singapore has always fancied itself as the real Asia world city, and wants to help Australia gain independence from the UK. Australia and Mainland China are the exact same size, but Australia's wealth is enjoyed by the Queen and her family, and British people in the British Isles. Australia doesn't even have 4G nationwide coverage.
In the longer term, you'll see Singapore pushing Broome, Karatha, Kunurrura, Margaret River, Kargoorlie, Albany into the new Melbourne, new vinyards, new Gold Coast, new Brisbane, new Cairns etc
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 461
If they can do that why not.It's not as cheap as the old days and I speak as an Adelaide person to do a week in Singapore as it used to be.I recently did Cairns and while not as interesting it worked out dollar 4 dollar not so expensive.
09 May 2020
Total posts 576
Unfortunately, overnight the WA premier announcing the indefinite hard border measure meant SIA will have to focus on other areas other than WA
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1225
After last night's announcement from the WA Government about indefinite border closure, I assume these plans to restart these services is now also deferred indefinitely.
09 May 2020
Total posts 576
Need to point out scootBiz is now ScootPlus since 2019.
Previously they hinted with the “Biz” that it’s business class, now they claimed ScootPlus is business class, but in effect the product (like some Jetstar) is no better than economy premium seats in a full fare airline with special soft products inclusions like special meals and drinks
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