Singapore Airlines teases Airbus A350 for Brisbane, Perth
By David Flynn, April 18 2017
Singapore Airlines will bring another Australian city under the wing of its growing Airbus A350 network this year, with Brisbane and Perth both on the shortlist.
The Star Alliance member already has one year-round A350 flight slated for Melbourne's SQ207/SQ208 from May 11, while a second A350 is currently running on SQ218/SQ217 until June 30, after which it will revert to the Airbus A380 superjumbo.
"We are now looking at an announcement later on which is the next A350 to Australia," Singapore Airlines Regional Vice-President for South West Pacific, Mr TK Tan, tells Australian Business Traveller.
Sydney-siders shouldn't get their hopes up for a ride in SQ's advanced jetliner, however.
"It's unlikely to be Sydney because we want a first class product for Sydney, as most of our flights for Sydney have a first class product," Tan reveals, "so most likely it will be to another point in Australia."
The coin toss is believed to be between Brisbane and Perth, both of which are strong parts of SQ's Australian network and host several daily flights on Airbus A330 and Boeing 777-200 jets.
For either city the Airbus A350 would not only represent a jump in the quality of the experience – from a smoother, quieter and more relaxing ride to Singapore Airlines' latest business class and economy seats – but also see premium economy added to the market.
As previously reported and exclusively to Australian Business Traveller, Tan also revealed that Sydney is likely to see the airline's first new Airbus A380 superjumbo – sporting all-new first class suites and business class seats – in the fourth quarter of this year but ideally on October 25, to mark the tenth anniversary of the arrival of the world's first commercial A380 service in 2007.
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.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 79
BNE please! At least out of Perth its a much shorter duration on the A330/772. Prefer A330 Y over 772 Y.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
16 May 2011
Total posts 111
Hopefully SQ places the A350 on the new SQ247/248 service !
01 Jun 2016
Total posts 58
CBR please! Will put up a good fight against the future Qatar A350 flight
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 262
PER.
Qantas
13 Jun 2015
Total posts 139
It's going to be Perth next.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 387
I really hope this is BNE and in particular SQ 236.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Aug 2016
Total posts 1
I really hope so too. Hope it happens before September as I'm booked on 236 then!
Aegean Airlines - Miles & Bonus
15 Jun 2016
Total posts 21
SQ214 PER-SIN at 17:10 is the most popular as it gets you on all the late night connections to Europe as well as rest of Asia. Would be good to see it replace the current 777-200ER which is 2-2-2 in business.
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
BNE has a new SQ lounge, and the BNE - SIN flights are longer than the PER - SIN ones. Plus BNE has proximity to the Gold Coast as well.
06 Feb 2014
Total posts 113
PER is a bigger market for SQ than Brizzy and the overnight flights are in desparate need of an upgraded product.
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 122
SQ235 would be nice. SQ255 as well even better! But defintiely 235 priority.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1225
The introduction of W class to these markets is an interesting step and it will be interesting to see QF's reaction. I believe it is possible that they may look at adding a small W cabin to their A333s
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 319
Just wondering, why not Adelaide?
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 122
Adelaide is no where near as bigger market as BNE, PER. It would be a waste of time if they put an a350 on ADL when it could go to BNE,PER.
01 Jun 2016
Total posts 58
I don't think you can say BNE is next because its a bigger market, if that was the case SYD would have got the A350 before MEL
Asiana Airlines - Asiana Club
09 Feb 2017
Total posts 41
whichever city had the 772/773 last ought to be first in line for the A350, they've had to deal with the old machines longer than everyone else and it's only fair
12 Apr 2017
Total posts 12
Surely BNE would sell better. Far more Asian tourists travel to the east coast, BNE is a gateway to Gold Coast and Great Barrier Reef. Perth would be mostly lower budget Australian travellers, less likely to pay for W & J. Plus BNE is a longer flight, so more need for the lie flat J
21 Apr 2017
Total posts 1
"while a second A350 is currently running on SQ218/SQ217 until June 30" - not sure about this. I'm flying shortly on SQ218 and this is stated as an A380 on the SQ app.
QF
11 May 2015
Total posts 28
The SQ B772 ERs which operate between BNE and SIN for some flights is 1-2-1 in business class and these are great seats. Maybe not so good in Y where the A330 2-4-2 is better especially in the 2 seating with the other not occupied.
02 May 2017
Total posts 5
I am booked on the SQ246 this weekend (May 2017) and SQ just called me to inform me that they have switched the service from the 777-200ER to the 777-200R (Retrofitted) which has the regional 2-2-2 angle flat seats. Needless to say I am terribly disappointed at the downgrade of product. I was looking forward to trying out the 1-2-1 lie flat seats. Has anyone else figured out how to obtain some sort of redress for this downgrade of product?
16 Feb 2016
Total posts 30
I think that the SIN-CBR/WLG service could be prime for this aircraft. 42J/24W/187Y and upgrade to 5pw. It is a little bit premium heavy, but thats why they initially went with the 772 on this route. And the main flights ex SIN are overnight ones. Perhaps if BNE gets the A350 (which is probably most likely as they would be better suited to selling J/W) the 1-2-1 config 772ER would go to the double overnight CBR/WLG routes. This all depends on how J is selling on those services (from what I can see it tends to be only half full with more Y demand)
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