Following reports earlier this week Singapore Airlines would soon commence flights to the northern Queensland city of Cairns, the airline has confirmed a start date of March 28. Singapore Airlines will fly between Singapore and Cairns three times a week using Boeing 737-800NG aircraft, offering Cairns residents a one-stop service to major cities worldwide.
“Singapore Airlines has confirmed Cairns will officially become part of the SIA global passenger network from 28 March 2022, when SQ203 touches down at Cairns Airport at 17:25 local time,” a statement from the airline reads.
“Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore Airlines’ regional wing, SilkAir, operated daily services to the Queensland holiday hotspot and gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. However, with the integration of SilkAir into Singapore Airlines in 2021, the route will become the sixth Australian destination in the Singapore Airlines global network.”
Cairns flights coincide with the start of the northern summer flying season
The maiden Singapore Airlines flight to Cairns, SQ203, will depart Singapore’s Changi Airport at 08:45 local time and arrive in Cairns at 17:25 local time on March 28. The return flight will depart the following day at 18:15 local time, arriving at Changi Airport at 23:00 local time.
From March 30, flight will operate every Friday, Monday, and Wednesday. The flight down to Cairns, SQ203, operates to the same schedule as the maiden flight. There is a same day turnaround in Cairns with SQ204 pushing back at 18:15 local time and landing in Singapore at 23:00 local time. It is a 3,110 mile (5,000 kilometer) hop between the two cities that the 737-800NG will take between six and a half and seven hours to complete. The operating aircraft seats 162 passengers, including 12 in a recently upgraded business class cabin.
Source: gcmap.com
Singapore Airlines passenger flights supplement a weekly freighter service
Simple Flying flagged reports circulating earlier this week about an imminent announcement. At the time, neither Cairns Airport nor Singapore Airlines would confirm the reports, instead telling us to keep an ear out.
“We are very excited to welcome Cairns to the SIA passenger network from 28 March and the opportunities this service presents in supporting the return of international tourism to Australia,” said Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President for the South West Pacific, Mr Louis Arul on Wednesday.
“Over the past 12 months our relationship with Cairns Airport has strengthened with the operation of our cargo-only services, and we are very proud to have been able to support the region with essential cargo capacity and connectivity while the borders remained closed.”
Singapore Airlines has been operating weekly A350-900 freighters into Cairns. Photo: Singapore Airlines
Cairns Airport welcomes the new flights
Singapore Airlines has operated a weekly A350-900 freighter service into Cairns throughout the pandemic, exporting local time sensitive produce like lobsters and tropical fish. But the unaware observer could easily mistake those freight services for passenger flights and assume Singapore Airlines had Cairns covered. However, Singapore Airlines Group passenger flights to Cairns ended when SilkAir suspended services the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new flights offer some much-needed connectivity for Cairns Airport.
“The return of direct services from Singapore will provide vital connectivity to bring visitors from Europe, India, North-East and South-East Asia to the Cairns region, with an easy transit via Singapore Airlines Changi hub,” North Queensland Airports CEO, Richard Barker.
“Singapore Airlines has remained committed to our region throughout COVID, with a weekly freighter service, and the return of passenger services reaffirms the great partnership that we have developed over the past seven years.”
With Cairns back in the schedules, Singapore Airlines says it will be operating 99 flights a week to six Australian cities by the start of the IATA 2022 summer season.
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