Update: 12th March 2019. SilkAir’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft are grounded until further notice. You can see an updated list of the routes it was flying as of March 2019 and read more about the grounding here.
It’s been a few months since we looked at where SilkAir are flying their latest 737 MAX 8 aircraft, so here’s an update on the current schedules for these new jets, which feature the latest SilkAir Business Class and Economy Class seats.

Earlier this month the fourth SilkAir 737 MAX aircraft was delivered from a total order of 37. Those four planes are flying 92 flights per week between them across 11 destinations from Singapore.

Note: 11th March 2019. Owing to recent events this article from April 2018 is attracting some increased attention. SilkAir now has six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in service (9V-MBA to -MBF). The destination list remains as per the map above, with the exception of Fuzhou which is no longer served by the MAX.
In addition, selected Penang flights (2 per week) and selected Wuhan flights (4 per week) also use the MAX. The schedules below may no longer be accurate.
Our sincere condolences to those affected by the recent tragic 737 MAX accidents.
Note: 12th March 2019. SilkAir grounds the 737 MAX 8.
Here’s their weekly roster:
Bengaluru (BLR) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI424 MI423 |
MAX | — | — | MAX | MAX | MAX | MAX |
Cairns (CNS) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI811 MI812 |
MAX | — | — | MAX | — | MAX | — |
MI813 MI814 |
— | — | MAX | — | MAX | — | — |
Chongquing (CKG) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI972 MI971 |
738 | — | — | — | MAX | — | MAX |
MI976 MI975 |
— | 738 | — | — | — | MAX | — |
MI980 MI979 |
— | — | 738 | — | — | — | — |
Darwin (DRW) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI801 MI802 |
— | — | MAX | — | MAX | — | MAX |
MI803 MI804* |
MAX | — | — | — | — | — | — |
* Returns DRW-SIN next day
Fuzhou (FOC) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI996 MI995 |
MAX | — | MAX | — | MAX | — | MAX |
Hiroshima (HIJ) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI868 MI867 |
MAX | — | — | MAX | — | MAX | — |
Hyderabad (HYD) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI472 MI471* |
— | — | — | MAX | MAX | MAX | MAX |
MI474 MI473 |
MAX | MAX | MAX | MAX | MAX | MAX | MAX |
* Returns HYD-SIN next day
Kathmandu (KTM) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI412 MI411 |
— | 738 | — | 738 | — | — | — |
MI414 MI413 |
MAX | — | MAX | — | MAX | — | MAX |
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI320 MI319 |
319 | 319 | 319 | 319 | 319 | — | — |
MI322 MI321 |
738 | 319 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 320 | 738 |
MI324 MI323 |
738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 319 |
MI326 MI325 |
320 | 738 | MAX | MAX | 319 | 738 | 738 |
MI328 MI327 |
738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 |
MI330 MI329 |
738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 |
MI340 MI339 |
319 | 319 | 319 | 319 | 738 | 738 | 738 |
MI342 MI341 |
— | — | — | — | — | 738 | 738 |
Phuket (HKT) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI752 MI751 |
738 | 320 | 320 | MAX | 320 | MAX | 738 |
MI754 MI753 |
320 | MAX | 738 | 738 | 738 | MAX | 738 |
MI756 MI755 |
738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 |
MI758 MI757 |
319 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 | 738 |
Pnomh Penh (PNH) | |||||||
Flights | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
MI602 MI601 |
319 | 738 | MAX | 319 | 320 | 738 | 738 |
MI606 MI605 |
738 | — | — | 738 | 738 | 738 | 319 |
MI608 MI607 |
738 | 319 | 319 | 320 | 319 | 738 | 319 |
What’s good about the MAX?
Let’s be clear – the 737 MAX 8 is no game-changer. Having said that there are some improvements in both cabins, which we think make it the go-to aircraft if you’re flying with SilkAir anyway. On some routes like Kathmandu there’s no other choice if you want to fly non-stop, so pick the flights operated by the MAX for a better experience.
In Business Class there’s 25% more legroom compared with the Airbus A319/A320 and 737-800 aircraft. There’s even a gourmet Illy coffee maker on board, a sure hit if (like us) you’re basically allergic to ‘instant’.

In Economy Class legroom is no different to other SilkAir planes with 31-inch seat pitch – but here the newly designed seats now feature a seat-back holder for personal electronic devices like phones and tablets, plus a USB socket for charging in every seat back.
It means you can continue watching your favourite movie or TV program even during meal times.

How to tell
Flights are always subject to equipment swaps due to operational changes, so here’s how to tell if you’re definitely on the MAX. On the Singapore Airlines / SilkAir website the aircraft type has become a bit more subtle lately, with the ‘MAX’ designation removed. You need to check for the ‘737-8’, rather than the regular ‘737-800’.

The seat map is another way to tell the difference in Economy Class – the MAX features rows 5 to 29 while the 737-800 has rows 5 to 30, the A319 has rows 5 to 25 and the A320 has rows 5 to 28.
Unfortunately in Business Class all SilkAir aircraft have the same seating layout – 3 rows in a 2-2 configuration, so it’s not possible to discern the aircraft type using that method in this cabin.

Summary
More 737 MAX aircraft in the SilkAir fleet means more options to enjoy increased comfort on your SilkAir flights – especially in Business Class. If you’re flying SilkAir anyway, for example on routes with no Singapore Airlines option, it’s worth checking if you can book on one of these newer aircraft.
Have you flown on the SilkAir 737 MAX yet? If so let us know how it was in the comments section below.
Don’t miss out on the latest news – get an email notification whenever we publish new articles by joining our growing list of email followers.
|
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)