Where are the SilkAir 737 MAX aircraft flying?

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.

silkmaxbiz — Business Class benefits from 25% more legroom on the 737 MAX 8 (Photo:SilkAir)

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.

MI737MAX Routes May18.jpg — SilkAir 737 MAX 8 aircraft now serve 11 routes

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’.

MI737maxCoffee — Coffee time. Brewed Illy coffee is a welcome treat on the MAX. (Photo:SilkAir)

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.

MImaxY — No more iPad getting in the way of your meal, each seat back in economy is equipped with a handy device holder above the tray table, and a USB port to the side. (Photo: SilkAir)

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’.

MAX vs 800 — The SilkAir and Singapore Airlines websites have made the difference between the MAX and the regular 737-800 more difficult to spot

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.

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