KrisFlyer SilkAir

Where are the SilkAir 737 MAX aircraft flying?

More legroom and freshly brewed coffee in business class, device holders and USB charging in economy. We'd try to pick the 737 MAX whenever flying SilkAir.

Silk 737 Max (MM)

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)
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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
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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.

Silk 737 Max (Boeing)
(Photo: Boeing)
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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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(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)

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