Taipei and Fukuoka will get Singapore Airlines’ new regional Business Class

Two more Boeing 787-10s will soon be arriving in the Singapore Airlines fleet, bringing its tally of regional ‘Dreamliner’ jets up to 8 aircraft by year-end. Some news in the latest schedule update reveals two more permanent routes for these aircraft – Taipei and Fukuoka will get daily 787-10 connections, sporting the latest regional Business Class seats, from late December / early January.

Taipei schedule

A Boeing 787-10 will replace an Airbus A330 on the morning flight from Singapore to Taipei, returning in the early afternoon, as a new year treat for regulars on this route from 1st January 2019.

The later Taipei flight continues to be operated by an A330 for now, so for those wishing to fly the latest regional Business Class product it’s the earlier flights to pick in both directions on this city pair from the start of next year. Here are the schedule details:

Until 31st December 2018

From 1st January 2019

A saver award ticket on this 4 hour 45 minute flight will cost you 27,500 KrisFlyer miles (if you’re ever curious, or confused by the KrisFlyer tables, our destination-based redemption rate table works wonders if you’re flying to or from Singapore).

Our regular readers will know Taipei-based EVA Air just took delivery of their latest Boeing 787-9. If you missed the fantastic looking Thompson Aero Vantage seats styled by BMW Designworks, check out our article here.

These aircraft will be rolling out on regional routes, especially next year as the airline also receives shorter-range 787-10s with the same seats. Singapore may happen in the short term or be later in the pipeline but be in no doubt, this product will definitely be coming here.

Has Singapore Airlines cleverly called EVA’s bluff on the Singapore – Taipei route by competing first with its own latest regional 1-2-1 flat-bed Business Class seat? Well maybe, maybe not. Either way, they have probably succeeded.

Redeeming a Singapore – Taipei flight in EVA Air Business Class is more costly for KrisFlyer members at 37,500 miles.

Fukuoka schedule

Fukuoka was the last Singapore Airlines Japan route to cling on to the A330 with the older 2009 regional Business Class seats, with both Osaka and Nagoya already shifting to the 787-10. Even a Tokyo Narita rotation now sees the 2018 RJ seat on one flight, alongside the 2013 J seat on the plane continuing to Los Angeles.

By the end of 2018 all 9 regular daily SIA flights between Singapore and Japan will feature either the 2018 RJ or 2013 J seat in Business Class.

For the 3 daily flights operated by the 777-300ER to Haneda (SQ630/639, SQ634/635 and SQ636/633) and 1 to Narita (SQ11/12) the 2013 First Class cabin is also offered.

Here’s the Fukuoka schedule:

Edit 15th October 2018: 787-10 introduction on this route has been brought forward to 9th December 2018.

Until 26th December 2018 8th December 2018

From 27th December 2018 9th December 2018

This change was already partially announced last week with news that SIA would fly the 787-10 to Fukuoka for 9 days over the Christmas and New Year period, however this has since been made permanent from 27th December 2018 9th December 2018.

A saver Business Class redemption between Singapore and Fukuoka will cost you 43,000 KrisFlyer miles one-way, or 25,000 miles in Economy Class.

Better still, 36,000 Lifemiles is all you need for the same Business Class routing, or 20,000 in Economy Class.

Product review

If you haven’t read it yet – check out our comprehensive review of the Singapore Airlines Boeing 787-10 regional Business Class, the new ‘2018 RJ’ seat. There’s also a special mini-review detailing the couple middle seats and extra legroom bulkhead seats.

You may also wish to read our 787-10 fleet page to help you decide which seat to select whichever class you’re travelling in on this new aircraft.

Summary

Japan is now ‘a wrap’ from January as far as SIA is concerned. They will be flying either their 2018 RJ or 2013 J seat in Business Class to all destinations from 27th December 2018, with the sole exception of the seasonal Sapporo flights. These continue to use the A330 with the older 2-2-2 configured 2009 RJ product (though only into early January).

Taipei is an interesting choice. We can’t help wondering if SIA is pre-empting the latest flat-bed 1-2-1 configuration of its Star Alliance partner EVA Air here, who will inevitably fly the Singapore – Taipei route with their own new 787 late this year or perhaps next year.

Whether that’s the case or not, this is a nice comfort upgrade for Business Class passengers between Singapore and Taiwan – not a long flight but not a short one either.

We’ve updated our 2018 regional Business Class tracker page with all the details, as you’d expect. It is worth bookmarking this as your go-to guide for where the latest seats are flying as it’s regularly updated.

(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)