In the latest schedule update Singapore Airlines has revealed another route will be getting the 2018 Regional Business Class product, with one of four daily services between Singapore and the South Korean capital Seoul switching from the A330 to the A350 Regional planes from 1st March 2019.
| Update: Note that the Seoul route will become 100% flat-bed direct aisle access Business Class with all four daily Singapore Airlines flights offering either the 2018 RJ or 2013 J seats from 1st May 2019. See our article here. |
This will come as welcome news to many of our readers – “when will they fly it to Seoul?” being one of the most common questions we’ve been asked since the new seats entered service in April 2018.
It marks the 17th confirmed destination on the SIA network for the latest Regional Business Class product, which is starting to become a common sight across the SIA network.
The schedule
Here’s how the current Singapore Airlines schedule looks to and from Seoul. All flights operate daily on this route.
Until 28th February 2019
| Flight | From / To | Aircraft | Seats |
| SQ608 | SIN0010 – ICN0735 | 333 | 2009 RJ |
| SQ612 | SIN0230 – ICN0950 | 77W | 2013 J |
| SQ600 | SIN0805 – ICN1530 | 333 | 2009 RJ |
| SQ602 | SIN1435 – ICN2200 | 333 | 2009 RJ |
| SQ607 | ICN0900 – SIN1450 | 333 | 2009 RJ |
| SQ611 | ICN1240 – SIN1825 | 77W | 2013 J |
| SQ609 | ICN1635 – SIN2220 | 333 | 2009 RJ |
| SQ603 | ICN2305 – SIN0455* | 333 | 2009 RJ |
* Next day
From 1st March 2019 onwards the SQ600 / SQ609 flight pairing is set to be operated by the Airbus A350 Regional variant.
From 1st March 2019
| Flight | From / To | Aircraft | Seats |
| SQ608 | SIN0010 – ICN0735 | 333 | 2009 RJ |
| SQ612 | SIN0230 – ICN0950 | 77W | 2013 J |
| SQ600 | SIN0805 – ICN1530 | 359 | 2018 RJ |
| SQ602 | SIN1435 – ICN2200 | 333 | 2009 RJ |
| SQ607 | ICN0900 – SIN1450 | 333 | 2009 RJ |
| SQ611 | ICN1240 – SIN1825 | 77W | 2013 J |
| SQ609 | ICN1635 – SIN2220 | 359 | 2018 RJ |
| SQ603 | ICN2305 – SIN0455* | 333 | 2009 RJ |
* Next day
Some minor timing changes then occur from 31st March 2019 for the northern winter season, however aircraft types and flight numbers remain valid through the end of the published schedule into 2020.
The news means Seoul will continue to be served by the Airbus A330 twice per day with the older 2009 Regional Business Class seats, but the other two flights on the route will see newer cabin products not only in the form of the 2018 Regional Business Class but also the 2013 Business Class seat continuing to fly daily on the 777-300ER.
Note that the Boeing 777-300ER service on this route (SQ611 / SQ612) also offers the 2013 First Class and 2013 Premium Economy seats.
Overall capacity to and from Seoul will also increase slightly as part of the change, especially in Business Class where the A350 Regional offers 10 additional seats per day in each direction, which is potentially good news for award availability.
Redemption rates
Here are the KrisFlyer redemption rates you’ll pay by cabin on this route:
| KrisFlyer Redemption Singapore – Seoul | ||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Economy | 25,000 | 45,000 |
| Business | 47,000 | 70,000 |
You can also use miles you have in other Star Alliance programs to book these flights, including in the Business Class cabin. Example rates are 20,000 miles in Economy and 36,000 miles in Business using Lifemiles or 20,000 miles in Economy and 35,000 miles in Business with Lufthansa Miles & More.
Where the 2018 Regional Business Class is flying
Our 2018 Regional Business Class Tracker page has been updated to reflect the cabin operating on this route from March, and shows that Seoul is the 17th route to be announced with this new Business Class seat.
Shorter routes include Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, with longer flights like Adelaide, Perth and Tokyo also featuring these new seats.
Further routes are likely as additional A350 Regional aircraft and a new batch of 787-10s continue to arrive, replacing older aircraft in the fleet throughout 2019.
Award availability
The following tables show award availability during March 2019, the first month of A350 Regional operation on this route, for flights SQ600 and SQ609 respectively.
Remember award availability to frequent flyers in Star Alliance airline schemes (‘Star Awards’) is generally more restrictive than this.
| March 2019 (SQ600 SIN-ICN) | ||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 2 | 1 | WL | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| WL | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| WL | 3 | 1 | 2 | WL | WL | |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| WL | 1 | WL | 2 | 3 | WL | WL |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| WL | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | WL | 2 |
| March 2019 (SQ609 ICN-SIN) | ||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
| 1 | ||||||