SIA replaces Scoot on Chennai flights from May 2020, upgrades to 787-10s

Singapore Airlines is shaking up its Chennai operations from May 2020, completely replacing Scoot services to and from the south-east Indian city with twice-daily Boeing 787-10 operation. These aircraft include 36 of the latest 2018 Regional Business Class seats, representing a big premium capacity boost for the route.

The schedule

Here’s how the SIA Group schedule to and from Chennai currently looks, with a daily Singapore Airlines Airbus A330, daily Scoot Boeing 787-8 and three times weekly SilkAir Airbus A320 operating.

Some months, SilkAir also currently operates a fourth weekly (Thursday) service to and from Chennai.

Current schedule (until 19th May 2020)

Flight		From / To	Aircraft	Days
	MI436	SIN0740 – MAA0920	320	····567
	SQ528	SIN2025 – MAA2200	333	Daily
	TR578	SIN2250 – MAA0020*	788	Daily
	TR579	MAA0120 – SIN0815	788	Daily
	MI435	MAA1030 – SIN1720	320	····567
	SQ529	MAA2315 – SIN0610*	333	Daily

* Next day

From 20th May 2020 the daily Scoot service (TR578/579) will cease, with Singapore Airlines switching its SQ528/529 to Boeing 787-10 operation and adding a second six times weekly Boeing 787-10 to replace the Scoot flight – SQ526/527.

The new flight has almost identical timings to the Scoot service it is replacing, so these two wide body flights will operate only a couple of hours apart, with late night departure to Chennai and overnight service on the way back to Singapore.

The only exception is Tuesdays, where the new SQ526/527 service will not operate.

New schedule (from 20th May 2020)

Flight		From / To	Aircraft	Days
	MI436	SIN0740 – MAA0920	320	···4567
	SQ528	SIN2025 – MAA2200	787	Daily
	SQ526	SIN2250 – MAA0020*	787	1·34567
	SQ527**	MAA0130 – SIN0820	787	1·34567
	MI435	MAA1030 – SIN1720	320	···4567
	SQ529	MAA2315 – SIN0610*	787	Daily

* Next day
** From 21st May 2020

This will result in a weekly capacity boost for the group between Singapore and Chennai of around 4%.

More notably though, there will be a 31% increase in Business Class seats offered, from 393 in each direction per week today (even if you count ‘ScootPlus’ as Business Class) to 516 per week from late May 2020, 468 of which will be the new 2018 Regional Business Class flat-bed seat.

SilkAir’s daytime A320 flights will be the only ones with recliner seats installed in Business Class once the aircraft changes take effect.

Fares

As you would expect, economy cash fares on this route are on the way up with Scoot on the way out.

Typical basic round-trip fares with the group’s budget subsidiary, with no checked bag or meals, start at just under S$300 in April 2020, compared with S$450 on Singapore Airlines, though the latter do obviously include checked baggage and meals.

Another loss from the route will be the ‘ScootPlus’ cabin, a sort of Premium Economy equivalent typically priced at around S$640 return on the Chennai route.

Those wanting a slightly better experience than Economy Class will now have to settle for the SIA offering (SIA’s 787s don’t have a Premium Economy cabin), or stump up a much less attractive S$2,300 or so for a Business Class ticket.

This is definitely where a KrisFlyer saver redemption comes in as a more cost effective option.

KrisFlyer awards

Here are the one-way KrisFlyer redemption rates you’ll pay by cabin on the Singapore – Chennai route:

It’s worth noting that this is one of those routes where if a saver Economy redemption is not available but an advantage one is, you should definitely check the Business Class availability before considering paying advantage rates. It’s only 2,000 miles more if Business savers are available in that case!

If you already hold or intend to book a firm ticket in an eligible Economy booking class, here’s how many miles it will then cost you to upgrade to Business Class, assuming saver upgrade award availability.