Last month Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport gained regulatory approval to accept transit passengers on connecting itineraries, from an initially limited list of origin cities, which was then expanded to a much more useful 19 points by late June.
Today there’s a further extension to the list, with three more European cities now marked as eligible starting points for a total of 22 across the three SIA Group airlines.
All European cities are now approved
Effective from Wednesday 15th July 2020, passengers flying on Singapore Airlines originating in the following cities are now also eligible to transit through Changi:
- Barcelona
- Paris
- Zurich
This coincides with the re-launch of Paris services by the airline from the same date, initially twice weekly ramping up to three times per week in August 2020.
Singapore Airlines is currently flying to seven of its usual 14 destinations in Europe, so these new additions mean all of the carrier’s current European network is now classified as an eligible transit origin area.
“With effect from Wednesday 15 July 2020, Singapore Airlines and SilkAir customers can transit through Singapore Changi Airport from additional points in Europe to any destination in the SIA Group network currently operated by SIA, SilkAir or Scoot.”
Singapore Airlines
That means itineraries starting in the following 22 cities are now eligible to book and transit through Changi on an SIA group booking, starting tomorrow, and subject to the immigration requirements of their final destination:
| Valid Origin Points: SIA Group (for transit through Changi) |
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| City | Airline | |||
| Australia | Adelaide |  |
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| Brisbane | |
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| Melbourne | |
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| Perth |  |
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| Sydney | |
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| China | Chongqing |  |
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| Guangzhou | |
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| Hong Kong | |
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| Shanghai | |
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| Taipei | |
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| Denmark | Copenhagen | |
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| France | Paris | |
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| Germany | Frankfurt | |
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| Japan | Osaka | |
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| Tokyo | |
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| Netherlands | Amsterdam | |
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| New Zealand | Auckland | |
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| Christchurch | |
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| South Korea | Seoul | |
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| Spain | Barcelona | |
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| Switzerland | Zurich | |
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| UK | London | |
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Note that Singapore Airlines has temporarily suspended passenger flights from Singapore to Melbourne until 8th August 2020 due to government restrictions. Melbourne to Singapore flights continue as planned.
You can keep up to date with the transit flight approval points at the Singapore Airlines website here, with the carrier also outlining the latest details of the transit process itself here.
Where can you then fly?
Assuming you’re eligible to book a transit itinerary through Singapore from one of the above origin points, we’ve got a full breakdown of where you can and can’t currently fly with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot.
SIA didn’t add any new routes to its August 2020 schedule, with the restored Paris connection kicking in in mid-July, but flight frequencies were increased to and from several cities including London becoming a daily service. This will no doubt help the airline to capitalise on these transit passenger approvals.
Check out our latest analysis of passenger routes being operated in July and August 2020 at the following pages:
- Singapore Airlines and SilkAir
- Scoot (July only)
Exceptions are that you can only fly from the following cities (no inbound transit passengers are permitted):
- Chongqing
- Guangzhou
- Shanghai
“Please note that transfers to destinations in Mainland China are currently not available.”
Singapore Airlines
Return routings
These new additions continue to open up the opportunity for return routings, which weren’t logical when transits were first approved with only Australia and New Zealand as permitted origin points.
“Eligible customers may book a return flight only if both the point of origin and the final destination are in the list of cities approved for transit through Singapore.”
Singapore Airlines
For example it’s now possible for an Australian citizen living in Barcelona to book a trip to Sydney to see family and then return back to the UK with a transit through Changi in both directions, though of course they will still be subject to the appropriate quarantine / entry requirements on arrival in each case.
As before, all sectors must be booked with SIA Group airlines and require passengers to be checked through from their point of origin to their final destination.
If either your origin or destination city is not on the list of approved transit points, a return routing is not possible.
For example Auckland to Los Angeles via Singapore is fine, but you cannot then return on such a routing as Los Angeles is not on the list of approved origin cities.
The transit experience
‘Not as you once knew it’ is the best summary here. If you’re on a connecting flight itinerary through Changi at the moment you’ll have to follow a relatively strict and secluded experience.
Essentially it involves:
- Being provided with a wristband to identify you as a transit passenger.
- Being escorted to a specific transit holding area, with no opportunity to visit any shops, restaurants or lounges.
- Being escorted back to your departure gate around 75 minutes before the departure of your onward flight.
Passengers must remain within the transit holding area for the duration of their connection, though they can order food and drinks to be delivered through an app, and those with PPS Club status or flying in First or Business Class have their own dedicated area with complimentary food and drinks.
See our article for a full rundown on the new transit experience.
