Singapore Airlines will add three cities to its passenger network over the coming weeks, with confirmation that San Francisco, Shenzhen, and Nagoya are joining (or rejoining) the list, which will soon cover 37 cities worldwide out of a planned return to 62 after COVID-19.
At the same time, flight frequencies to Melbourne will be halved and the carrier with withdraw from both Surabaya and Taipei, while hiking frequencies on other routes including Los Angeles, Perth, Sydney and Jakarta.
In addition to the services that were announced earlier this month, SIA will reinstate flights to Nagoya and San Francisco between December 2020 and January 2021.
Singapore Airlines
Overall flight frequencies remain limited, however the group will now increase capacity to around 19% of pre-COVID levels by January 2021, rather than the 16% previously forecast.
Some frequency adjustments, including to Surabaya and Taipei, are flagged to be addressed by flights yet to be announced by low-cost division Scoot.
Shenzhen
Singapore Airlines hasn’t flown to Shenzhen, China since since it was pulled from the carrier’s network during the SARS outbreak in 2003/04, however SilkAir operated the route between October 2005 and mid-February 2020.
These weekly (Sunday) services have already started, with the first service operating at the weekend.
From 15th November 2020
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ846 A359 R |
||||||||
| SIN 07:25 |
SZX 11:20 |
||||||||
|
SQ847 A359 R |
||||||||
| SZX 14:20 |
SIN 18:05 |
||||||||
Presumably the route’s reinstatement by SIA instead of SilkAir takes advantage of the superior underfloor cargo capacity on the airline’s Airbus A350s.
San Francisco
Next month, Singapore Airlines will add a third city in the USA to its passenger network, with three times weekly flights to and from San Francisco, reconnecting the California city for the first time since March 2020.
Two-class Airbus A350 ULRs will serve the route, the first time these aircraft have been in service since March 2020.
That means only a Business Class and Premium Economy section will be available for sale, with Economy seats on US routes restricted to New York-JFK and Los Angeles services, which continue to use 3-class A350s.
From 15th December 2020
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ34 A359 ULR |
||||||||
| SIN 18:40 |
SFO 17:20 |
||||||||
|
SQ33 A359 ULR |
||||||||
| SFO 20:50 |
SIN 06:25(+2) |
||||||||
As with the airline’s other long-haul services, the aircraft and crew will rest together in San Francisco for around 51 hours before returning to Singapore.
Nagoya
Singapore Airlines will return to Nagoya with a three times weekly Boeing 787-10 service from early 2021.
From 2nd January 2021
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ672 787-10 |
||||||||
| SIN 01:20 |
NGO 08:30 |
||||||||
|
SQ671 787-10 |
||||||||
| NGO 10:20 |
SIN 16:15 |
||||||||
Regular passenger service to and from the Japanese city ceased in March 2020, however the airline did return with a series of cargo-only flights in September 2020.
Lounges
In Singapore only the SilverKris Business Class lounge in Terminal 3 is operating, though the facility is also welcoming KrisFlyer Gold and Star Alliance Gold members during this period.
In San Francisco the United Club near gate F11 and the excellent United Polaris Lounge (see our review), unfortunately both remain closed at the time of writing. The Air France – KLM lounge is operating and accepts Priority Pass guests, but we doubt Singapore Airlines will grant complimentary access.
In Shenzhen eligible Singapore Airlines passengers are directed to the International Business Class VIP Lounge in Terminal 3, on Level 3 near Gate 9. This lounge is operating normally, with the exception of the shower facilities which are not currently available.
In Nagoya it’s the Star Alliance lounge usually welcoming eligible SIA passengers, however this lounge is temporarily closed with no other alternatives operating at the time of writing.
Route maps
Here are the latest route maps for Singapore Airlines passenger services over the next three months.