Singapore Airlines has revealed the next four confirmed routes for its newly inherited Boeing 737-800 fleet, as nine such aircraft progressively move across from regional subsidiary SilkAir into the mainline operation over the coming months.
This new era for the carrier will allow it to gain the flexibility of operating more cost efficient narrow-body jets for the first time in over 30 years, after its small fleet of Boeing 757s was sold to American Trans Air in 1989/90.
In the process the SilkAir brand itself will disappear, as the airline is fully merged into SIA before the end of the 2021/22 financial year.
Where’s next?
Following the initial announcement that these aircraft would serve Phuket from 4th March 2021 and Brunei from 15th March 2021, SIA has now revealed that four additional ex-SilkAir routes will be operated by the Boeing 737-800 in the coming months:
- Phnom Penh (from 17th March 2021)
- Colombo (from 1st May 2021)
- Yangon (from 1st May 2021)
- Mandalay (from 2nd November 2021)
Update 24th February 2021 – Singapore Airlines has added two more routes to the Boeing 737-800’s network from March 2021:
- Chongqing (from 8th March 2021)
- Malé (from 30th March 2021)

Schedules
Phnom Penh is currently being served daily by SilkAir using the same aircraft type. This will be a simple switch across to Singapore Airlines from 17th March 2021, as SQ158/157, retaining daily operation.
Show Singapore - Phnom Penh Schedule
Phnom Penh
From 17th March 2021
Days | |||||||||
M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
![]() |
SQ158 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 16:30 |
PNH 17:35 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ157 737-800 |
||||||||
PNH 18:35 |
SIN 21:35 |
The group’s Colombo route is currently a three times weekly Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 Regional operation. The firm schedule from 1st May 2021 has not yet been finalised, but it currently shows that three times weekly Airbus A350 Regional overnight operation will continue as SQ468/469, supplemented by four times weekly daytime service with these Boeing 737-800s as SQ464/465.
Show Singapore - Colombo Schedule
Colombo
From 1st May 2021
(provisional)
Days | |||||||||
M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
![]() |
SQ464 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 10:15 |
CMB 11:35 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ468 A350 Regional |
||||||||
SIN 22:20 |
CMB 23:35 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ469 A350 Regional |
||||||||
CMB 00:50 |
SIN 07:20 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ465 737-800 |
||||||||
CMB 12:35 |
SIN 19:30 |
Yangon is also planned from 1st May 2021, provisionally listed as a three times weekly afternoon Boeing 737-800 operation (SQ764/763) on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, though given the current political situation in Myanmar it’s probably not a definite addition to the passenger network at this stage.
Show Singapore - Yangon Schedule
Yangon
From 1st May 2021
(provisional)
Days | |||||||||
M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
![]() |
SQ764 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 15:15 |
RGN 16:40 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ763 737-800 |
||||||||
RGN 17:35 |
SIN 22:10 |
Finally Mandalay is added from the start of the northern winter season in November 2021, three times per week as SQ770/769. This seasonal service will operate until 29th January 2022, in common with its most recent SilkAir operation in the northern winter 2019/20 schedule.
Show Singapore - Mandalay Schedule
Mandalay
2nd November 2021 - 29th January 2022
Days | |||||||||
M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
![]() |
SQ770 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 13:45 |
MDL 15:45 |
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![]() |
SQ769 737-800 |
||||||||
MDL 16:35 |
SIN 21:45 |
Update: Chongqing and Malé flights will operate with the following schedules:
Show Singapore - Chongqing Schedule
Chongqing
From 8th March 2021
Days | |||||||||
M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
![]() |
SQ814 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 07:00 |
CKG 11:35 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ815 737-800 |
||||||||
CKG 12:35 |
SIN 17:25 |
Show Singapore - Malé Schedule
Malé
From 30th March 2021
Days | |||||||||
M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
![]() |
SQ432 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 10:05 |
MLE 11:55 |
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![]() |
SQ438 737-800 |
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SIN 20:45 |
MLE 22:10 |
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![]() |
SQ431 737-800 |
||||||||
MLE 12:55 |
SIN 20:40 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ437 737-800 |
||||||||
MLE 23:25 |
SIN 07:05* |
* Next day
Phuket and Brunei flights continue with their existing frequencies using Boeing 737-800 aircraft until further notice, as outlined below.
Show Singapore - Phuket Schedule
Phuket
From 4th March 2021
Days | |||||||||
M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
![]() |
SQ726 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 08:40 |
HKT 09:30 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ736 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 16:20 |
HKT 17:15 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ725 737-800 |
||||||||
HKT 10:15 |
SIN 13:15 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ735 737-800 |
||||||||
HKT 18:00 |
SIN 21:00 |
Show Singapore - Brunei Schedule
Brunei
From 15th March 2021
Days | |||||||||
M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
![]() |
SQ148 737-800 |
||||||||
SIN 09:05 |
BWN 11:15 |
||||||||
![]() |
SQ147 737-800 |
||||||||
BWN 12:05 |
SIN 14:15 |
Future routes
As Singapore Airlines inducts all nine Boeing 737-800s into its fleet, we can expect current SilkAir routes not already moving to mainline operation to then do so. These currently comprise:
- Cebu
- Kathmandu
- Kuala Lumpur
- Medan
So far Singapore Airlines has not announced any cities for its Boeing 737-800s that have not previously been SilkAir routes, however the carrier suggested in January this year that we could also expect pure-SIA routes to join the fold in due course.
More SilkAir routes will be progressively transferred to SIA as nine 737-800 NGs join [the fleet].
SIA will also operate the aircraft to points within its current network…
Singapore Airlines, Q3 Business Update
With a range of around 6 hours, that includes options across much of the airline’s current Asia-Pacific network, potentially as far afield as Perth and Shanghai.
Deploying these narrow-body aircraft on cargo-light routes while passenger demand remains low, as opposed to using Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s for example, will help the airline better manage costs potentially for years to come as demand gradually returns post-COVID.
Which aircraft?
The nine Boeing 737-800 aircraft we are expecting to move across from SilkAir to Singapore Airlines are identified below, with seven of these already repainted in SIA colours.
SilkAir Boeing 737-800 aircraft moving to SIA
Registration | Age (years) |
Current Livery |
Fate |
9V-MGA | 7.1 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGB | 7.0 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGC | 6.9 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGD | 6.8 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGE | 6.6 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGF | 6.5 | ![]() |
For disposal |
9V-MGG | 6.4 | ![]() |
For disposal |
9V-MGH | 6.4 | ![]() |
For disposal |
9V-MGI | 6.1 | ![]() |
For disposal |
9V-MGJ | 5.9 | ![]() |
For disposal |
9V-MGK | 5.8 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGL | 5.6 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGM | 5.5 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGN | 5.5 | ![]() |
Transfer to SIA |
9V-MGO | 4.9 | ![]() |
For disposal |
9V-MGP | 4.8 | ![]() |
For disposal |
9V-MGQ | 4.4 | ![]() |
For disposal |
The new fleet will therefore comprise five of SilkAir’s oldest 737-800s, with an average age of 6.9 years, plus a newer batch of four younger jets averaging 5.6 years old.
It’s not known what will happen to the remaining eight SilkAir aircraft not being transferred to SIA, however these are likely to be returned to lessors and/or sold as appropriate.

Don’t miss our full rundown of what to expect on board these narrow-body aircraft, from food and drink to windowless seats, entertainment options and cabin crew uniforms, as they start to enter service with SIA from March 2021.
Summary
Once all nine Boeing 737-800s have moved across from SilkAir to Singapore Airlines, there should easily be a dozen or more routes operated by the single-aisle fleet, so this initial tranche of announcements is only part way there.

Another aircraft type we’ll be watching closely is the Boeing 737 MAX 8, also due to move from SilkAir to Singapore Airlines and boasting flat-bed Business Class seats, seat back entertainment systems and Wi-Fi connectivity.
By the time leisure travel returns in earnest, flying on a smaller Singapore Airlines aircraft than usual is something many of us will have to adapt to on a variety of routes.
(Cover Photo: Singapore Airlines)
I hope that the remaining eight aircrafts will be transferred to SIA. I hope that the remaining eight aircrafts will not be returned to their lessors and / or sold as appropriate. I hope that SIA will have all 17 of Ex SilkAir B737-800s in it’s fleet. I hope that SIA will have more aircrafts in their fleet.
I want SIA to have all 17 Ex SilkAir B737-800s in their fleet.
Or is there a possibility that the remaining eight aircrafts will be transferred to Scoot or to some other airline/
7 of the 8 aircraft have already been put up for sale. The reming one will likely to returned to its lessor.
SIA is eventually phasing out all 737-800s anyway and replacing them with 737 MAX 8 aircraft.