Just a week after confirming that the London route would mark the return of its Airbus A380s into passenger service for the first time since COVID-19, Singapore Airlines has announced that Sydney will be the second city on the network to have regular superjumbo service restored.
Daily flights will commence on 1st December 2021.
This news coincides with recent border relaxations in Australia, with fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents free to travel in and out of the country via Sydney from 1st November 2021.
“With the NSW and Australian border opening up from 1 November, the A380 will support even more Australians hoping to reconnect with loved ones ahead of the Christmas period.”
Louis Arul, Regional Vice President, Singapore Airlines
A two-way Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) or similar arrangement between Singapore and Australia is also expected to be announced as early as next week, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggesting this will initially include students and business travellers, followed by overseas visitors “before the end of the year”.
In combination with pent-up demand from Aussies travelling overseas and returning home, not to mention the upcoming festive period, SIA clearly feels confident that the time is right to bring the A380 back on the Sydney route.
The schedule
From 1st December 2021 the Singapore Airlines A380 will return to the Sydney route on seven of the 17 weekly flights to and from Changi, as shown in the following schedule.
Singapore Sydney
1st December 2021
to 26th March 2022
Airbus A380s operate on highlighted flights
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ231 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 00:45 |
SYD 11:50 |
||||||||
|
SQ241 787-10 |
||||||||
| SIN 07:05 |
SYD 17:55 |
||||||||
|
SQ211 777-300ER |
||||||||
| SIN 10:30 |
SYD 21:20 |
||||||||
Sydney Singapore
1st December 2021
to 26th March 2022
Airbus A380s operate on highlighted flights
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ212 777-300ER |
||||||||
| SYD 09:05 |
SIN 14:15 |
||||||||
|
SQ222 A380 |
||||||||
| SYD 16:10 |
SIN 21:20 |
||||||||
|
SQ242 787-10 |
||||||||
| SYD 19:10 |
SIN 00:20* |
||||||||
* Next day
This service will replace a three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the SQ231/222 flight combination on a daily basis, meaning those lucky enough to already be booked in First Class will enjoy a fantastic ‘upgrade’ to the 2017 Suites cabin in either (or both) directions.
Singapore Airlines will be only the second airline to reinstate Airbus A380 service in Australia since COVID-19, after China Southern Airlines. Qantas now plans to bring its first superjumbos back on the Sydney – Los Angeles route from April 2022.
New cabin products
All 12 of Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380s returning to passenger service will feature the airline’s latest 2017 cabin products, as we exclusively revealed in November 2020, in a 471-seat configuration:
- 6 Suites
- 78 Business Class
- 44 Premium Economy Class
- 343 Economy Class
That means Sydney passengers have the 2017 Suites to look forward to (see our review), not to mention the excellent 2017 Business Class – our personal favourite in the carrier’s lineup (see our review).
There’s even the option at the middle seat pairs in Business Class to retract the divider for couples travelling together, who also benefit from a ‘double bed’ at the three bulkhead positions – Rows 11, 91 and 96.
The new and refitted A380s also benefit from the latest in-flight entertainment system and Wi-Fi connectivity.
KrisFlyer awards
These are the KrisFlyer award rates for the Singapore – Sydney route.