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Singapore Airlines brings A380s back to Frankfurt and New York from March

Singapore Airlines A380s with the latest Suites and Business Class cabins will make their debut to and from the USA next year, with daily Singapore - Frankfurt - New York flights from 27th March 2022.

Singapore Airlines is gradually revealing its confirmed flight schedules for the upcoming northern summer season from late March to late October 2022, and there’s one aircraft type most of us have our eyes on wherever it gets deployed – the Airbus A380.

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With a former fleet of 19 superjumbos, SIA has been forced to cut seven older aircraft from its fleet for a total of 12 set to return to service, five of which are now seeing regular action on the airline’s London and Sydney routes.

Frankfurt and New York are next

After a two-year gap for SIA’s A380s to and from the USA, the airline has confirmed to TPG that from the start of the summer schedule on 27th March 2022 the daily SQ26/25 service from Singapore to New York via Frankfurt will be operated by the carrier’s Airbus A380, in the latest fit with 2017 cabin products.

New York will be served by SIA’s Airbus A380s again for the first time in two years. (Photo: Jonathan Riley)

“After nearly two years of restrictions, we are seeing tremendous demand for international travel, and that includes premium cabins.”

“In addition to a new Business Class, we’re excited to bring our newest, most luxurious Suites cabin to U.S. travelers for the first time, offering a new standard in comfort aboard the world’s largest aircraft.”

Joey Seow, SIA Regional Vice President – Americas

This aircraft-intensive route will require around three A380s to operate on a daily basis, so we should see at least eight active superjumbos in the schedule for summer 2022.

This will also represent the first return of the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 on a “fifth freedom” route since the pandemic hit, with passengers travelling solely from Frankfurt to New York or vice-versa also able to book and travel on these flights.

The schedule

Here’s how the flight schedule looks for A380 services over this seven-month summer period to and from New York via Frankfurt.

The Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 will return to the USA for the first time in two years from late March 2022. (Photo: Mike Fuchslocher / Shutterstock)

Singapore Frankfurt New York
Flight Schedule
(27 Mar 2022 – 29 Oct 2022)

 bgcolor= SQ26
A380
Days
M T W T F S S
SIN
23:55
FRA
06:45*
FRA
08:35
JFK
11:10

* Next day

Good news is that the flights will operate as designated VTL services in the New York – Frankfurt – Singapore direction (SQ25) right through the summer, allowing quarantine-free travel in both directions including to Singapore itself.

New York Frankfurt Singapore
Flight Schedule
(28 Mar 2022 – 29 Oct 2022)

 bgcolor= SQ25
A380
Days
M T W T F S S
JFK
20:55
FRA
10:40*
FRA
12:30
SIN
06:50*

* Next day

SQ25 will operate as a designated VTL flight until 29th October 2022

These flights will operate alongside the daily non-stop Airbus A350 ULR service between Singapore and New York. It has not yet been confirmed whether this will operate to and from JFK (like it has since COVID-19) or Newark (like it did previously) come April next year.

Update: Singapore Airlines has extended SQ23/24 non-stop A350 ULR flights between Singapore and New York (JFK) airport for the summer season. There will be no service to and from Newark.

These will also operate as designated VTL flights, in addition to the A380 flights via Frankfurt, as shown below (click to expand):

New York – Singapore VTL Flights

27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022

  Days
M T W T F S S
 bgcolor= SQ25
A380^
JFK
20:55
SIN

06:50*
 bgcolor= SQ23
A350-900 ULR
JFK
22:30
SIN

05:20*

^ 777-300ER on 27th March
* Two days later

Note that the SQ25 service operates via Frankfurt, with a 1 hour 50 minute transit stop en-route to Singapore.

Important

From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.
All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.

New cabin products

All 12 of Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380s returning to passenger service 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
The latest 2017 cabin products will feature on the New York route for the first time. (Photo: Daniel Gillaspia)

That means 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).

The ‘Double Suite’ combining 1A and 2A on SIA’s Airbus A380. (Photo: MainlyMiles)

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.

Business Class double bed on the new A380. (Photo: MainlyMiles)

This is definitely a step up from the airline’s older A380s, in Business Class at least (we still have a soft spot for the ‘old Suites’ over the new ones).

Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class. (Photo: MainlyMiles)

In Flight Entertainment

Another benefit of SIA’s latest A380 aircraft is the Wi-Fi system, which is brought right up to date with the latest Inmarsat GX Aviation technology.

This includes a free allowance based on cabin class, with those in Suites enjoying unlimited complimentary access.

In an enhancement last year, all KrisFlyer members travelling in Premium Economy and Economy Class on these newer aircraft also benefit from a 30MB complimentary allowance.

Free Wi-Fi allowance
(Airbus A380s)
Class Not KF/PPS KrisFlyer PPS Club*
Suites Unlimited
Business 100MB
Premium & Economy None 30MB 100MB

* includes supplementary PPS Club cardholders

Check out our full guide to the Wi-Fi systems installed and applicable access charges across the Singapore Airlines fleet.

The Singapore Airlines A380s also boast the latest in flight entertainment systems, including the personalised myKrisWorld feature allowing you to bookmark and resume your viewing on different flights, and to customise and save personal preferences.

KrisFlyer redemptions

These are the KrisFlyer award rates for the Singapore – New York route, for those flying the full journey in one go via Frankfurt.

KFtrans

KrisFlyer Redemption
(one-way)
Singapore ⇄ New York
  Saver Advantage
Economy 40,000 75,000
Premium Economy 73,000 n/a
Business 99,000 140,000
First / Suites 132,000 237,000

For those based in Germany or the USA looking at redeeming the “fifth freedom” transatlantic portion of the SQ25/26 trip, the following award rates apply:

KFtrans

KrisFlyer Redemption
(one-way)
Frankfurt ⇄ New York
  Saver Advantage
Economy 22,500 40,000
Premium Economy 47,000 n/a
Business 72,000 85,000
First / Suites 86,000 140,000

Finally if you’re just using this service to fly between Singapore and Frankfurt, why not do it on the A380, with the following rates in force:

KFtrans

KrisFlyer Redemption
(one-way)
Singapore ⇄ Frankfurt
  Saver Advantage
Economy 38,000 70,000
Premium Economy 64,500 n/a
Business 92,000 120,000
First / Suites 125,000 220,000

Farewell old products

If you were a fan of the older Airbus A380 cabin products, unfortunately it has been confirmed all 12 aircraft in the future fleet will sport the latest fit like these New York and Frankfurt flights will enjoy.

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Here are our heartfelt farewells to products we’ll all miss, even if they were a little past their prime.

Farewell 2006 Business Class

READ THE ARTICLE

Farewell 2007 Suites

READ THE ARTICLE

Farewell 2006 Business Class

READ THE ARTICLE

Farewell 2007 Suites

READ THE ARTICLE

Lounges

Singapore Airlines passengers have access to the Lufthansa lounges in Frankfurt (Senator Lounge for First Class and Star Alliance Gold, Business Lounge for those in Business Class without status).

Here’s our recent review of the Lufthansa Senator Lounge near the B gates.

At New York JFK all Singapore Airlines lounge-worthy passengers are currently invited to use the excellent Virgin Clubhouse at Terminal 4, located after security in the ‘A’ concourse above boarding gates A4 / A5.

The Virgin Clubhouse at JFK T4. (Photo: Virgin Atlantic)

Previously this was only for First Class / Suites and PPS Club members, but since the temporary closure of alternative facilities, even Business Class passengers are welcomed here, at the time of writing.



 


 

Summary

It’s exciting news to hear about a return to the USA for Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380s, with the New York via Frankfurt route being upgauged even earlier than expected.

This will also mark the debut of the carrier’s sought-after ‘new A380’ cabin products on flights to and from the USA, not to mention providing a “fifth freedom” transatlantic option with the latest seats and a Vaccinated Travel Lane route back to Singapore for two-way quarantine-free trips.

SIA’s latest Airbus A380 Business Class. (Photo: Agent Wolf / Shutterstock)

If you already have a ticket on SQ25/26 from 27th March to 29th October 2022 – lucky you. If you log on to your booking you should now see the seat map reflecting this latest A380, including the new Business Class and Suites cabins.

(Cover Photo: Peter Russell)

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