Just this week Singapore Airlines confirmed that it was bringing its Airbus A380s back on Singapore – Frankfurt – New York flights from late March 2022, and now there are two more additions to the superjumbo’s route network kicking off even sooner than that.
Singapore Airlines has now announced that from 10th January 2022, the carrier’s recently reinstated flights to and from Mumbai will see Airbus A380 service, as will Delhi flights from 14th February 2022.
Not only will these feature the airline’s latest Suites and Business Class cabin products, they will also operate as Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) services in the India to Singapore direction right through to late October 2022, allowing two-way quarantine-free travel on one of the airline’s key pre-pandemic markets.
There are also scores of Saver Suites awards loaded for 53,000 miles one-way, a great way to experience this exclusive cabin on a 5.5-hour flight.
Mumbai schedule
Here’s how the flight schedule looks for A380 services to and from Mumbai, starting on 10th January 2022 and replacing the current Airbus A350 Regional flights.
SQ423 from Mumbai to Singapore will also continue to operate as a designated VTL service, as it does now (highlighted in green below).
10th January 2022 – 26th March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ424 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 18:45 |
BOM 22:10 |
||||||||
|
SQ423 A380 VTL |
||||||||
| BOM 23:35 |
SIN 07:30* |
||||||||
* Next day
A380 service continues until the end of the summer 2022 season on 29th October 2022, with Singapore Airlines confirming that SQ423 will continue to operate as a designated VTL service, though both outbound and inbound flights will have slightly adjusted timings, as shown below.
27th March 2022 – 29th October 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ424 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 19:00 |
BOM 22:10 |
||||||||
|
SQ423 A380 VTL |
||||||||
| BOM 23:40 |
SIN 07:40* |
||||||||
* Next day
Delhi schedule
On the Singapore – Delhi – Singapore route, Airbus A380s will replace the existing Boeing 787-10 service, though this will happen a little later than it does for Mumbai, with the airline’s ‘whale jets’ making their debut on this city pair from mid-February 2022.
14th February 2022 – 26th March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ406 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 16:25 |
DEL 19:55 |
||||||||
|
SQ403 A380 VTL |
||||||||
| DEL 21:50 |
SIN 06:10* |
||||||||
* Next day
A380 operation on this route is briefly suspended for a month from 27th March 2022 to 30th April 2022, probably to support reintroduction of the type on New York via Frankfurt flights. During that period the SQ406/403 service will be operated by the Boeing 777-300ER, including the 2013 First Class cabin (see our recent review).
However, from 1st May 2022 the A380 is back again on these Delhi flights, through to late October 2022, still including designated VTL services for all Singapore-bound sectors.
1st May 2022 – 29th October 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ406 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 16:50 |
DEL 20:10 |
||||||||
|
SQ403 A380 VTL |
||||||||
| DEL 21:55 |
SIN 06:10* |
||||||||
* Next day
KrisFlyer rates
These are the one-way KrisFlyer award rates for all Singapore Airlines flights between Singapore and India.
| KrisFlyer Redemption (one-way) Singapore ⇄ India |
||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Economy | 18,500 | 37,000 |
| Premium Economy | 32,000 | n/a |
| Business | 39,000 | 65,000 |
| First / Suites | 53,000 | 98,000 |
Saver Suites awards
All of Singapore Airlines’ 12 Airbus A380s returning to service are fitted with the carrier’s latest 471-seat cabin configuration:
- 6 Suites
- 78 Business Class
- 44 Premium Economy Class
- 343 Economy Class
The great news about the deployment of these aircraft on Delhi and Mumbai routes is that SIA is loading generous redemption space, including one or even two Suites per flight on many dates at the lowest 53,000 miles Saver award rate.
Suites awards availability to and from Delhi kicks off along with the A380 upgrade itself from 10th February 2022.
The Mumbai route, meanwhile, starts to see Saver Suites awards from 26th March 2022.
That means two of you can secure the coveted ‘double bed’ Suite at 1A / 2A or 1F / 2F for 106,000 miles plus around S$76 for this 5.5-hour flight, including on designated VTL services.
There’s even time on a flight of this length to experience the double bed setup.
See our review of this configuration on a Singapore – Hong Kong flight from 2018.
Even if you’re travelling solo, the 53,000 miles Saver award rate for a single Suite is a great experience and the cheapest way to do so with miles.
Business Class
Even if Suites aren’t available on these A380 flights for your preferred dates, with 78 Business Class seats on the Singapore Airlines superjumbo there’s no shortage of Saver awards in this excellent cabin too.
It’s definitely a step up from the airline’s older A380s, and includes a ‘double bed’ option at the middle seat pairs when you select a bulkhead row.
It’s amazing to think 39,000 miles will score you this 2017 Business Class seat on a Singapore – Mumbai flight, or for the same rate a recliner Business Class seat with almost no privacy on the Boeing 737-800 from Singapore to Hyderabad!
The reintroduction of the A380 to and from India will also add a Premium Economy Class option on the Mumbai and Delhi routes, though the one-way award rate (32,000 miles) is priced far too close to Business Class to represent good value in our opinion.
Quarantine-free travel
Fully vaccinated travellers heading from Singapore to India can already arrive quarantine-free, since seven-day self-isolation restrictions were recently relaxed.
Here’s the latest process when travelling from Singapore to India:
- PCR test within 72 hours of flight departure time for those 5 years or older (find the cheapest here)
- Complete Self-Declaration Form (SDF)
- Random 2% of travellers (aged 5+) will undergo a PCR test on arrival
- No quarantine, unless randomly selected and tested positive on arrival
- Monitor health for 14 days
Those travelling from India to Singapore on VTL flights, which includes all these Airbus A380 services, will follow the latest process and requirements for the quarantine-free arrangement when arriving in Singapore from India, as outlined below.
India – Singapore
Vaccinated Travel Lane
Key Features
- Must have stayed in a VTL country/region and/or Singapore for 14 days
- Travel to Singapore on designated ‘VTL flights’
- No restrictions on travel purpose or itineraries
- Must be fully vaccinated in Singapore or any VTL country, with an accepted digital proof of vaccination
- Unvaccinated children aged 12 or under can accompany their parents
- Visitors and Singapore pass holders must apply for a VTP 3-60 days in advance
- Undergo on-arrival COVID-19 PCR test at Changi Airport and isolate until the results are available (4-6 hours)
- Complete daily post-arrival ART testing in Singapore
Lounges
Singapore Airlines permanently shuttered its only SilverKris lounge in India back towards the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its Delhi facility now axed from the network.
In Delhi SIA now invites its Suites, First and Business Class passengers, along with PPS Club, KrisFlyer Gold and Star Alliance Gold members to the Plaza Premium Lounge at Level 4 departures.
In Mumbai, it’s the Adani Lounge for Singapore Airlines Suites, First and Business Class passengers, plus PPS Club travellers.
For KrisFlyer Gold and Star Alliance Gold passengers travelling in Economy or Premium Economy Class, it’s the Loyalty Lounge on offer.
At Changi Singapore Airlines is currently operating its future SilverKris Business Class lounge as a temporary facility for all passengers, but from February 2022 the full renovation project should be completed with a brand new The Private Room and First Class lounge to look forward to.
Those redeeming in Suites Class on the A380 from Singapore to India will therefore likely be among the first to experience these new top-tier facilities at Changi.
Summary
Singapore Airlines isn’t messing around with its re introduction of the Airbus A380s, adding Mumbai, Delhi, Frankfurt and New York to the roster in early 2022.
These will join regular daily London and Sydney flights for a six-strong network out of Changi, occupying a significant chunk of the carrier’s future A380 capacity with only 12 of their 19 aircraft rejoining the fleet post-pandemic.
Saver Suites awards are widely available on the Delhi and Mumbai routes, which will be the cheapest way to redeem this sought-after cabin once these cities switch over to the ‘whale jet’ early next year.
With two-way quarantine-free travel between Singapore and India recently re-established, this could be a great time to plan a trip including this luxury product at the start or end of your journey (or both!). There should even be a brand new ‘The Private Room’ experience for those departing Singapore from February 2022 onwards.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)