Singapore Airlines resets Perth VTL launch back to 5 February

Last week Singapore Airlines announced that it was pushing back its Perth – Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights by almost a month, due to unspecified “regulatory requirements”, leaving its low-cost subsidiary Scoot to launch two-way quarantine-free travel to and from Western Australia.

Well whatever those regulatory issues were that applied to the airline’s VTL flights, but strangely not to those of the budget arm, appear to have been smoothed over.

Singapore Airlines has today revealed that it’s back to ‘plan A’ for these services, which will once again start on 5th February!

Resumption of Perth – Singapore VTL flights on 5 February 2022

Singapore Airlines will begin VTL flights from Perth to Singapore on 5 February 2022 instead of 1 March 2022, as per the latest guidance from the authorities. All VTL flights from Perth that were scheduled between 5 February 2022 and 28 February 2022, will retain their VTL flight status. Customers with existing bookings on these flights can continue with their travel plans.

Singapore Airlines apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Singapore Airlines

SIA schedule

Singapore Airlines has restored its plan to operate 17 weekly Perth – Singapore passenger flights as designated VTL services from 5th February, in line with the reopening of of Western Australia’s international border.

5th February 2022 – 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ216 787-10 VTL
PER 01:10		SIN 06:20
	SQ224 787-10 VTL
PER 06:40		SIN 11:55
	SQ214 787-10 VTL
PER 16:45		SIN 22:00

Singapore Airlines will increase VTL flights to three times daily (21 weekly) on the Perth – Singapore route from 27th March 2022 to late October 2022, the end of the confirmed schedule.

27th March 2022 – 29th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ216 787-10 VTL
PER 01:10		SIN 06:35
	SQ224 787-10 VTL
PER 06:25		SIN 11:45
	SQ214 A350 Regional VTL
PER 17:10		SIN 22:35

Despite a mixture of Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350 Regional aircraft being used on the Singapore – Perth – Singapore route by SIA, all of these aircraft feature the same direct aisle access 2018 Regional Business Class product.

Scoot schedule

Scoot will launch daily Perth – Singapore VTL flights on the same day as SIA, using Boeing 787-9 aircraft on an afternoon departure, with later 9.30pm timing on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

5th February 2022 – 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	TR9 787-9 VTL
PER 17:15		SIN 22:20
	TR17 787-9 VTL
PER 21:30		SIN 02:35*

* Next day

These aircraft are fitted with an Economy and ScootPlus cabin.

Scoot increases to 10 times weekly VTL operation on the route during the northern summer season from late March to late October. All flights will operate as designated VTL services.

27th March 2022 – 29th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	TR9 787-9 VTL
PER 18:00		SIN 23:30
	TR17 787-9 VTL
PER 21:50		SIN 03:10*

* Next day

KrisFlyer Elite and PPS Club members will now earn 1.25 miles for every S$1 spent on Scoot fares, with all KrisFlyer members picking up 2.5 Elite miles per S$1 spent on top of the KrisFlyer miles themselves when flying with the low-cost carrier, as part of recently announced scheme enhancements.

Other VTL flights

Singapore Airlines recently started VTL flights from Adelaide and Brisbane to Singapore, with South Australia already open to international arrivals quarantine-free and Queensland expected to follow this week.

The airline also operates VTL flights from Sydney and Melbourne, alongside Qantas, while Jetstar operates VTL flights to Changi from Melbourne and Darwin.

For a full list of all VTL flights to Singapore by route, see our dedicated and updated reference page.

  Full list of all VTL Flights

Singapore – Perth flights are also quarantine-free

Those travelling from Singapore to Perth from 5th February 2022 will be eligible for quarantine-free entry to Western Australia, via so-called ‘FEPO flights’ on Singapore Airlines, or non-stop flights on Scoot (or Jetstar from 12th February), provided entry requirements are met.

Requirements when flying to Perth

Fully vaccinated travellers flying from overseas (including Singapore) to Western Australia from 5th February 2022 must have:

• A negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of their flight departure time, unless they are under five years of age.
• An on-arrival PCR test within 48 hours of touching down in Perth. Those younger than five years of age are again exempted.
• An additional PCR test on Day 6, if still in Western Australia.

The testing regime may be amended based on the state’s ongoing review process.

These are interim testing arrangements and are based on the current health advice. They will be subject to ongoing review, including one after four weeks from the transition date.

Government of Western Australia

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers will still need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Western Australia, however children under the age of 12 are exempt from this requirement.

Here’s our latest rundown of the cheapest locations to get a pre-departure PCR test suitable for travel in Singapore, starting at S$98.

There are even competitive options for those preferring to be tested at home, now starting at S$128.

For those phobic of the nasal swab process, there are also saliva-based PCR tests available from S$115, valid for travel to Australia.

VTL process Perth – Singapore

Those flying on designated VTL flights from Perth to Singapore will follow the standard VTL pre-departure and arrival process.

VTL Process
Australia Singapore

• Must be fully vaccinated in Singapore or any VTL country
• Must have stayed in Australia, Singapore or any VTL country for 14 days
• Apply for a VTP in advance*
• Purchase COVID-19 travel insurance (min. coverage of S$30,000)**
• Take a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR or RAT/ART test (up to 2 days before departure)
• Travel to Singapore on designated ‘VTL flights’
• Take an on-arrival COVID-19 PCR test
• Self-isolate until the result is available (typically 4-6 hours)
• Take Day 2, 4, 5 & 6 self-swab post-arrival ART tests
• Take Day 3 and Day 7 supervised ART tests at QTCs/CTCs

* Not applicable for Singapore Citizens or permanent residents
** Not applicable for Singapore Citizens, permanent residents or pass holders

Redemption rates

These are the one-way KrisFlyer miles redemption rates for flights between Singapore and Perth on SIA.

KrisFlyer Redemption Rates Perth to/from Singapore
	Saver (one way)	Advantage (one way)
Economy	20,000	37,000
Business	36,500	65,000

The 36,500 miles rate for a saver award in Business Class is quite competitive for a 5-hour flight with a flat-bed product (you’ll fork out more than that to fly the shorter route to or from the Maldives in a 737-800 with recliner Business Class seats!).

Whatever the regulatory reasons behind SIA’s original decision to postpone its Perth – Singapore VTL flights was, it’s welcome to see the issue resolved and so it’s back to ‘plan A’ for those looking forward to booking or redeeming flights with the airline right from the opening of two-way quarantine-free travel.

We’ve already heard from a few readers who were moved across to Scoot VTL flights over the weekend, so the call centre will no doubt be busy again as they now try to move their booking back to the full-service carrier!

If you postponed to a later date, you should also be able to return to your original plans by contacting the airline.

Meanwhile we are still awaiting confirmation of Qantas and Jetstar designated VTL flights on this popular route from Western Australia to Singapore.

(Cover Photo: motive56 / Shutterstock)