In what will be music to the ears of those booked to fly on one of Singapore Airlines’ flights to or from the Maldives in the coming months, the carrier has confirmed it is upgrading all these services from ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-800s to the new Boeing 737-8 MAX from mid-March.
That means no more recliner seat to worry about in Business Class, with a new flat-bed option on offer, while those in Economy can enjoy seat-back in-flight entertainment and everyone on board can stay connected through the Wi-Fi system.
The schedule
Singapore Airlines currently serves the Maldives with 10 weekly flights in each direction, all of which are operated by the Boeing 737-800.
From 22nd March 2022 the Boeing 737-8 MAX takes over on these 10 weekly flights, lifting to double daily operation later the same week, from 27th March 2022.
When it starts, this will be SIA’s longest Boeing 737-8 MAX route launched since the type entered service to and from Phuket on 23rd November last year.
Here’s the full schedule, once the route is served twice per day.
Singapore Male
Flight Schedule
(27 Mar – 29 Oct 2022)
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ432 737-8 MAX |
||||||||
| SIN 10:05 |
MLE 11:55 |
||||||||
|
SQ438 737-8 MAX |
||||||||
| SIN 20:45 |
MLE 22:10 |
||||||||
Male Singapore
Flight Schedule
(27 Mar – 29 Oct 2022)
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ431 737-8 MAX |
||||||||
| MLE 12:55 |
SIN 20:40 |
||||||||
|
SQ437 737-8 MAX |
||||||||
| MLE 23:25 |
SIN 07:05* |
||||||||
* Next day
The seat map in Business Class, which doesn’t load all that well (on my laptop at least), also confirms you’re on a MAX, with the unusual 2-2, 1-1, 2-2 cabin layout.
Boeing 737-8 MAX
The big advantage of the MAX being used on all SIA Male flights is the latest cabin products, which are a big improvement on those found on the refurbished ex-SilkAir Boeing 737-800s.
That also applies in Economy Class, where the rather basic seat on the 737-800 with no in-built IFE system is replaced with a long-haul-standard Collins Aerospace seat.
Here are our dedicated articles covering both of the new cabins, to help you know what to expect on board when flying to and from the Maldives from mid-March onwards.
With flights to and from the Maldives taking almost five hours, including some overnight services, Business Class passengers could well make use of the flat-bed function in the new Thompson Vantage seats.
Even on daytime flights, those heading to the Maldives who have made long connecting journeys from locations like the USA and Europe will no doubt also appreciate the bed mode!
If you’re booked in Business Class, try to score seat 12B or 12J for a solo experience.