European airlines boost VTL flights to Singapore from April

If you’re looking to make a quarantine-free trip to Europe this summer, a range of additional Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights back to Singapore at the end of your vacation have now been added to the list of designated services, offering the widest range of options to date.

These include extended schedules through to the end of October 2022 from KLM and Turkish Airlines, and frequency increases from Air France, Finnair, Lufthansa and Swiss.

Lufthansa is even adding daily Munich – Singapore flights, for the first time since the pandemic.

Here’s the latest rundown of VTL flights running in addition to Singapore Airlines services from Europe this summer, allowing you to travel smarter with alternative routes, cabin products, fares, timings and redemption options.

Key

Flights from Singapore to Europe do not require VTL status for quarantine-free travel. You can travel on any non-stop flight without quarantine on your way to Europe (e.g. Singapore – Paris).

It’s only on the way to Singapore your flight must have VTL status for you to use the scheme. Be aware, however, that some flights in this direction are non-VTL services .

We have used the following key in the schedule tables to help you differentiate between these:

= Flights without special status
= Non-VTL flights (to SIN)
= VTL flights (to SIN)

Air France (Paris)

Air France is currently operating three weekly flights between Singapore and Paris, all of which are designated VTL services on the way to Changi (AF256).

Now – 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	AF257 787-9
SIN 23:05		CDG 06:05*
	AF256 787-9
CDG 21:00		SIN 16:35*

* Next day
= VTL

Once the summer season kicks off, the three times weekly schedule continues until 29th May, but operates on different days.

27th March – 29th May 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	AF257 787-9
SIN 22:35		CDG 06:05*
	AF256 787-9
CDG 20:50		SIN 15:45*

* Next day
= VTL

Until 29th May 2022, all flights are operated by Air France’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

These are fitted with the popular Zodiac Cirrus seats in Business Class, also used by Cathay Pacific and offering direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration.

The route upgrades to daily VTL operation from 30th May 2022.

30th May – 29th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	AF257 A350-900
SIN 22:35		CDG 06:05*
	AF256 A350-900
CDG 20:50		SIN 15:45*

* Next day
= VTL

This includes a switch to the airline’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft with Safran Optima seats in Business Class, the same seat type used in United’s new Polaris Business Class.

These feature more sociable options for couples at the middle seat pairs in alternate rows.

You can find the latest official Air France VTL flight schedule page here.

Here’s a summary of all VTL flights from Paris to Singapore, including those operated by Singapore Airlines (click to expand):

Finnair (Helsinki)

Finnair is increasing its four times weekly flights from Helsinki to Singapore to daily operation this summer, effective from 1st April 2022, with all flights to Changi operating under the VTL programme.

Now – 31st March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	AY132 A350-900
SIN 23:45		HEL 06:00*
	AY131 A350-900
HEL 23:55		SIN 17:15*

* Next day
= VTL

1st April – 29th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	AY132 A350-900
SIN 23:25		HEL 06:15*
	AY131 A350-900
HEL 23:55		SIN 16:50*

* Next day
= VTL

There’s even better news, with the carrier also deploying its refitted Airbus A350s with the latest AirLounge Business Class product, an innovative new design many of our readers are keen to try.

AY131 has the new AirLounge cabins from 1st April 2022 to 1st July 2022; AY132 gets the same treatment one day later (2nd April 2022 to 2nd July 2022).

Here’s our recent summary of the new product.

Finnair is also loading award seats in this new cabin on VTL flights to Singapore, a great redemption at 70,000 Asia Miles plus minimal taxes and fees of around S$25.

KLM (Amsterdam)

KLM will extend its Amsterdam – Singapore VTL flights during the upcoming summer season, but the airline will stick to only two quarantine-free services per week on Mondays and Saturdays.

Now – 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	KL836 777-300ER
SIN 01:15		AMS 08:15
	KL838 KL840 777-300ER
SIN 23:55		AMS 06:55*
	KL813 KL835 KL837 KL839 777-300ER
AMS 20:25		SIN 15:50*
	KL833 777-300ER
AMS 20:55		SIN 16:20*

* Next day
= Non-VTL
= VTL

27th March – 29th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	KL836 KL840 777-300ER
SIN 00:40		AMS 07:50
	KL838 777-300ER
SIN 23:35		AMS 06:58*
	KL835 KL837 KL839 777-300ER
AMS 21:55		SIN 16:15*
	KL813^ 777-300ER
AMS 21:55		SIN 16:30*

* Next day
^ KL833 until 22nd May 2022, then KL813
= Non-VTL
= VTL

Though this isn’t very flexible for most travellers compared to SIA’s daily VTL operation on the route, it does offer a night departure for easier same-day connections from other VTL countries, or for a full last day in the city.

You can find the latest official KLM VTL flight schedule page here.

Here’s a summary of all VTL flights from Amsterdam to Singapore, including those operated by Singapore Airlines (click to expand):

Lufthansa (Frankfurt)

Lufthansa is currently flying five times a week between Frankfurt and Singapore, with four of those flights operating under the VTL (Tuesday FRA-SIN is non-VTL ).

Now – 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	LH779 A340-300
SIN 23:55		FRA 06:45*
	LH778 A340-300
FRA 21:55		SIN 17:00*

* Next day
= Non-VTL
= VTL

27th March – 31st May 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	LH779 A340-300
SIN 23:40		FRA 07:05*
	LH778 A340-300
FRA 21:55		SIN 16:45*

* Next day
= Non-VTL
= VTL

This schedule is maintained through to the end of May 2022, but after that the airline goes daily on the route, though do be aware the Tuesday service back to Changi continues to be non-VTL .

1st June – 29th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	LH779 A340-300
SIN 23:40		FRA 07:05*
	LH778 A340-300
FRA 21:55		SIN 16:45*

* Next day
= Non-VTL
= VTL

Airbus A340-300s are used throughout the published schedule.

You can find the latest official Lufthansa VTL flight schedule page here.

Here’s a summary of all VTL flights from Frankfurt to Singapore, including the twice daily departures operated by Singapore Airlines (click to expand):

Lufthansa (Munich)

Lufthansa is also restoring its Munich – Singapore route for the first time since the pandemic forced its suspension in March 2020, with three times weekly flights during the month of May 2022, increasing to daily from June to October 2022.

Unlike Frankfurt – Singapore, which will retain one weekly non-VTL flight, all Munich – Singapore services are quarantine-free .

1st May – 31st May 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	LH791 A350-900
SIN 23:25		MUC 05:50*
	LH790 A350-900
MUC 22:15		SIN 16:25*

* Next day
= VTL

1st June – 29th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	LH791 A350-900
SIN 23:25		MUC 05:50*
	LH790 A350-900
MUC 22:15		SIN 16:25*

* Next day
= VTL

Three-class Airbus A350s will be used, with this service providing a late-night departure alternative to SIA’s lunchtime flight, allowing you to maximise your last day in the city or position yourself there more easily from other European cities for a same-day connection.

You can find the latest official Lufthansa VTL flight schedule page here.

Here’s a summary of all VTL flights from Munich to Singapore, including the earlier daily departure operated by Singapore Airlines (click to expand):

Swiss (Zurich)

Swiss International Air Lines is currently flying three times per week to and from Singapore, with two of the Zurich – Changi flights operating under the designated VTL scheme (Tuesday flights from Zurich are non-VTL ).

Now – 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	LX177 A340-300
SIN 01:55		ZRH 08:30
	LX176 A340-300
ZRH 14:00		SIN 09:30*

* Next day
= Non-VTL
= VTL

From 27th March through to the end of April 2022, all three Zurich – Singapore flights will be part of the VTL.

27th March – 30th April 2022

			Days
			M	T	W