Singapore’s Seletar Airport will once again host regular scheduled passenger flights from mid-June, with former operator Firefly of Malaysia reinstating commuter services to Kuala Lumpur’s convenient Subang Airport.
This will be the first time the passenger terminal at Singapore’s second airport has been brought back into use since flights were withdrawn as COVID-19 took hold, over two years ago.
Services will start at two per day, compared to the six daily links Firefly operated prior to the pandemic, but the airline will likely ramp up flights again in the months ahead, if demand permits.
The airline had previously operated at Changi until 1st December 2018, when turboprops were effectively banned from the airport. There then followed a long-running dispute between Singapore and Malaysia over airspace use, with the green light finally given for the airline to start Seletar – Subang flights on 21st April 2019.
Schedule and fares
Firefly will operate a mid-morning and mid-afternoon departure from Seletar to Subang each weekday, using its 72-seater ATR 72 turboprop, which has a single-class cabin in a 2-2 layout.
At weekends the flights operate later, with late morning and late afternoon service offered.
Singapore Seletar to KL Subang
From 13th June 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
FY3125 ATR72 |
||||||||
| XSP 09:20 |
SZB 10:40 |
||||||||
|
FY3127 ATR72 |
||||||||
| XSP 11:20 |
SZB 12:40 |
||||||||
|
FY3129 ATR72 |
||||||||
| XSP 14:45 |
SZB 16:05 |
||||||||
|
FY3131 ATR72 |
||||||||
| XSP 16:45 |
SZB 18:05 |
||||||||
From KL Subang Firefly will offer early morning and lunchtime departure to Seletar (Monday – Friday), shifting to mid-morning and mid-afternoon services at the weekends (Saturday – Sunday).
KL Subang to Singapore Seletar
From 13th June 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
FY3124 ATR72 |
||||||||
| SZB 07:30 |
XSP 08:50 |
||||||||
|
FY3126 ATR72 |
||||||||
| SZB 09:30 |
XSP 10:50 |
||||||||
|
FY3128 ATR72 |
||||||||
| SZB 12:55 |
XSP 14:15 |
||||||||
|
FY3130 ATR72 |
||||||||
| SZB 14:55 |
XSP 16:15 |
||||||||
Based on flights in late June, Firefly is offering one-way Seletar – KL trips from S$65, including refreshments and a 20kg baggage allowance.
In the KL to Seletar direction, fares start at S$47, based on our searches.
Flights are also eligible to earn Enrich Points, the frequent flyer currency of Malaysia Airlines.
Redemption of Enrich Points on Firefly services from Singapore to KL range from 8,000 to 13,000 points one-way, depending on the fare type.
Seletar Airport
Singapore’s less well-known airport at Seletar is predominantly home to business jet, flight training and aircraft maintenance establishments, but it does have a brand new passenger terminal of its own, operated by the Changi Airport Group.
The beauty of departing from Seletar is that the airport is small, with check-in, departure immigration and security all achievable within about 10 minutes flat.
Indeed Firefly allows passengers to show up as little as 45 minutes prior to pushback time.
“From the time a passenger arrives at the airport to the time they get on the plane can be as little as 20 minutes.”
Izra Azliana, VP Marketing & Communications, Firefly
The biggest downside to flying in and out of Seletar, rather than Changi, is connectivity.
A taxi or ride-hailing trip from Orchard Road to Seletar Airport takes around 20-25 minutes, which is similar to the time taken to reach Changi Airport from downtown, but in terms of public transport options are quite limited.
The airport is served by the 102 bus from 5.30am to 11.30pm, which stops outside the terminal building and links to Hougang Central Bus Interchange and MRT, Buangkok MRT Station, Sengkang MRT station and Jalan Kayu.
For those arriving in Seletar and taking an onward flight from Changi, or vice-versa, travel between the two airports is only really feasible by taxi or car, taking approximately 20 minutes.
Subang Airport
Subang Airport, on the other hand, is around 30 minutes by car or bus from downtown KL, compared to almost an hour for a car journey to the sprawling KLIA.
That makes it a convenient option, especially for those taking a day trip to the city on business.
Summary
Singapore’s second passenger airport at Seletar will finally have regular scheduled passenger services again for the first time since the pandemic, now that Firefly has confirmed its restart to and from Kuala Lumpur’s Subang Airport from mid-June.
Services will initially be twice per day, but hopefully there will be progressive increases back towards the former six times daily schedule, which offered regular convenient links on this popular route.
(Cover Photo: Changi Airport Group)