Update 7th July 2023: SIA’s Singapore – Shanghai route regains the A380 from 4th January 2024. Details below have been updated.
Singapore Airlines is busy finalising its flight schedules and aircraft type allocation for the northern winter season, which runs from late October 2023 to late March 2024, and of course we’ll be sure to provide a full rundown of the network-wide details in due course.
In the meantime, the airline has allocated most if not all of its Airbus A380 schedules for the next nine months, which will see the superjumbos operating to and from nine cities on the network across this period, though not all of those routes see A380 service in both the summer and winter seasons.
Route summary
SIA’s A380 operation can now be broadly split into three categories:
- Year-round routes
- Summer-only routes (Apr-Oct)
- Winter-only routes (Nov-Mar)
Now that we have some visibility of the winter schedules, it’s becoming clear which routes fall into which category with SIA’s reduced fleet of 12 Airbus A380s, formerly 19 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Right now, seven cities are on the A380 route map, but come the northern winter season in four months’ time, two of those will make way for two newly reinstated routes, presumably to optimise capacity for the airline based on seasonal demand shifts.
Singapore Airlines A380 operation
July 2023 – March 2024
| Singapore to/from |
NS23 (now – Oct ’23) |
NW23/24 (Nov ’23 – Mar ’24) |
| Auckland | ||
| Delhi | * | |
| Hong Kong | * | |
| London | ||
| Melbourne | ||
| Mumbai | * | |
| Shanghai | * | |
| Sydney | ||
| Tokyo |
* Partial operation during the season
- Tokyo will join the list from late October, with Auckland following from mid-November.
- In turn, Shanghai and Melbourne will both lose the A380, also from late October and mid-November respectively.
- Shanghai regains A380 service from early January 2024.
Here’s how the route map looks, also showing these seasonal variations.
In total, Singapore Airlines will operate 140 weekly flights with its Airbus A380s by January 2024.
The shortest flight from Singapore to Hong Kong is scheduled for 4 hours, while the longest from Singapore to London Heathrow takes 14 hours 20 minutes.
Average daily utilisation of the 12-strong fleet is 13 hours 45 minutes per aircraft.
The schedules
Here’s how the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 schedules look on these nine routes between July 2023 and March 2024.
🇳🇿 Auckland
The Singapore – Auckland route will see SIA Airbus A380 service for the first time in over three years from mid-November 2023, through to at least the end of the northern winter schedule (i.e. to the end of summer in New Zealand), in late March 2024.
Here’s how the schedule looks.
Singapore – Auckland
22nd November 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ285 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 22:25 |
AKL 13:20* |
||||||||
* Next day
Auckland – Singapore
23rd November 2023 – 31st March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ286 A380 |
||||||||
| AKL 15:15 |
SIN 20:55 |
||||||||
Auckland is replacing Melbourne as an A380 route for this period, so the same ‘reverse flip’ could be on the cards for the summer 2024 season.
Non-A380 SIA flights on the Auckland route
- SQ281/282 operates daily alongside this A380 service in the NW23/24 season, using A350 LH aircraft.
🇮🇳 Delhi
The Singapore – Delhi route has temporarily lost Airbus A380 operation during the peak summer months, but this will be reinstated on a daily basis from 31st July 2023, through to the end of March 2024, as shown in the following schedule.
Singapore – Delhi
31st July 2023 – 27th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ406 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 16:50 |
DEL 20:10 |
||||||||
Delhi – Singapore
31st July 2023 – 27th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ403 A380 |
||||||||
| DEL 21:55 |
SIN 06:10* |
||||||||
* Next day
Singapore – Delhi
30th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ406 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 16:25 |
DEL 20:00 |
||||||||
Delhi – Singapore
30th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ403 A380 |
||||||||
| DEL 21:50 |
SIN 06:05* |
||||||||
* Next day
Do note that in the ‘shoulder’ period between the two seasons, on both 28th October 2023 and 29th October 2023, Boeing 777-300ER service is planned on the SQ406/403 flight pairing.
Non-A380 SIA flights on the Delhi route
- Prior to 31st July 2023, SQ406/403 operates daily on the 777-300ER aircraft, while SQ402/401 operates daily using 787-10 aircraft.
- From 31st July 2023, SQ402/401 operates daily alongside the A380 service, using 787-10 aircraft.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
SIA’s daily SQ892/893 Hong Kong flight is operated by the Airbus A380 from 1st August 2023, following a July break where the 777-300ER takes over to support additional London flights.
A380 service will then continue through to the end of the northern winter season in late March 2024, as shown below.
Singapore – Hong Kong
1st August 2023 – 28th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ892 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:40 |
HKG 13:55 |
||||||||
Hong Kong – Singapore
1st August 2023 – 28th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ893 A380 |
||||||||
| HKG 15:40 |
SIN 19:35 |
||||||||
Singapore – Hong Kong
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ892 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:55 |
HKG 13:55 |
||||||||
Hong Kong – Singapore
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ893 A380 |
||||||||
| HKG 15:45 |
SIN 19:45 |
||||||||
We’re also hopeful that the renovated SilverKris lounge in Hong Kong will be reopening its doors in the coming months – with the airline’s staff at the airport most recently reporting a late September target.
Non-A380 SIA flights on the Hong Kong route
- SIA operates a mixture of A350 MH, A350 LH and 777-300ER aircraft on its Hong Kong route, alongside daily A380 flights from 1st August 2023.
🇬🇧 London
Singapore – London Heathrow is currently SIA’s busiest Airbus A380 route, with three daily superjumbo services in each direction during the peak summer holiday period until 30th July 2023, as shown below.
Singapore – London
Now – 30th July 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ306 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 01:10 |
LHR 07:45 |
||||||||
|
SQ308 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:00 |
LHR 15:40 |
||||||||
|
SQ322 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 23:30 |
LHR 05:55* |
||||||||
* Next day
London – Singapore
Now – 30th July 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ305 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 09:10 |
SIN 05:30* |
||||||||
|
SQ317 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 11:25 |
SIN 07:30* |
||||||||
|
SQ319 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 20:50 |
SIN 16:55* |
||||||||
* Next day
The regular twice daily A380 operation is then restored from 31st July 2023 through to 30th March 2024, as shown below.
Singapore – London
31st July 2023 – 28th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ308 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:00 |
LHR 15:40 |
||||||||
|
SQ322 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 23:30 |
LHR 05:55* |
||||||||
* Next day
London – Singapore
31st July 2023 – 28th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ317 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 11:25 |
SIN 07:30* |
||||||||
|
SQ319 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 20:50 |
SIN 16:55* |
||||||||
* Next day
Singapore – London
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ308 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:00 |
LHR 15:20 |
||||||||
|
SQ322 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 23:45 |
LHR 05:55* |
||||||||
* Next day
London – Singapore
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ317 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 10:55 |
SIN 07:50* |
||||||||
|
SQ319 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 20:35 |
SIN 17:30* |
||||||||
* Next day
Non-A380 SIA flights on the London route
- SIA operates four times daily to and from London, using 777-300ER aircraft on its non-A380 services.
🇦🇺 Melbourne
Melbourne only recently re-earned its A380 status with Singapore Airlines in May 2023, but superjumbo operation on the route isn’t set to last, with the city making way for Auckland on the aircraft’s roster from mid-November 2023.
Here’s how the schedule looks until then.
Singapore – Melbourne
Now – 21st November 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ237 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 00:25 |
MEL 09:50^ |
||||||||
^ 1 hour later from 1st October 2023
Melbourne – Singapore
Now – 21st November 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ228 A380 |
||||||||
| MEL 15:40^ |
SIN 21:30 |
||||||||
^ 1 hour later from 1st October 2023
From 22nd November 2023, this service will be operated by the Boeing 777-300ER instead of the Airbus A380.
Non-A380 SIA flights on the Melbourne route
- SIA operates four times daily to and from Melbourne, using 777-300ER and A350 LH aircraft on its non-A380 services.
- From 22nd November 2023, when SQ227/228 downgauges from A380 to 777-300ER operation, an additional fifth daily flight is also planned, using the A350 LH.
🇮🇳 Mumbai
The Singapore – Mumbai route has temporarily lost Airbus A380 operation during the peak summer months, but this will be reinstated on a daily basis from 1st September 2023, through to the end of March 2024, as shown in the following schedule.
Singapore – Mumbai
1st September 2023 – 28th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ424 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 19:00 |
BOM 22:10 |
||||||||
Mumbai – Singapore
1st September 2023 – 28th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ423 A380 |
||||||||
| BOM 23:40 |
SIN 07:40* |
||||||||
* Next day
Singapore – Mumbai
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ424 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 18:45 |
BOM 22:10 |
||||||||
Mumbai – Singapore
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ423 A380 |
||||||||
| BOM 23:35 |
SIN 07:30* |
||||||||
* Next day
Non-A380 SIA flights on the Mumbai route
- Prior to 1st September 2023, SQ424/423 operates daily on the 777-300ER aircraft, while nine other weekly flights operate using A350 MH and A350 LH aircraft.
- From 1st September 2023, these nine additional weekly A350 flights operate alongside the daily A380 service.
🇨🇳 Shanghai
Singapore Airlines is currently operating a daily Airbus A380 service to and from Shanghai (SQ830/833), however this flight will downgauge to the Boeing 777-300ER for the first two months of the northern winter season, from 2nd October 2023 to 3rd January 2024.
Here’s how the current A380 schedule looks.
Singapore – Shanghai
Now – 1st October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ830 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:30 |
PVG 15:05 |
||||||||
Shanghai – Singapore
Now – 1st October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ833 A380 |
||||||||
| PVG 16:50 |
SIN 22:20 |
||||||||
From 2nd October 2023 to 3rd January 2024, this service will be operated by the Boeing 777-300ER instead of the Airbus A380, so First Class and Premium Economy cabins will remain on this route.
Note that short-term A380 operation is also planned from 6th October 2023 to 9th October 2023 inclusive.
From 4th January 2024 to 30th March 2024, A380 service is reinstated on the Shanghai route, as shown below.
Singapore – Shanghai
4th January 2024 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ830 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:20 |
PVG 14:35 |
||||||||
Shanghai – Singapore
4th January 2024 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ833 A380 |
||||||||
| PVG 16:25 |
SIN 22:15 |
||||||||
Non-A380 SIA flights on the Shanghai route
- SIA operates up to four times daily to and from Shanghai, using A350 MH aircraft on its non-A380 services.
🇦🇺 Sydney
SIA’s Singapore – Sydney route now boasts two daily Airbus A380 options, with both SQ221/232 and SQ231/222 featuring the superjumbo.
This will continue through to at least the end of the northern winter season in late March 2024, as outlined in the following schedule.
Singapore – Sydney
Now – 28th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ231 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 00:45 |
SYD 10:25^ |
||||||||
|
SQ221 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 20:20 |
SYD 05:55*^ |
||||||||
* Next day
^ 1 hour later from 1st October 2023
Sydney – Singapore
Now – 28th October 2023
| NS23 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ232 A380 |
||||||||
| SYD 11:00^ |
SIN 17:30 |
||||||||
|
SQ222 A380 |
||||||||
| SYD 15:00^ |
SIN 21:20 |
||||||||
^ 1 hour later from 1st October 2023
Singapore – Sydney
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ231 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 00:45 |
SYD 11:50 |
||||||||
|
SQ221 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 20:40 |
SYD 07:40* |
||||||||
* Next day
Sydney – Singapore
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ232 A380 |
||||||||
| SYD 12:15 |
SIN 17:35 |
||||||||
|
SQ222 A380 |
||||||||
| SYD 16:10 |
SIN 21:20 |
||||||||
Non-A380 SIA flights on the Sydney route
- SIA operates four times daily to and from Sydney, using A350 LH (SQ241/242) and 777-300ER (SQ211/212) aircraft on its non-A380 services.
🇯🇵 Tokyo (Narita)
As we recently reported, the popular Singapore – Tokyo route will regain its Airbus A380 service with SIA from late October 2023, in the form of the pre-COVID daily SQ638/637 service, which currently uses a Boeing 787-10.
A380 service continues through to the end of March 2024, as shown in the following schedule.
Singapore – Tokyo Narita
29th October 2023 – 30th March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ638 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 23:55 |
NRT 07:30* |
||||||||
* Next day
Tokyo Narita – Singapore
30th October 2023 – 31st March 2024
| NW23/24 | Days | ||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ637 A380 |
||||||||
| NRT 10:00 |
SIN 16:55 |
||||||||
This will bring superjumbo service back to the Tokyo route in time for the peak winter travel season, and we’re certainly hoping this may well be extended into the summer 2024 season too.
Non-A380 SIA flights on the Tokyo route
- SIA operates a daily 777-300ER (SQ11/12) alongside its daily A380 service on the Tokyo Narita route this coming winter season.
- Additionally, three times daily flights to and from Tokyo Haneda use 777-300ER and A350 MH aircraft this winter.
KrisFlyer award pricing
Here are the one-way KrisFlyer award rates on these Singapore Airlines A380 services.
Singapore Airlines A380 routes
One-way KrisFlyer award rates
(x 1,000)
| Singapore to/from |
Saver | Advantage | |||||
| Y | PY | J | F | Y | J | F | |
| Hong Kong | 16.5 | 26.5 | 34 | 45 | 30 | 50 | 73 |
| Delhi | 20 | 34.5 | 43 | 58.5 | 37 | 65 | 98 |
| Mumbai | |||||||
| Shanghai | 21.5 | 34.5 | 43 | 58.5 | 40 | 65 | 98 |
| Tokyo | 27 | 37.5 | 52 | 77 | 45 | 70 | 120 |
| Auckland | 30.5 | 51 | 68.5 | 93.5 | 55 | 90 | 155 |
| Melbourne | |||||||
| Sydney | |||||||
| London | 42 | 71 | 103.5 | 141 | 70 | 128.5 | 228 |
As you can see the cheapest way to experience the A380’s latest cabins is between Singapore and Hong Kong, though both Delhi and Mumbai are also competitively priced and often have good award availability, even in Suites and Business Class.
No more USA A380 routes
Singapore Airlines reinstated Airbus A380 flights to New York via Frankfurt post-pandemic back in March 2022.
Sadly from May 2023 the carrier then withdrew A380 service to and from North America, with the less-exciting Boeing 777-300ERs taking over on this route.
That’s not too surprising, given that three A380 aircraft had to be almost completely dedicated to serving this flight on a daily basis, and as more airlines restored capacity post-COVID, particularly on the poor-yield Frankfurt – New York segment.
It means there are now no USA services on the A380, and only one European city now sees service with the type – the carrier’s stalwart ‘cash cow’ London route.
This remains the plan right through to the end of the northern winter schedule in late March 2024. Never say never, but with a fleet of only 12 A380s at its disposal, we can easily see a situation where the type may never spread its wings to and from the USA again in SIA colours.
Over the years, Singapore Airlines has used the Airbus A380 on flights to Los Angeles (via Tokyo), New York (via Frankfurt) and San Francisco (via Hong Kong).
SIA’s Airbus A380 fleet
Singapore Airlines reduced its fleet of Airbus A380s from 19 before the pandemic down to 12 aircraft.
All of the dozen A380s returning to operation have the new 2017 cabin products installed, and the airline’s operating fleet currently stands at 11 superjumbos, as outlined below.
Singapore Airlines A380 Fleet
(as of 1st July 2023)
 |
||
| Registration | Version | Fate / Status |
| 9V-SKM | V3^ | In Service |
| 9V-SKN | V3^ | In Service |
| 9V-SKP | V2 (V3 pending) |
Under refit for re-entry to service |
| 9V-SKQ | V3^ | In Service |
| 9V-SKR | V3^ | In Service |
| 9V-SKS | V3^ | In Service |
| 9V-SKT | V3^ | In Service |
| 9V-SKU | V3 | In Service |
| 9V-SKV | V3 | In Service |
| 9V-SKW | V3 | In Service |
| 9V-SKY | V3 | In Service |
| 9V-SKZ | V3 | In Service |
^ Refitted from V2
The final A380, 9V-SKP, is currently undergoing refit at Changi and will bring the fleet to full strength on its completion, hopefully in the coming months.
A380 cabin products
The A380 is popular with passengers in all cabin classes, but in particular it’s the latest Suites and Business Class seats rolled out in 2017 that are the big draw for many of our readers.
There’s also a large 44-seat Premium Economy Class section, in the space the Suites cabin used to occupy in the older configuration, at the forward main deck.
The aircraft also feature the latest KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system and Wi-Fi connectivity – now free and unlimited for all Suites and Business Class passengers, and for KrisFlyer members in Premium Economy and Economy Class.
Here are our reviews of the Suites (double bed) and Business Class cabins on these A380s.
What about 31st March 2024 onwards?
Singapore Airlines is already loading Airbus A380 operation on its network for the summer 2024 season from 31st March 2024 onwards, but there’s a big caveat here.
This is usually just a copy-paste of the previous summer season operation, and so isn’t necessarily indicative of the actual aircraft types that will operate on these routes at this early stage.
We tend to get more clarity on the final summer season schedules and aircraft allocation by late December or early January, so don’t hang your hat on the aircraft types listed beyond 30th March until then.
Obviously there are some ‘safe A380 bets’, like the regular two daily London and Sydney flights, but otherwise it’s fair game for SIA to shake things up with its superjumbo routes.
Summary
Singapore Airlines is maintaining its roster of seven Airbus A380 destinations from Singapore this coming winter season, but the major change is that Melbourne and Shanghai will lose the type, in favour of Tokyo and Auckland.
Shanghai does regain A380 services again from early January 2024, which is good news.
Melbourne’s seasonal flip could be reversed in the summer 2024 season, but it’s too early to tell at this stage since aircraft allocations for that period are still provisional for the next six months or so.
Sadly the A380 no longer appears on any of SIA’s US routes, and London is the type’s only port of call in Europe, a situation that could now be permanent with a fleet of only 12 aircraft at the airline’s disposal – nearly 40% fewer than it had pre-COVID.
(Cover Photo: Plane’s Portrait Aviation Media / Malcolm Lu)
SIA did not fly A380 on HKG-SFO it was 77W
Actually they did, but it was short-lived! A380 operated SIN-HKG-SFO for 3 months from late December 2012 to late March 2013. 👍
As Andrew pointed out, i did take this route in 2013 CNY period (cant believe it’s more than 10 years)
Does it mean there are now first class flights to New Zealand? I think currently it’s just business flight correct?
Yes that’s correct. The A380 will replace a three-class A350 Long Haul on this route from 22nd November.
Such a shame the A380 didn’t have better success. It’s my favourite aircraft, so quiet and spacious, and so cool that there’s a staircase between the two decks (even if basically never used).
Would be high time to edit your SQ fleet> A380 fleet page. since all will be v3 a380.
SQ222 from Sydney currently leaves at 1500 not 1600
Thanks, tables updated to account for Australia DST changes on 1 Oct.
Hi Andrew,
Are all SQ A380 first class always the 2017R type?
Yes
Hey Andrew, where have you gathered this info from?
My SQ833 on October 27th now is showing as B777 instead of A380 🥲
Some changes for Shanghai in October just loaded yesterday, now reflected in the table.