Earlier this year, we reported that SIA’s low-cost subsidiary Scoot was returning to its “fifth freedom” flights between Athens and Berlin during the winter season, a route it first operated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when passenger traffic was still very limited due to testing and quarantine requirements.

That has seen three times weekly Boeing 787 service on a Singapore – Athens – Berlin – Athens – Singapore routing since late October 2023, a schedule that was due to finish at the end of March 2024, when both Berlin and Athens were set to pick up their own dedicated flights once again for the summer season.

“Fifth freedom” flights will continue

Scoot has now decided against serving both Athens and Berlin with their own non-stop flights next summer, as it did during summer 2023.

Instead of four times weekly SIN-ATH-SIN and three times weekly SIN-BER-SIN services, as originally loaded in the schedule, the airline will instead operate five times weekly to both cities, but will maintain its existing routing: SIN-ATH-BER-ATH-SIN.

That means there will be five times weekly intra-Europe “fifth freedom” operation between Athens and Berlin next summer, as part of this schedule also linking the two cities to Singapore.

Here’s how the full schedule looks, including slightly different timing for Saturday flights.

Scoot Singapore – Athens – Berlin
31 Mar 2024

26 Oct 2024

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	TR720 787-8
SIN 00:30		ATH 07:15
	TR722 787-8
SIN 01:05		ATH 07:25
	TR720 787-8
ATH 08:15		BER 10:05
	TR722 787-8
ATH 08:25		BER 10:20
	TR721 787-8
BER 11:05		ATH 14:50
	TR723 787-8
BER 11:20		ATH 15:05
	TR721 787-8
ATH 15:50		SIN 07:50*
	TR723 787-8
ATH 16:05		SIN 08:10*

* Next day

Services will continue to use Scoot’s 329-seat Boeing 787-8 aircraft with crew rest bunks installed, which have 18 seats in the ScootPlus cabin (2-3-2 layout) and 311 seats in Economy Class (3-3-3).

Fares

Cash fares for the three-hour flight between Athens and Berlin were extremely competitive over the winter 2023/24 season, starting at just S$55 each way.

Though the busier summer season sees a slight increase, it’s still possible to travel on this route from as little as S$77, based on June 2024 pricing.

ScootPlus retains its competitive S$274 one-way starting rate next summer.

Scoot intra-Europe fares
June 2024

With Aegean Airlines being the only other operator on the route, you can expect to pay at least S$150 one-way in Economy Class and at least S$388 in Business Class on this city pair, so Scoot certainly represents a good budget option if the days and timings of operation suit your schedule.

ScootPlus can be particularly good value on this route, with fares undercutting Aegean’s Business Class.

Service and F&B aside, Aegean’s Business Class on its Airbus A320neo aircraft flying between Athens and Berlin is simply the typical ‘Eurobusiness’ blocked middle seat in the first few rows of the cabin.

ScootPlus, on the other hand, is more akin to a long-haul Premium Economy product, with wider seats, more legroom and a 2-3-2 configuration.

Aegean will certainly wine and dine you better than Scoot on this intra-Europe route, and allow lounge access, but if it’s just a comfy seat you’re after for a competitive fare you may be better choosing ScootPlus on the low-cost carrier.

For those interested in flying to Berlin all the way from Singapore, Scoot has one-way fares on the route in June 2024 from S$566 for Economy, or from S$1,450 for ScootPlus. Do bear in mind the total journey time, including a one-hour transit in Athens, is almost 16 hours!

Review

Here’s a video review of the experience from the only passenger in the ScootPlus cabin on one of the airline’s intra-Europe Berlin – Athens flights in 2021.

If you were hoping to see non-stop Singapore – Berlin flights reinstated next summer, unfortunately Scoot has decided to retain its operation to the German capital via Athens instead, though the frequency to both cities will be hiked to five weekly, compared to the current three times weekly schedule.

That also means the airline’s intra-Europe “fifth freedom” flights between Athens and Berlin will continue throughout the summer 2024 season, so anyone can buy a ticket to travel solely between these two cities on the carrier’s wide-body Boeing 787.

That might make sense if you need to travel between Greece and Germany next summer, with competitive fares and even a ScootPlus cabin for additional comfort and space that goes over and above the ‘Eurobusiness’ offered by Aegean Airlines on this route.

(Cover Photo: Jerry via flickr)

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