Where is Singapore Airlines flying its Airbus A380s?

Singapore Airlines has recently finalised its flight schedules and aircraft type allocation for the northern summer season, which runs from late March 2024 to late October 2024, including its sought-after Airbus A380 services, which will see 12 superjumbos operating to and from only six cities on the network across this period.

That’s a drop from the current eight routes, not all of which see A380 service in both the summer and winter seasons, so here’s our latest analysis of the airline’s plans for this aircraft type over the next nine months.

Route summary

SIA’s A380 network operation can be broadly split into three categories:

• Year-round routes
• Summer-only routes (Apr-Oct)
• Winter-only routes (Nov-Mar)

Now that the upcoming summer 2024 schedules are confirmed, we can see 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, up to eight cities are on the A380 route map, but come the northern summer season in two months’ time, three of those will make way for just one newly reinstated route, for a total of only six destinations.

Singapore Airlines A380 operation
January 2024 – October 2024

Singapore to/from	NW23/24 (now – Mar ’24)	NS24 (Apr ’24 – Oct ’24)
Auckland
Delhi		*
Frankfurt
Hong Kong		*
London Heathrow
Mumbai		*
Shanghai	*	*
Sydney
Tokyo Narita

* Partial operation during the season

• Auckland and Tokyo will be removed from the A380’s destination list from late March.
• Shanghai will also be scrubbed from the A380’s roster, following some seasonal flights over the Chinese New Year period in February (edit: some flights now reinstated in August, September and October 2024).
• Frankfurt regains A380 service from late March.

In total, Singapore Airlines will operate 112 weekly flights with its Airbus A380s for the majority of the summer 2024 season.

The shortest flight from Singapore to Hong Kong is scheduled for 4 hours 15 minutes, while the longest from Singapore to London Heathrow takes 14 hours 40 minutes.

Average daily utilisation of the 12-strong fleet is 11 hours 45 minutes per aircraft, two hours less per aircraft than last summer.

That suggests some heavy maintenance requirements coming up for the fleet over the coming months, which could leave 2 of the 12 aircraft out of action at any one time, unless SIA has some further route announcements in store.

The schedules

Here’s how the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 schedules look on these nine routes between January 2024 and October 2024.

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🇳🇿 Auckland

SIA’s Singapore – Auckland route picked up Airbus A380 service for the first time in over three years from mid-November 2023, however the service will downgauge to the Airbus A350 Long Haul from the start of the summer season, in late March 2024.

Here’s how the schedule looks.

Singapore – Auckland
Now – 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
Now – 31st March 2024

NW23/24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ286 A380
AKL 15:15		SIN 20:55

While Auckland replaced Melbourne as an A380 route for the winter period, there’s no sign of the same ‘reverse flip’ for the summer 2024 season.

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🇮🇳 Delhi

The Singapore – Delhi route sees SIA Airbus A380 operation on a daily basis in both the current winter season and the upcoming summer 2024 season, as shown in the following schedule.

Singapore – Delhi
Now – 30th March 2024

NW23/24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ406 A380
SIN 16:25		DEL 20:00

Delhi – Singapore
Now – 30th March 2024

NW23/24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ403 A380
DEL 21:50		SIN 06:00*

* Next day

Singapore – Delhi
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024
(except 29th July 2024 to 1st September 2024)

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ406 A380
SIN 16:50		DEL 20:10

Delhi – Singapore
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024
(except 29th July 2024 to 1st September 2024)

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ403 A380
DEL 21:55		SIN 06:10*

* Next day

Do note that in over the 29th July to 1st September 2024 period, Boeing 777-300ER service is planned on the SQ406/403 flight pairing.

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🇩🇪 Frankfurt

Back in mid-May 2023, Singapore Airlines axed A380 service on its Singapore – Frankfurt – New York route, in favour of smaller Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, quite the disappointment for those who had already snagged Suites bookings including award redemptions for the summer 2023 season.

Now the superjumbo is coming back to the Frankfurt route, but it’s not the service to New York that’s getting the A380 back. Instead, the daily Singapore – Frankfurt – Singapore service SQ326/325 is being upgauged from the Airbus A350 Long Haul to the Airbus A380, from late March 2024 through to at least the end of October 2024.

Singapore – Frankfurt
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ326 A380
SIN 10:55		FRA 17:40

Frankfurt – Singapore
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ325 A380
FRA 22:00		SIN 16:25*

* Next day

According to provisional schedules, the SQ326/325 service is due to retain Airbus A380 service on a year-round basis, even after late October 2024.

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🇭🇰 Hong Kong

SIA’s daily SQ892/893 Hong Kong flight is currently operated by the Airbus A380.

A380 service will then continue through to the end of the northern summer season in late October 2024, as shown below.

Singapore – Hong Kong
Now – 30th March 2024

NW23/24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ892 A380
SIN 09:55		HKG 13:55

Hong Kong – Singapore
Now – 30th March 2024

NW23/24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ893 A380
HKG 15:45		SIN 19:50

Singapore – Hong Kong
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ892* A380*
SIN 09:40		HKG 13:55

* Downgauge to Boeing 777-300ER:
1 Apr – 9th Jun
17 Jun – 23 Jun
16 Sep – 14 Oct

Hong Kong – Singapore
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ893* A380*
HKG 15:40		SIN 19:35

* Downgauge to Boeing 777-300ER:
1 Apr – 9th Jun
17 Jun – 23 Jun
16 Sep – 14 Oct

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🇬🇧 London Heathrow

Singapore – London Heathrow continues to operate twice daily with Airbus A380 flights, supplementing twice daily Boeing 777-300ER service, for four times daily service in total.

This continues in the upcoming summer season, as outlined below.

Singapore – London Heathrow
Now – 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 Heathrow – Singapore
Now – 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

Singapore – London Heathrow
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

NS24			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 Heathrow – Singapore
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

NS24			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

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🇮🇳 Mumbai

The Singapore – Mumbai route sees SIA Airbus A380 operation on a daily basis in both the current winter season and the upcoming summer 2024 season, as shown in the following schedule.

Singapore – Mumbai
Now – 30th March 2024

NW23/24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ424 A380
SIN 18:45		BOM 22:10

Mumbai – Singapore
Now – 30th March 2024

NW23/24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ423 A380
BOM 23:35		SIN 07:30*

* Next day

Singapore – Mumbai
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024
(except 24th June 2024 to 28th July 2024)

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ424 A380
SIN 19:00		BOM 22:10

Mumbai – Singapore
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024
(except 24th June 2024 to 28th July 2024)

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ423 A380
BOM 23:40		SIN 07:40*

* Next day

Do note that in over the 24th June to 28th July 2024 period, Boeing 777-300ER service is planned on the SQ424/423 flight pairing.

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🇨🇳 Shanghai

Singapore Airlines has been progressively removing planned Airbus A380 service from its Shanghai route over the last few months.

Originally due to be a daily option from early January 2024, this was initially pushed to April 2024, with the exception of a 17-day operating stint over the Chinese New Year holiday period.

Later, SIA removed the A380 from the Shanghai route for the whole of the summer 2024 period.

That originally left a brief CNY 2024 operation as the only A380 service left on this route, as shown below.

Singapore – Shanghai
2nd February 2024 – 18th February 2024

CNY24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ830 A380
SIN 09:20		PVG 14:35

Shanghai – Singapore
2nd February 2024 – 18th February 2024

CNY24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ833 A380
PVG 16:25		SIN 22:15

However, Singapore Airlines has now reinstated Airbus A380 operation on the Shanghai route for two periods this summer, as outlined below.

Singapore – Shanghai
5th August 2024 – 26th October 2024
(except 15th September 2024 to 14th October 2024)

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ830 A380
SIN 09:30		PVG 15:05

Shanghai – Singapore
5th August 2024 – 26th October 2024
(except 15th September 2024 to 14th October 2024)

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ833 A380
PVG 16:50		SIN 22:20

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🇦🇺 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 summer season in late October 2024, as outlined in the following schedule.

Singapore – Sydney
Now – 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
Now – 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

Singapore – Sydney
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

NS24			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
** Downgauge to Boeing 777-300ER 4 Aug – 13 Sep and 14 Oct – 26 Oct
^ 1 hour later until 6th April 2024 and from 6th October 2024 (due to Daylight Saving Time)

Sydney – Singapore
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

NS24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ232* A380
SYD 11:00^		SIN 17:30
	SQ222 A380
SYD 15:00^		SIN 21:20

* Downgauge to Boeing 777-300ER 5 Aug – 14 Sep and 15 Oct – 27 Oct
^ 1 hour later until 6th April 2024 and from 6th October 2024 (due to Daylight Saving Time)

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🇯🇵 Tokyo Narita

SIA’s Singapore – Tokyo route picked up the Airbus A380 service during the northern winter season from November 2023 to March 2024, however this will once again revert to the Boeing 787-10 for the summer season from April to October 2024.

That’s s shame not only because of the popularity of this route, but the fact that the regionally-configured aircraft replacing the A380 offers neither a First Class / Suites or Premium Economy option.

A380 service continues through to the end of March 2024, as shown in the following schedule.

Singapore – Tokyo Narita
Now – 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
Now – 31st March 2024

NW23/24			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ637 A380
NRT 10:00		SIN 16:55

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
Sydney
Frankfurt	42	71	103.5	141	70	128.5	228
London

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.

Unfortunately 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, however two European cities will sees service with the type this summer – the carrier’s stalwart ‘cash cow’ London route and Frankfurt.

This remains the plan right through to the end of the northern summer schedule in late October 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 while all 12 of the jets are now part of the airline’s operating fleet, at the time of writing only 10 SIA superjumbos are in service, with two undergoing maintenance work, as outlined below.

Singapore Airlines A380 Fleet
(as of 28th January 2024)

Registration	Cabin Refit	Re-entered Service*	Current Status
9V-SKM	18 Nov 2020	11 Nov 2021	In Maintenance
9V-SKN	30 Jun 2020	2 Dec 2021	In Service
9V-SKP	28 Nov 2023	7 Dec 2023	In Service
9V-SKQ	7 Oct 2022	16 Oct 2022	In Service
9V-SKR	23 Dec 2021	19 Jan 2022	In Maintenance
9V-SKS	20 Jun 2019	19 Nov 2021	In Service
9V-SKT	26 Nov 2019	18 Apr 2023	In Service
9V-SKU	From new	4 Nov 2021	In Service
9V-SKV	From new	5 Nov 2021	In Service
9V-SKW	From new	17 Feb 2022	In Service
9V-SKY	From new	26 Dec 2021	In Service
9V-SKZ	From new	3 May 2022	In Service

* Post-COVID-19 grounding

Indeed the peak flying programme for the summer 2024 season can be operated with just nine A380s, with a 10th as an operational spare, suggesting that two A380s will continue to be out of action for most if not all of the next nine months.

This will probably happen on a rotating basis as maintenance checks become due for specific aircraft in the fleet.

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 A380s 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 27th October 2024 onwards?

Singapore Airlines is already loading Airbus A380 operation on its network for the northern winter 2024 / 25 season from 27th October 2024 onwards, but there’s a big caveat here.

This is usually just a copy-paste of the previous winter 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 winter season schedules and aircraft allocation by July or August, so don’t hang your hat on the aircraft types listed beyond 26th October 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.

Singapore Airlines is cutting its Airbus A380 route list from eight to six cities this coming summer season, with Auckland, Shanghai and Tokyo losing superjumbo service, while Frankfurt sees a return for the type.

That’s despite the airline now having all 12 of its aircraft back in operation following the final cabin refit completion in November 2023.

Mumbai even loses the A380 during July 2023, and Delhi during August 2023, with no sign of any service increase on other routes to compensate at this stage.

Sadly the A380 no longer appears on any of SIA’s US routes, 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: Mike Fuchslocher / Shutterstock)