More than 40 cities around the world have disappeared from the Singapore Airlines network over the years. Here’s the full list - and the stories behind them.
Over the years, Singapore Airlines has built a large global network of flights that span continents and connect travellers to major cities worldwide. However, the airline has also had to make tough decisions at times – not least during wars, pandemics and recessions, withdrawing from over 40 destinations during its history.
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These routes, some lasting as little as eight months and others culled after over 40 years of service, tell a story of the ever-evolving landscape of aviation – something SIA, even as the national carrier of a tiny island nation, is particularly vulnerable to.
From regional flights aboard Boeing 727s and 737s, to long-haul services on iconic aircraft like the Boeing 707, Boeing 747 and Airbus A340, these lost connections highlight changing market dynamics, shifting demand, and strategic adjustments.
Join us as we take a deep dive into the history of these routes, exploring the cities SIA once served, the aircraft deployed, and even example schedules from their heyday.
Some fun facts
Before we get into the comprehensive list of over 40 discontinued Singapore Airlines routes, let’s take a quick look at some fun facts.
Shortest-lived discontinued route Las Vegas (8 months)
Furthest from home discontinued route São Paulo (9,947 miles)
Closest to home discontinued route Kuantan (175 miles)
Most recently discontinued route Houston (March 2025)
Earliest discontinued route Tehran (December 1978)
A Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-200 at Athens Ellinikon Airport in 1981. (Photo: Kjell Nilsson)
The Lost Cities: Europe
Singapore Airlines is currently serving 14 airports in Europe, across 13 cities (two London airports are served – Gatwick and Heathrow – hence the difference).
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While SIA now has a significant presence in this market, operating well over 100 flights per week to and from Europe, there are actually eight cities that have fallen off the carrier’s radar over the years.
Athens
Athens 🇬🇷 Greece
Launched
Terminated
1st October 1972
26th October 2012
—– DURATION —– 40.1 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A340-300 Boeing 707-320 Boeing 747-200B Boeing 747-300 Boeing 747-300M (Combi) Boeing 747-400 Boeing 777-200ER
History
Part of the Singapore Airlines network from the airline’s inception in October 1976 – when the airline was formed as a separate company alongside Malaysian Airlines System, both of whom split from MSA.
The city was served on a variety of routings over the years, including Singapore – London flights that took a circuitous Singapore – Bombay – Bahrain – Athens – Paris – London pattern in the mid-1970s, and both Singapore – Cairo – Athens – Amsterdam and Singapore – Dubai – Athens – Manchester routings in the mid-1980s.
By the early 1990s SIA was operating twice weekly Singapore – Athens – Vienna flights using Boeing 747-300s, a route which later upgraded to the Boeing 747-400.
Ultimately, Boeing 777-200ERs served the Singapore – Athens – Singapore route with non-stop flights in both directions twice per week in the winter months and three times per week in the summer.
From late 2011, the Athens flight was rerouted via Istanbul, with “fifth freedom” rights on the IST-ATH-IST sectors.
SIA suspended year-round services to Athens on 26th October 2012, but returned to the city with seasonal services in the summer months of 2014 and 2015.
Scoot then commenced Singapore – Athens flights from 2017 on a year-round basis, which continue to this day.
Berlin
Berlin 🇩🇪 Germany
Launched
Terminated
28th October 1990
24th March 1999
—– DURATION —– 8.4 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 747-300 Boeing 747-400
History
Launched to and from Berlin Schonefeld Airport once per week on 28th October 1990 using Boeing 747-300s – just over three weeks after the reunification of East and West Germany.
Services increased to twice weekly the following year, later upgrading to the Boeing 747-400, but they never subsequently increased further, and SIA pulled out of the Berlin market in March 1999, citing underperformance.
Scoot later started flights to Berlin Tegel, and later Berlin Brandenburg, but these were axed in March 2025.
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf 🇩🇪 Germany
Launched
Terminated
21st June 2016
17th March 2020
—– DURATION —– 3.7 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A350 Long Haul
History
Added to the Singapore Airlines network in June 2016, with three times weekly Airbus A350 Long Haul flights.
Increased to four times weekly from 27th March 2018.
Suspended during COVID-19, with the final flight from Singapore to Düsseldorf SQ338 on 16th March 2020, and the same aircraft landing back in Changi just before 6am on 18th March 2020, as SQ337.
It was announced in September 2020 that the route would be permanently axed from the network, as part of a review of the carrier’s post-COVID-19 operations.
Madrid
Madrid 🇪🇸 Spain
Launched
Terminated
1st April 1992
31st October 2004
—– DURATION —– 12.6 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 747-300 Boeing 747-400
History
Launched on 1st April 1992 twice weekly via Paris or Amsterdam, using Boeing 747-300s.
The route upgraded to Boeing 747-400s in subsequent years, with both weekly flights routing through Paris.
Madrid was terminated from the SIA network on 31st October 2004, opting to serve the city only through its codeshare partners.
Malta
Malta 🇲🇹 Malta
Launched
Terminated
13th April 1985
By end 1986
—– DURATION —– ~1 year
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 747-200B
History
Launched 13th April 1985, once weekly using the Boeing 747-200B, on a Singapore – Bombay – Abu Dhabi – Malta – Amsterdam routing.
Exact end date is uncertain, but the service appears to have been short-lived, ceasing by the end of 1986.
Moscow
Moscow 🇷🇺 Russia
Launched
Terminated
1st March 2006
28th February 2022
—– DURATION —– 16.0 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A350 Long Haul Boeing 777-200ER Boeing 777-300 Boeing 777-300ER
History
Singapore Airlines first launched flights to Moscow on 1st March 2006, with three times weekly operation via Dubai using Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
This included “fifth freedom” traffic rights in both directions solely between Dubai and Moscow.
Moscow flights eventually became dedicated four times weekly terminator services, with no stops to or from Singapore, and later had a “fifth freedom” extension to Stockholm added from May 2017, with frequencies boosted to five times weekly.
Flights were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March 2020, but were then reinstated in January 2021 (without the Stockholm extension, which had become a pandemic casualty).
Services were suspended on 28th February 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Launched on 30th May 2017, five times weekly via Moscow using Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft.
Suspended during COVID-19 with the final flight from Singapore to Stockholm SQ362 on 14th March 2020, with the same aircraft returning back to Changi at 6.40am on 15th March 2020 as SQ361.
It was announced in September 2020 that the route would be permanently axed from the network, as part of a review of the carrier’s post-COVID-19 operations.
Vienna
Vienna 🇦🇹 Austria
Launched
Terminated
4th April 1985
October 2000
—– DURATION —– 15.5 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A340-300 Boeing 747-200 Boeing 747-300 Boeing 747-400 Boeing 777-200ER
History
Launched in April 1985 and ran via various routings, even including a continuation to Toronto in the early 1990s.
However, the Austrian capital was axed from the network in October 2000. In its final summer season of operation between April and October 2000, Singapore Airlines flew Boeing 747-400s to and from Vienna via Zurich twice per week.
Scoot commenced non-stop Singapore – Vienna flights in June 2025.
A Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 ULR at Berlin Brandenburg Airport in 2022. The airline actually stopped flying to Berlin in 1999 – this one was on a charter flight! (Photo: Berlin Brandenberg Airport)
The Lost Cities: North & South America
Singapore Airlines now operates non-stop and one-stop services to five cities in the USA.
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Seven other cities in North America and South America have also been served by the carrier over the years, but no longer appear on the network.
Chicago
Chicago 🇺🇸 USA
Launched
Terminated
1st August 2001
March 2003
—– DURATION —– 1.6 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 777-200ER
History
Launched in August 2001 as SIA’s first ever twin-jet service to and from the USA (all of the carrier’s US flights are now twin-jets!).
Operated three times weekly to Chicago via Amsterdam
The service was suspended in March 2003, provisionally until 31st May 2003, due to the impact of the SARS pandemic. However, it was then announced in late April 2003 that the route had been permanently axed from the network.
Honolulu
Honolulu 🇺🇸 USA
Launched
Terminated
4th April 1979
29th July 1992
—– DURATION —– 13.3 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 707-320 Boeing 747-200B Boeing 747-300 McDonnell Douglas DC-10
History
Launched on 4th April 1979, as part of SIA’s inaugural USA service SQ2, on a Singapore – Hong Kong – Honolulu – San Francisco routing.
Honolulu remained a key stopover point for Singapore Airlines’ USA flights from their inception, on various routings, due to the limited range of older aircraft like the DC-10, and Boeing 747–200s/-300s.
On 29th July 1992 the airline’s Honolulu flights ended after 13 years, once the final 747-300 service that required the mid-Pacific technical stop (Singapore – Los Angeles via Taipei) was swapped out for the longer-range Boeing 747-400.
Singapore Airlines never returned to Honolulu, though its budget arm Scoot did launch Singapore – Osaka – Honolulu flights in December 2017. The service lasted 18 months, before being axed due to low demand.
Houston
Houston 🇺🇸 USA
Launched
Terminated
20th March 2008
30th March 2025
—– DURATION —– 17.0 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A350 Long Haul Boeing 777-300ER
History
Launched on 20th March 2008 as SQ62/61, operating via Moscow using three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, four days per week.
Switched to a Singapore – Manchester – Houston routing in October 2016 (SQ52/51), swapping the aircraft type to the three-class Airbus A350 Long Haul from January 2017.
The aircraft type change made history – SIA became the first airline in the world to operate the Airbus A350 on commercial flights from both Manchester and Houston on the same day.
Singapore – Houston was the airline’s longest direct flight on the network (same aircraft, same flight number), at 26 hours 15 minutes, including the 1 hour 30 minute stop in Manchester.
The five times weekly Houston extension of the carrier’s Manchester route ended on 30th March 2025, “in line with capacity adjustments”.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas 🇺🇸 USA
Launched
Terminated
2nd August 2002
7th April 2003
—– DURATION —– 0.7 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 777-200ER
History
SIA’s shortest-lived US route, which operated for only eight months between August 2002 and April 2003, linking Singapore to Las Vegas via Hong Kong three times a week.
A Boeing 777-200ER was used on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Singapore Airlines said it was cancelling the route due to “softening demand” as a result of the Iraq War in 2003, which also led to the suspension of its Chicago, Brussels and Madrid services (Brussels has since been reinstated), but the SARS outbreak also played a part.
São Paulo
São Paulo 🇧🇷 Brazil
Launched
Terminated
28th March 2011
20th October 2016
—– DURATION —– 5.6 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 777-300ER
History
Launched on 28th March 2011, as the carrier’s first South American destination.
Flights were three times weekly via Barcelona using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, operating as SQ68/67 with “fifth freedom” traffic rights, allowing SIA to also sell tickets solely between Spain and Brazil.
The route was terminated on 20th October 2016, as “a result of the sustained weak performance”.
Toronto
Toronto 🇨🇦 Canada
Launched
Terminated
1st June 1991
2nd July 1992
—– DURATION —– 1.1 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 747-400
History
Launched 1st June 1991, on a Singapore – Vienna – Amsterdam – Toronto routing three times per week.
It was SIA’s first transatlantic flight, coming over a year before the carrier spread its wings to New York (via Europe).
Celebrations were short lived though. Objections to the Canadian Government, primarily by competitors Air Canada and Canadian Airlines, argued that SIA’s “fifth freedom” flights between Europe and Toronto represented unfair competition.
On 16th August 1991, just two months after flights first commenced, the Canadian Government gave a year’s notice to terminate the air services agreement with Singapore, which in turn would force an end to SIA’s Toronto flights.
Airbus A340-300 Boeing 747-300 Boeing 747-300 Combi Boeing 747-400 Boeing 777-200ER Airbus A350 Long Haul (2021-23)
History
Singapore Airlines had two stints on its Vancouver route.
The inaugural service launched on 1st July 1988, operating via Seoul twice weekly with Boeing 747-300 aircraft.
While the routing always remained the same, other aircraft types like the Airbus A340-300, Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 777-200ER were also deployed over the years.
Service ceased on 25th April 2009, but restarted again on 2nd December 2021, non-stop from Singapore for the first time.
Flights extended to Seattle for a period, until that route had its own dedicated terminator flight restored post-COVID.
The second stint on the Vancouver route was sadly short-lived, ending on 30th September 2023 as a capacity adjustment “in response to demand”.
The airline no longer serves any cities in Canada or South America.
The Lost Cities: Australia and New Zealand
Singapore Airlines has an extensive network in the South Pacific region, flying to seven cities in Australia and two in New Zealand on a year-round basis.
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However, two destinations here have been discontinued in relatively recent times.
Canberra
Canberra 🇦🇺 Australia
Launched
Terminated
20th September 2016
18th March 2020
—– DURATION —– 3.5 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 777-200ER Boeing 777-300ER
History
Launched on 20th September 2016 as part of SIA’s four times weekly “Capital Express” service using Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, which continued to Wellington.
Rerouted from 1st May 2018 to a daily Singapore – Sydney – Canberra – Singapore triangle operation, SQ288, using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The final service on this routing was on 18th March 2020, when it was suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
It was announced in September 2020 that the route would be permanently axed from the network, as part of a review of the carrier’s post-COVID-19 operations.
Wellington
Wellington 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Launched
Terminated
20th September 2016
21st March 2020
—– DURATION —– 3.5 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 777-200 Boeing 777-200ER Airbus A350 Long Haul
History
Launched on 20th September 2016 as part of SIA’s four times weekly “Capital Express” service using Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, operating via Canberra in both directions.
Rerouted from 1st May 2018 to a daily Singapore – Melbourne – Wellington operation, SQ248, using Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
The route shifted to long-haul 3-class Airbus A350 aircraft in October 2019 (but only because Boeing 777-200s were being phased out), before the final flight operated on 21st March 2020, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
It was announced in September 2020 that the route would be permanently axed from the network, as part of a review of the carrier’s post-COVID-19 operations.
The Lost Cities: West Asia
The West Asia region has seen some significant changes in the Singapore Airlines network over the years, primarily because many cities here were used as stopover points to and from Europe in the 1970s and 1980s, something no longer necessary with the advent of longer-range aircraft.
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In total 10 cities in this region that formerly had Singapore Airlines flights no longer see any passenger operations by the carrier.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Launched
Terminated
1st April 1980
Late 1984
—– DURATION —– ~4.5 years
Launched
Terminated
1st June 1994
1996
—– DURATION —– ~2 years
Launched
Terminated
1st March 2006
26th October 2012
—– DURATION —– 6.7 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A330-300 Boeing 747-200B Boeing 747-300 Boeing 777-200
History
Singapore Airlines had three stints on its Abu Dhabi route over the years.
On 1st April 1980, the carrier began using Abu Dhabi as a stopover point three times per week for selected Boeing 747-200 flights to and from Europe, after Kuwait could no longer be used due to traffic rights issues.
Abu Dhabi stopovers ended in late 1984.
The route was resumed on 1st June 1994 using Boeing 747-300s twice per week via Colombo in both directions, including “fifth freedom” traffic rights between Colombo and Abu Dhabi.
The route appeared to be dropped again in 1996, though the exact date is unclear.
On the third stint, Abu Dhabi flights resumed on 1st March 2006, three times weekly with continuation to and from Jeddah using two-class Boeing 777-200s.
Abu Dhabi flights were terminated on 26th October 2012.
Amritsar
Amritsar 🇮🇳 India
Launched
Terminated
3rd October 2004
4th February 2009
—– DURATION —– 4.3 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 777-200
History
Launched on 3rd October 2004, as a three times weekly service on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using two-class Boeing 777-200s.
The route was terminated on 4th February 2009 “to better match capacity with demand”.
Scoot started Singapore – Amritsar flights in July 2016 using Boeing 787s, a service it still operates four times weekly in the northern winter season and five times weekly in the summer months.
Bahrain
Bahrain 🇧🇭 Bahrain
Launched
Terminated
1st October 1972
26th March 1988
—– DURATION —– 15.5 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 707-320 Boeing 747-200B Boeing 747-300
History
Bahrain was part of SIA’s network since the airline’s inception in 1972, as a key stopover point on flights to and from Europe, due to the limited range of older aircraft.
Example routings included Singapore – Bangkok – Bahrain – Rome – Frankfurt – London in the mid-1970s, and Brussels – Zurich – Bahrain – Male – Singapore in the mid-1980s, using Boeing 747-200s in both cases.
The city was axed from the network on 26th March 1988, thanks to the introduction of Boeing 747-300s, allowing one fewer stop on flights between Singapore and Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna and Zurich.
While SIA then explored the possibility of operating dedicated non-stop Singapore – Bahrain flights, these never came to fruition.
Dhahran
Dhahran 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Launched
Terminated
1979
26th August 1990
—– DURATION —– ~12 years
Launched
Terminated
11th April 1991
3rd August 1997
—– DURATION —– 6.3 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 707-320 Boeing 747-200 Boeing 747-300 McDonnell Douglas DC-10
History
Singapore Airlines commenced flights to Dhahran in 1979.
At the start of the Gulf war in August 1990, Singapore Airlines moved most of its staff out of Dhahran and terminated crew slips in the city, but as tensions escalated the twice-weekly flights had to be suspended on 26th August 1990.
Dhahran flights resumed on 11th April 1991, after hostilities ended, but from 3rd August 1997 Jeddah replaced Dhahran on the airline’s network.
Jeddah
Jeddah 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Launched
Terminated
3rd August 1997
1st May 2016
—– DURATION —– 18.8 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A330-300 Airbus A340-300
History
Jeddah was launched by Singapore Airlines in August 1997, three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using Airbus A340-300s.
Flights operated via Abu Dhabi between March 2006 and October 2012, before shifting to a Singapore – Riyadh – Jeddah – Riyadh – Singapore routing after the Abu Dhabi route ceased, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using Airbus A330-300s.
The route is still served today by the low-cost carrier, four times weekly in the northern winter season and three times weekly in the summer months, non-stop using Boeing 787-8s.
Karachi
Karachi 🇵🇰 Pakistan
Launched
Terminated
2nd April 1973
1976
—– DURATION —– ~3 years
Launched
Terminated
4th April 1985
28th September 2001
—– DURATION —– 16.5 years
Launched
Terminated
February 2002
10th May 2002
—– DURATION —– 0.2 years
Launched
Terminated
1st February 2006
17th February 2010
—– DURATION —– 4.1 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300 Airbus A340-300 Boeing 707-320 Boeing 747-200B Boeing 747-300 Boeing 777-200
History
Originally launched on 2nd April 1973, as a stopover point twice per week from Singapore to Amsterdam and London, using Boeing 707s.
Karachi was relatively short-lived on the network initially, with flights having ended by 1976.
Restarted 4th April 1985, twice per week using Boeing 747s non-stop to and from Singapore.
Four times weekly flights were suspended on 28th September 2001, due to rising tensions following the 9/11 attacks.
Relaunched in February 2002 as tensions in neighbouring Afghanistan eased, but suspended again from 10th May 2002, this time due to the prevailing security situation in Pakistan.
Relaunched on 1st February 2006 as a triangular Singapore – Lahore – Karachi – Singapore routing three times per week.
Services finally ended on 17th February 2010, due to security concerns.
Kuwait City
Kuwait City 🇰🇼 Kuwait
Launched
Terminated
15th March 2009
30th October 2011
—– DURATION —– 2.6 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 777-200
History
Launched on 15th March 2009 four times weekly using Boeing 777-200 aircraft via Dubai.
Later dropped to a three times weekly service, via Abu Dhabi.
Launched on 28th March 1999, three times weekly using the Airbus A310.
Service rose to four times weekly, but was suspended on 28th September 2001, due to rising tensions following the 9/11 attacks.
Relaunched in February 2002 as tensions in neighbouring Afghanistan eased, but suspended again from 10th May 2002, this time due to the prevailing security situation in Pakistan.
Relaunched on 1st February 2006 as a triangular Singapore – Lahore – Karachi – Singapore routing three times per week.
Services ended on 17th February 2010, due to security concerns.
Riyadh
Riyadh 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Launched
Terminated
14th December 2008
28th September 2014
—– DURATION —– 5.8 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A330-300 Boeing 777-200
History
Launched on 14th December 2008, four times per week using Boeing 777-200s.
Service was initially via Dubai in both directions, before shifting to a three times weekly Singapore – Riyadh – Jeddah – Riyadh – Singapore routing, using Airbus A330-300s.
The route was terminated on 28th September 2014, due to weak performance.
Tehran
Tehran 🇮🇷 Iran
Launched
Terminated
October 1977
25th December 1978
—– DURATION —– 1.2 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 707-320
History
Originally proposed from 1st July 1977, but actual launch was postponed until October 1977, due to a hiccup in the air services agreement between Singapore and Iran.
Twice weekly service en-route to Copenhagen, using Boeing 707s.
SIA was given permission to increase to three times weekly Boeing 747s in early 1978, but this never happened.
There was political unrest in Iran by November 1978, and the route was terminated on 25th December 1978. SIA closed its office in Tehran and evacuated its three staff from the country in February 1979.
SIA never returned to Iran.
What about Beirut?
Singapore Airlines planned to launch twice-weekly flights to Beirut via Bangkok on 3rd August 1978 using Boeing 707s, but escalating conflict during the Lebanese Civil War led to a postponement.
Ultimately, to the best of our knowledge, SIA never actually operated flights to Beirut.
The Lost Cities: Africa
Cairo
Cairo 🇪🇬 Egypt
Launched
Terminated
3rd November 1984
30th September 2014
—– DURATION —– 29.9 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300 Airbus A340-300 Boeing 747-200B Boeing 777-200ER
History
Launched on 3rd November 1984, using a Boeing 747 once per week on a Singapore – Colombo – Cairo – Amsterdam routing.
Non-stop flights in the late 1980s were supplemented by ones via Dubai in 1991, when traffic rights between the two cities were approved.
The route was terminated on 30th September 2014, due to weak performance.
Durban
Durban 🇿🇦 South Africa
Launched
Terminated
30th March 1993
12th January 2003
—– DURATION —– 9.8 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 747-300 Boeing 747-400
History
Launched on 30th March 1993 as a once-weekly extension to the airline’s Singapore – Johannesburg service on Tuesdays, using the Boeing 747-300.
Later increased to twice weekly and upgraded to the Boeing 747-400.
Launched on 1st June 1985 using Airbus A310 aircraft once per week.
Later upgauged to the Boeing 747-300, with continued service to Johannesburg.
The route was suspended from 15th April 2003, provisionally until 31st May 2003, due to the impact of the SARS pandemic.
However, it was then announced in late April 2003 that the route had been permanently axed from the network.
The Lost Cities: South East Asia
Closest to home, Singapore Airlines has discontinued flights on six routes in South East Asia.
Davao
Davao 🇵🇭 Philippines
Launched
Terminated
1st April 2022
28th October 2024
—– DURATION —– 2.6 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 737-800 Boeing 737-8 MAX
History
Singapore Airlines launched Davao flights on 1st April 2022, taking over a route formerly operated by its full-service subsidiary SilkAir, on a daily Singapore – Davao – Cebu – Singapore triangle routing using Boeing 737-800s.
The airline discontinued Davao flights on 28th October 2024, downgrading the service to a simple Singapore – Cebu – Singapore routing.
In turn, low-cost subsidiary Scoot increased its Davao flights from three per week to daily.
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Launched
Terminated
3rd February 1991
28th October 2001
—– DURATION —– 10.7 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300
History
Launched on 3rd February 1991, with twice-weekly Airbus A310 service.
The route ended on 28th October 2001, due to adverse economic conditions facing the aviation industry following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the USA.
SIA’s budget carrier Scoot launched Singapore – Kota Kinabalu flights in December 2019. The service was short-lived initially, with flights suspended in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it re-started in April 2022.
Kuantan
Kuantan 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Launched
Terminated
20th November 1983
June 1989
—– DURATION —– 5.6 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 737-200
History
Singapore Airlines launched flights to Kuantan on 20th November 1983 as part of a joint venture with Malaysian Airlines System (MAS).
Under the agreement, MAS operated flights on Tuesdays and Fridays (from 15th November 1983), while SIA operated on Sundays (from 20th November 1983), using Boeing 737 aircraft.
SIA exited the route in late June 1989, with operations transferred to Tradewinds, the airline that later became SilkAir.
Scoot launched Singapore – Kuantan flights in July 2017, and despite a pause during the pandemic between 2020 and 2022, the budget carrier continues to operate there.
Kuching
Kuching 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Launched
Terminated
19th January 1991
28th October 2001
—– DURATION —– 10.8 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300
History
Launched on 19th January 1991, as a twice-weekly Airbus A310 service.
The route ended on 28th October 2001, due to adverse economic conditions facing the aviation industry following the September 11 terrorist attack in the USA.
SIA’s budget arm Scoot launched Singapore – Kuantan flights in December 2017, and it continues to fly there.
Langkawi
Langkawi 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Launched
Terminated
2nd November 1988
1989
—– DURATION —– ~ 1 year
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 757-200
History
Launched on 2nd November 1988 via Penang in both directions, once-weekly every Wednesday using Boeing 757s.
Operated in cooperation with Malaysia Airlines, who launched a once-weekly Sunday service via Kuala Lumpur three months earlier. Langkawi was Changi Airport’s 100th destination.
The service was short-lived, ending the following year.
SilkAir had started Langkawi flights by 2004, then the route transferred to Scoot in April 2018.
Port Moresby
Port Moresby 🇵🇬 Papa New Guinea
Launched
Terminated
28th October 1987
~1993
—– DURATION —– ~6 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300
History
Launched on 28th October 1987 as a joint service with Air Niugini.
Each carrier operated one flight per week on the route.
SIA deployed the Airbus A310 to and from Port Moresby, but services were transferred solely to Air Niugini sometime in 1993/94.
The Lost Cities: North Asia
Six cities in the North Asia region were previously served by SIA, but no longer feature on the route network.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou 🇨🇳 China
Launched
Terminated
1st November 1995
30th November 1998
—– DURATION —– 3.1 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300
History
Singapore Airlines took over SilkAir’s flights to and from Hangzhou on 1st November 1995, after the regional division returned its Airbus A310s to the mainline carrier, leaving it with no suitable aircraft to fly the four-hour route.
Airbus A310s were used on the once-weekly service, which was discontinued at the end of November 1998 due to low passenger loads.
SilkAir returned to Hangzhou in June 2014, then the route was transferred to SIA’s budget carrier Scoot in October 2015.
Hiroshima
Hiroshima 🇯🇵 Japan
Launched
Terminated
1st November 1993
March 2003
—– DURATION —– 9.3 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300 Boeing 777-200ER
History
Launched on 1st November 1993, with three times weekly service using Airbus A310s.
Flights were initially suspended in March 2003, provisionally until 31st May 2003, due to the impact of the SARS pandemic.
However, it was then announced in late April 2003 that the route had been permanently axed from the network.
SilkAir returned to Hiroshima in October 2017, but axed the route in March 2020, due to low demand.
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung 🇹🇼 Taiwan
Launched
Terminated
2nd September 1984
31st March 1988
—– DURATION —– 3.6 years
Launched
Terminated
26th March 1995
12th April 2003
—– DURATION —– 8.1 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A300B4-200 Airbus A310-300
History
Launched on 2nd September 1984, twice per week using the Airbus A300 on a Singapore – Kaohsiung – Seoul routing.
The route was axed in late March 1988, due to poor performance.
Tradewinds (which later became SilkAir) operated the route from August 1990 to March 1995, initially with Boeing 737-300s but later Airbus A310s.
SIA took over from SilkAir 26th March 1995, five times weekly using the Airbus A310.
The route ended 12th April 2003, during the SARS pandemic.
Since then, both SilkAir and Scoot have operated Singapore – Kaohsiung flights, but neither ever stuck with the route.
Macau
Macau 🇲🇴 Macau
Launched
Terminated
1st December 1995
28th October 2001
—– DURATION —– 5.9 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300
History
Launched on 1st December 1995, twice weekly every Tuesday and Friday using the Airbus A310.
The route ended on 28th October 2001, due to adverse economic conditions facing the aviation industry following the September 11 terrorist attack in the USA.
SilkAir then started Macau flights eight months later, on 2nd July 2002, but terminated the route on 1st January 2005.
SIA’s budget carrier Scoot inherited the Singapore – Macau route from Tigerair Singapore following their merger in July 2017. The route has been part of Scoot’s network since then, though there were interruptions in 2020/21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nanjing
Nanjing 🇨🇳 China
Launched
Terminated
28th March 2004
26th March 2010
—– DURATION —– 6.0 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Boeing 777-200ER
History
SIA launched flights to Nanjing on 28th March 2004, operating three times weekly.
Frequency was reduced to twice weekly in early 2009.
The route was then terminated on 26th March 2010, due to low demand.
Scoot launched Singapore – Nanjing flights in June 2013, and now offers up to daily service on the route.
Sendai
Sendai 🇯🇵 Japan
Launched
Terminated
27th October 1991
1st October 1998
—– DURATION —– 6.9 years
Aircraft Type(s) Used
Airbus A310-300
History
Launched on 27th October 1991, three times weekly using the Airbus A310.
Frequencies later grew to five times weekly.
SIA terminated non-stop Singapore – Sendai flights on 1st October 1998, stating that the route had seen poor passenger load factors over the previous nine months, amid an economic slowdown in Japan.
The Lost Airports
In addition to axing over 40 cities from its route network over the years, Singapore Airlines has also ceased operations at a number of airports too – sometimes for strategic reasons but mostly because they simply closed, or had their international operations moved to new facilities.
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Of course the most significant of those is right here in Singapore, with the airline shifting entire operations from its original home at Singapore International Airport (Paya Lebar) across to Singapore Changi Airport in July 1981.
A Singapore Airlines Boeing 737-100 at Singapore Paya Lebar Airport. (Photo: National Museum of Singapore)
Here’s the full list of airports that lost SIA service.
Athens Ellinikon Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to the new Athens International Airport in March 2001, following the closure of Ellinikon Airport, before terminating its services to the city in 2012.
Bangkok Don Mueang Singapore Airlines transferred its operations from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (then called Bangkok International Airport) to the city’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport when the old airport closed in September 2006. Don Mueang reopened in March 2007, but SIA has remained at Suvarnabhumi ever since.
Chengdu Shuangliu Singapore Airlines relocated its operations in Chengdu, China, from Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) to the new Tianfu International Airport (TFU) on 26th March 2023. Shuangliu Airport remains operational, but now primarily handles domestic flights.
Hong Kong Kai Tak Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to Hong Kong’s new Chek Lap Kok Airport in July 1998, where it still operates, following the closure of Kai Tak.
Istanbul Ataturk Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to the new Istanbul Airport in April 2019, where it still operates. Ataturk Airport remains operational, but now handles private jets.
Jakarta Halim Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in May 1991, where it still operates. Halim Airport now only handles domestic flights.
Kuala Lumpur Subang Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport in June 1998, where it still operates. Subang Airport remains operational, and now even handles international flights once again.
Medan Polonia Singapore Airlines first operated flights to Medan’s Polonia International Airport in the 1970s, but the route was transferred to SilkAir on 1st August 1992. By the time SIA took back the Medan route from SilkAir in 2021, flights had transferred to the new Medan Kualanamu International Airport. Polonia Airport is now an military airbase.
Osaka Itami Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to Osaka’s new Kansai Airport in September 1994. Itami Airport now only handles domestic flights.
Paris Orly Singapore Airlines transferred its operations from Paris Orly Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in late March 1988. Orly Airport now handles mostly intra-Europe flights.
Phnom Penh International Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to Phnom Penh’s new Techo International Airport in September 2025, following the closure of the old Phnom Penh International Airport.
Seoul Gimpo Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport in March 2001, where it still operates. Gimpo is now the city’s secondary airport.
Shanghai Hongqiao Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport in late 1999, where it still operates. Hongqiao is now the city’s secondary airport, predominantly serving domestic flights.
Siem Reap International Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to Siem Reap’s new Angkor International Airport in October 2023, following the closure of the old Siem Reap International Airport.
Singapore Paya Lebar Singapore Airlines transferred its operations to Singapore Changi Airport when it first opened in July 1981. Paya Lebar Airport is now a military airbase, but also supports some civil aircraft maintenance activities. It is due to close around 2030, for redevelopment into a new town.
Can you help?
Despite some extensive research, it hasn’t been possible for us to paint a completely full picture of SIA’s operation on all of these discontinued routes.
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We would therefore be really grateful if you could chime in via the comments section below with any further details or corrections you have, and we’ll update the details as necessary.
Thanks in advance for any inputs!
SIA’s current network
While over 40 cities have disappeared from SIA’s passenger route network over the years, the carrier is still serving over 70 cities and airports today.
Our recent overview of the current winter 2025 / 26 schedule for the airline provides additional details.
You can also see a full list of flights and aircraft types currently operating on the network at our dedicated Business Class Seats by Route page.
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Summary
Singapore Airlines has flown to over 40 cities across the world that have subsequently seen passenger service withdrawn, for a variety of reasons, over the last five decades or so.
Many of these were in the West Asia and Middle East region, important staging posts for older jets that lacked non-stop range to reach Europe from Singapore, but that all changed with the advent of Boeing 747-300 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft from the mid-to-late 1980s.
Some of the surprisingly short-lived routes include Las Vegas, Malta and Langkawi, but of course there were some incredibly long stints too, most notably for Athens (40 years) and Cairo (30 years).
Which routes on the list surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments section below, along with your own experiences and of course any corrections or improvements to our analysis!
Love this post! Absolutely insightful and gives readers who weren’t around during SQ’s golden age years a deeper understanding of the airline’s operations.
SQ used to operate to PEN as SQ192/191, SQ196/195, and SQ198/197, but stopped flying to PEN for a while. Last flight SQ192/191 on 30Nov09 operated by 9V-SVH. Subsequently taken over by SilkAir. Post-COVID, following the merger of SilkAir back into mainline operations, SQ restarted flights back to PEN under different flight numbers, and utilising narrowbody 737s.
1. HNL was operated by Scoot from Dec 2017 to Jun 2019, so 1.5 years instead of the 6 months mentioned.
2. NKG was taken over by Scoot from Jun 2013 on the B777.
3. BER for Scoot is currently operated via ATH and was previously operated as a non-stop before COVID and also in 2021-2023.
4. Fair to say Scoot now flies to all the SEA destinations mentioned, along with Macau.
Some routes were taken over by Scoot until today. Others are dropped because SQ is in an alliance and the alliance partner airline can provide a more frequent service. With code share SQ doesn’t need to do everything herself.
Medan Polonia (MES) was one of the old airports formerly served by Singapore Airlines before it got transferred into Silkair. The airport switch to Medan Kualanamu (KNO) happened when the route is still under Silkair in 2013. Singapore Airlines only returned to the route postpandemic with B737s.
SIA operated SIN-HKG-TPE, SIN-TPE-NRT/KIX/LAX/ICN. TPE once to be SIA’s regional HUB.
Scoot was operated daily SIN-KHH-KIX wz A320 till COVID break out. Base on flight load factor and market activities in recent years, SIA management seems not much interest to further develop and put resources in SIN-TWN market, no matter how their TPE flight are full. The seasonal supplement flight does not coming with any marketing movement.
Love this post! Absolutely insightful and gives readers who weren’t around during SQ’s golden age years a deeper understanding of the airline’s operations.
Scoot still flies to macau!
I remember doing a SIN-Moscow-Houston-Moscow-SIN SQ flight when I was a cabin crew between 2007 and 2009.
SQ used to operate to PEN as SQ192/191, SQ196/195, and SQ198/197, but stopped flying to PEN for a while. Last flight SQ192/191 on 30Nov09 operated by 9V-SVH. Subsequently taken over by SilkAir. Post-COVID, following the merger of SilkAir back into mainline operations, SQ restarted flights back to PEN under different flight numbers, and utilising narrowbody 737s.
Scoot has replaced SIA in flying to Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching and Nanjing! 🙂
Just a few editorial corrections
1. HNL was operated by Scoot from Dec 2017 to Jun 2019, so 1.5 years instead of the 6 months mentioned.
2. NKG was taken over by Scoot from Jun 2013 on the B777.
3. BER for Scoot is currently operated via ATH and was previously operated as a non-stop before COVID and also in 2021-2023.
4. Fair to say Scoot now flies to all the SEA destinations mentioned, along with Macau.
I love your maps, which program did you use to create those?
I have flown to most of the lost cities including Tehran.
B772 also operated to HIJ
For Lost Airports, you forgot Kuala Lumpur (Subang to KLIA in 1998)
Some routes were taken over by Scoot until today. Others are dropped because SQ is in an alliance and the alliance partner airline can provide a more frequent service. With code share SQ doesn’t need to do everything herself.
I remembered I flew non-stop to Las Vegas in 2002. It was using the new long-haul plane, the same non-stop plane to New York.
I am relatively certain SQ had served Beirut in the 70s. I remember a poster with the title “Paris of the Middle East”.
Great article Andrew. Just chiming in, in terms of Lost Airports, I believed SQ operated to Shanghai Hongqiao before shifting to Pudong..?
Thank you for this! I vaguely remember Singapore Airlines flying to Cairns in the past, though….
SilkAir took over the Kota Kinabalu and Kuching routes; these in turn were later taken over by Scoot.
SQ moved from CTU to TFU in 2023; CTU now only has domestic flights
would love to have DVO back
Medan Polonia (MES) was one of the old airports formerly served by Singapore Airlines before it got transferred into Silkair. The airport switch to Medan Kualanamu (KNO) happened when the route is still under Silkair in 2013. Singapore Airlines only returned to the route postpandemic with B737s.
Great work!
Can SQ or Scoot start a direct flight to Semarang, Indonesia please?
SIA operated SIN-HKG-TPE, SIN-TPE-NRT/KIX/LAX/ICN. TPE once to be SIA’s regional HUB.
Scoot was operated daily SIN-KHH-KIX wz A320 till COVID break out. Base on flight load factor and market activities in recent years, SIA management seems not much interest to further develop and put resources in SIN-TWN market, no matter how their TPE flight are full. The seasonal supplement flight does not coming with any marketing movement.