SQ flights to Cairns & Darwin

[Andrew Curran]

The Cairns Post is reporting an announcement is imminent about SQ flying into Cairns from Singapore using Boeing 737-800. SilkAir formerly flew the route.

The article is behind a paywall, but the report states:

A Cairns Airport spokesman said an exact time frame on new flights will be known in the “coming days”.

“(Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker) will announce jointly with Singapore Airlines,” he said.

“But (details are) still to be confirmed due to airline operational requirements, crew etc.”

No Cookies | The Cairns Post

 

[AIRwin]

I saw an A350 on flightradar24 recently:

 

[Andrew Curran]

I saw an A350 on flightradar24 recently:
View attachment 271491

It's the weekly freighter service

 

[dajop]

The Cairns Post is reporting an announcement is imminent about SQ flying into Cairns from Singapore using Boeing 737-800. SilkAir formerly flew the route.

The article is behind a paywall, but the report states:

A Cairns Airport spokesman said an exact time frame on new flights will be known in the “coming days”.

“(Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker) will announce jointly with Singapore Airlines,” he said.

“But (details are) still to be confirmed due to airline operational requirements, crew etc.”

No Cookies | The Cairns Post

SilkAir routes have been going to either SQ or Scoot. It sounds like CNS is going to be SQ, which will be ultimately good for those in J, with the new regional lie flat product on the 737's, and being one of the longest routes, CNS along with HIW HIJ and PUS (if they return to those ports) would be strong candidates for the planes with the lie flat J.

 

[AIRwin]

HIW

HIJ?

 

[dajop]

HIJ?

Oops, yes HIJ.

 

[Andrew Curran]

SIA has confirmed three times a week flights from March 28 using 737-800NG planes. SQ203 daytime flights down to CNS on Mon, Wed, Fri. SQ204 to SIN same day, landing there at 23:00. 12 Business Class and 150 Economy Class seats.

 

[jase05]

SIA has confirmed three times a week flights from March 28 using 737-800NG planes. SQ203 daytime flights down to CNS on Mon, Wed, Fri. SQ204 to SIN same day, landing there at 23:00. 12 Business Class and 150 Economy Class seats.

Great for CNS but still on a 737 with pretty ordinary J seats unfortunately

 

[HS-TQE]

Definitely a shot in the arm for North Qld. I'd say one of the few cases where the Qld Gov's Airline subsidy is actually needed, IMO.

Whether if it translate into staying for the longer term beyond that period is another question entirely, although working with Queensland Tourism to market the service would help on the Singapore end (and beyond) for inbound tourism ex-Asia as a major hub carrier.

 

[dajop]

Great for CNS but still on a 737 with pretty ordinary J seats unfortunately

Yeh, I’m sure they’ll get the new planes eventually though, when there’s enough of them. At least they’re day flights in both directions. Well for those originating in SIN or CNS anyway.

I notice well timed for connections to/from Europe.

 

[AFF Editor]

Singapore Airlines will also resume flights between Darwin and Singapore from 29 March.

Singapore Airlines Returns to Darwin & Cairns

Singapore Airlines will resume regular flights from both Darwin and Cairns to Singapore from the end of March 2022. It brings the number of Australian

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Scarlett]

The CNS-SIN route was previously flown by SilkAir before the pandemic so this is really just resumption of the route. (Edit: as mentioned in the article above)
I’m pretty certain when we flew it in 2018 it was an almost brand new 737 Max… long flight in Y and not particularly comfortable, but convenient.

 

[HS-TQE]

On a related note 3K (J* Asia) has resumed passenger flights between DRW and SIN just recently. (Not sure if they were running freight-only during the pandemic period) Currently twice-weekly.

 

[zoomaloid2000]

Great for CNS but still on a 737 with pretty ordinary J seats unfortunately

Yes, it's unfortunate. I shall still have to go via Syd/Bris/Melb to get a decent seat for UK trips.

 

[serfty]

Great for CNS but still on a 737 with pretty ordinary J seats unfortunately

I do not think the J seats for CNS are ordinary:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=295656825910672

A World Class Experience | Singapore Airlines

www.silverkris.com/siaB737-8/

There seems a fair bit of Business award availability- just booked I class CNS-SIN for 53k Velocity and $95.

SQ charge 62k points, similar $.

 

[jase05]

I do not think the J seats for CNS are ordinary:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=295656825910672

A World Class Experience | Singapore Airlines

www.silverkris.com/siaB737-8/

There seems a fair bit of Business award availability- just booked I class CNS-SIN for 53k Velocity and $95.

SQ charge 62k points, similar $.

Thanks, that’s good to know.
I was under the impression that it was only the MAX’s that had this setup and that they weren’t scheduled to fly to Australia.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks, that’s good to know.
I was under the impression that it was only the MAX’s that had this setup and that they weren’t scheduled to fly to Australia.

It is only the MAX with this setup, but SQ is now flying to MAX on CNS-SIN. DRW-SIN still has the 738s with recliner J seats.

 

[jase05]

It is only the MAX with this setup, but SQ is now flying to MAX on CNS-SIN. DRW-SIN still has the 738s with recliner J seats.

Thanks, I hadn’t heard any mention that the MAX was coming to Australia and thought that CNS and DRW were both just getting the recliner seats. Fantastic news for CNS travellers

 

[zoomaloid2000]

I do not think the J seats for CNS are ordinary:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=295656825910672

A World Class Experience | Singapore Airlines

www.silverkris.com/siaB737-8/

There seems a fair bit of Business award availability- just booked I class CNS-SIN for 53k Velocity and $95.

SQ charge 62k points, similar

I do not think the J seats for CNS are ordinary:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=295656825910672

A World Class Experience | Singapore Airlines

www.silverkris.com/siaB737-8/

There seems a fair bit of Business award availability- just booked I class CNS-SIN for 53k Velocity and $95.

SQ charge 62k points, similar $.

At last. The substandard seats offered before the pandemic were the reason I didn't fly to UK with SQ. Mind you, EY via Syd for $7,500 is pretty good value.

 

[Mark3000]

Thanks, I hadn’t heard any mention that the MAX was coming to Australia and thought that CNS and DRW were both just getting the recliner seats. Fantastic news for CNS travellers

flew on the Max recently from SIN-DRW and it was great The middle "throne" seats are amazing.
So much better than the old recliners