Singapore Airlines (SIA) has expanded its Australian capacity by deploying it A350 to Cairns. SIA already flies four daily flights to Perth.
The airline has confirmed the Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft will be deployed between Singapore and the city of Cairns four times per week from March 2024 for the very time.
The airline currently flies the route with the Boeing 737-8 service, which is almost 50% less in capacity than what the A350 has to offer.
As of now, SIA serves Cairns with 540 seats per week but with A350 in service the number of seats will increase to 2,424 seats per week as of the end of March 2024, just before easter holidays.
“These additional seats will be ideal for the airline to bolster the post-pandemic recovery,” remarked Richard Barker, chief executive, Cairns Airport. “These upgraded flights are a win for both travelers and local industries, who will benefit from the increase of visitors to our region. Singapore Airlines has an extensive global network and, since returning to Cairns in early 2022, has been very popular with inbound visitors but also Cairns locals traveling overseas on holidays or to visit friends and relatives.”
The A350 boasts of 40 business class seats and 263 in the economy.
Louis Arul, regional vice president South West Pacific, said: “The operation of the Airbus A350-900 is a historic moment for Cairns airport and that Singapore Airlines is proud to make that moment. The A350-900 aircraft’s arrival on 31 March marks the first time a 303-seater SIA wide-body aircraft will operate a scheduled passenger flight on the Singapore-Cairns route.”
“Over the course of 2021, SIA supported local producers through the Government’s IFAM program, deploying the A350-900 on cargo missions only,” Arul added. “Deploying the widebody, 303-seat A350-900 for passenger services in 2024 is a testament to Cairns’ recovery as a destination and its appeal to international visitors. The increase in capacity, for both passengers and cargo, will support the local tourism industry as well as local producers, and I am excited to see the aircraft land on 31 March.”