In a significant shift for its international operations, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced it will terminate its Manchester-Houston route effective April 1, 2025. This route, part of the airline's fifth-freedom service connecting Manchester Airport in England to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, has been a notable feature of SIA's network since its inception in October 2016. The service, which resumed in December 2021 after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will cease as part of a broader realignment of the airline’s route network.
Currently, the Manchester-Houston segment operates five times a week using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Despite the discontinuation of this particular leg, Singapore Airlines will continue its flights between Singapore and Manchester, maintaining its five weekly services on flights SQ302 and SQ301. This adjustment is part of SIA's strategic decision to focus on optimizing its network based on passenger demand and operational efficiency.
Looking ahead, Singapore Airlines is gearing up to expand its services to several key European destinations. Starting March 30, 2025, the airline will increase its flights to London Gatwick Airport from five times a week to daily, complementing its existing four daily flights to London Heathrow. Additionally, the frequency of flights to Rome's Fiumicino Airport will rise from four times weekly to five during the summer peak season from June 26 to August 28, 2025.
In a noteworthy change, SIA will restructure its flights to Milan and Barcelona. From June 24 to September 7, 2025, the airline will operate five direct flights a week to Barcelona, up from the current two weekly services, while Milan will see a daily service, an increase from the existing four flights per week. This move comes as part of the airline’s plan to streamline its operations and better cater to high-demand routes during the busy summer months.
Furthermore, Singapore Airlines plans to boost frequencies on several other routes. Flights to Adelaide, Australia will rise from daily to ten times weekly for the northern winter 2024-25 and summer 2025 seasons. Ho Chi Minh City will also see an increase to three daily flights, up from 19 weekly, and Siem Reap will have twice-daily services compared to the current daily schedule. Additionally, SIA will enhance its service to Johannesburg, increasing flights to ten per week during peak periods.
In terms of aircraft deployment, Singapore Airlines will temporarily switch to Airbus A380 for its Tokyo Narita services from March 30 to May 31, 2025, replacing the Boeing 787-10 on one of its two daily flights. However, the A380 will not operate to Mumbai and Delhi during specific periods in 2025, being replaced by the Boeing 777-300ER instead.
Dai Haoyu, acting senior vice president for marketing planning at Singapore Airlines, explained that these adjustments are part of the airline’s regular review of its network to align capacity with evolving demand. "These changes are designed to meet the increased travel demand to several key destinations, particularly during the mid-year peak travel season, ensuring our customers can make their 2025 travel plans with confidence," he said.
As Singapore Airlines continues to adapt its network strategy, these updates highlight the airline's commitment to optimizing its service offerings and responding to global travel trends.
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