Summary
- SIA operates Boeing 777s on short-haul routes in Asia-Pacific under 3,000 miles, catering to growing demand.
- Notable routes like SIN-PEK, PVG, HKG, and CGK showcase high capacity and strong competition.
- Utilizing widebody aircraft like the 777 allows SIA to maintain service standards while meeting demand.
Long-haul flights operated by Singapore Airlines (SIA) are well known for linking Singapore with important locations across the globe. But the airline also uses its Boeing 777s to fly a number of shorter routes, mostly in Asia-Pacific.
According to ch-aviation, Singapore Airlines operates 141 aircraft, of which 18 are 777-300ER
Singapore Airlines also has 31 Boeing 777-9s on order
and is confident that its first Boeing 777-9 will be delivered in 2025.
Using September 2024 data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, we are able to pinpoint four routes flown by Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777 fleet that are less than 3,000 miles long.
Singapore (SIN) to Beijing (PEK)
|
Singapore (SIN) – Beijing (PEK) |
|
|---|---|
|
Distance |
2,779 miles (4,472 km) |
|
Operations |
30 |
|
Seats |
7,920 |
|
Available Seat Miles (ASMs) |
22,009,680 |
|
Other aircraft used on this route by SIA |
Boeing 787, Airbus A350 |
Of the short-haul Boeing 777 operations that have been identified, the SIN-PEK route is the longest and the one has the largest capacity. Beijing, the capital of China, is an important market for Singapore Airlines.
Photo: hodim | Shutterstock
Air China is a significant rival on this particular route, using the Boeing 787, Airbus A350, and Airbus A330.
Singapore Airlines announced in June 2024
that it would expand the weekly flights to Beijing Capital International Airport to 21 commencing in August 2024 and begin daily service to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) in November 2024.
In total, SIA and its budget airline Scoot will run 28 weekly flights to Beijing, covering 24 locations across the Chinese mainland.
Singapore (SIN) to Shanghai (PVG)
|
Singapore (SIN) – Shanghai (PVG) |
|
|---|---|
|
Distance |
2,357 miles (3,794 km) |
|
Operations |
16 |
|
Seats |
4,224 |
|
Available Seat Miles (ASMs) |
9,955,968 |
|
Other aircraft used on this route by SIA |
Boeing 787, Airbus A350, Airbus A380 |
One of SIA’s most important markets, China, is highlighted via the route to Shanghai. The route satisfies the increasing demand for connectivity between Southeast Asia and China by supporting significant economic and trade linkages.
On this fiercely contested route, the airlines operating the same route are Air China with the Airbus A350 and China Eastern with the Airbus A350 and Airbus A320. Spring Airlines uses the Airbus A320, while Juneyao Airlines uses the Boeing 787 and Airbus A321neo.
Singapore (SIN) – Hong Kong (HKG)
|
Singapore (SIN) – Hong Kong (HKG) |
|
|---|---|
|
Distance |
1,587 miles (2,553 km) |
|
Operations |
15 |
|
Seats |
3,960 |
|
Available Seat Miles (ASMs) |
6,284,520 |
|
Other aircraft used on this route by SIA |
Airbus A350, Airbus A380 |
At 1,587 miles (2,553 km), this route facilitates high volumes of business traffic between the two financial hubs. The 15 operations each way indicate a measured capacity offering, with competitors like Cathay Pacific also vying for market share on this route, with the Airbus A350.
Singapore Airlines announced on March 2024
that it would replace the Airbus A380 with a Boeing 777-300ER on one of its daily Singapore-Hong Kong flights in April and May, reducing capacity on the route. The A380 would return for the rest of the year, except for some October flights. Additionally, the Singapore-Shanghai route would see increased A380 services in August 2024.
The same route is also flown by Singapore Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary Scoot, with a Boeing 787.
Photo: Acambium64 | Shutterstock
Singapore (SIN) – Jakarta (CGK)
|
Singapore (SIN) – Jakarta (CGK) |
|
|---|---|
|
Distance |
546 mi (879 km) |
|
Operations |
60 |
|
Seats |
15,840 |
|
Available Seat Miles (ASMs) |
8,648,640 |
|
Other aircraft used on this route by SIA |
Airbus A350 |
The shortest Boeing 777 route operated by Singapore Airlines is to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, which is just 546 miles (879 km) away. With a huge capacity of 15,840 seats, this corridor sees a considerable 60 operations in each direction.
This market is marked by strong demand and fierce rivalry from airlines such as Garuda Indonesia, which operates the route with the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330.
Other air carriers operating the same route using the Airbus A320 are Citilink Indonesia, TransNusa, Batik Air, Thai Lion Air (operated by Batik Air), Jetstar, Indonesia AirAsia, and Scoot.
The Boeing 777’s use on these shorter flights demonstrates Singapore Airlines’ strategy of using widebody aircraft to handle growing demand while upholding strong service standards.
These routes are essential to Singapore Airlines’ hub-and-spoke network since they enable the airline to fill its long-haul network with passengers from significant Asian markets. The high frequency of operations on these lines indicates their critical significance in connection with maintenance and operational flexibility.
Have you taken any of these flights before? If so, please share your flight experience with us in the comments section below.