Scoot to operate only two routes in Apr & May; Jetstar Asia offers three routes since 21 Apr

While Singapore Airlines maintain a minimum link to key cities around the world, Singapore-based low cost carriers – Scoot & Jetstar Asia – has also quietly recommenced some services this month.

Scoot

Scoot began suspending flights since February, and subsequently suspended all services since late March.

The airline will operate to two cities, Hong Kong and Perth, three times a week in both April and May.

The full schedule as follow:

Sector	Flight no.	Days of ops	Dep	Arr	Flight time	Aircraft
Singapore – Hong Kong	TR980	Tue, Fri, Sun	1415	1820	4h 5m	B787-9
Hong Kong – Singapore	TR981	Tue, Fri, Sun	1920	2315	3h 55m	B787-9
Singapore – Perth	TR8	Tue	1200	1710	5h 10m	B787-9
	TR16	Fri	1530	2035	5h 5m	B787-9
	TR8	Sun	1200	1700	5h	B787-9
Perth – Singapore	TR9	Tue	1810	2345	5h 35m	B787-9
	TR17	Fri	2150	0315(+1)	5h 25m	B787-9
	TR9	Sun	1800	2320	5h 20m	B787-9

The airline has not made clear what service is available on these flights, but a check on the booking engine has shown that only the FlyBag product in Economy class is available for purchase.

ScootPlus, as well as meals, are not available for purchase, so if you need to make this trip, be prepared to bring your own.

Jetstar Asia

Jetstar Asia has suspended all services since 23 March, originally for three weeks, and subsequently extended until 19 May.

To facilitate freight shipments and to establish essential links to key regional cities, Jetstar has announced that it will run very limited flights to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila from 21 Apr.

Manila will be operated once a week on Tuesdays, while Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur will run twice weekly. Note that Singapore to Bangkok services will operate as freighters only and are not available for sale, given that Bangkok has barred all international passenger flights from landing.

The full schedule as follow:

Sector	Flight no.	Days of ops	Dep	Arr	Flight time	Aircraft
Singapore – Manila	3K761	Tue	0615	0955	3h 40m	A320
Manila – Singapore	3K762	Tue	1030	1415	3h 45m	A320
Singapore – Bangkok*	3K515	Wed, Sat	1045	1210	2h 25m	A320
Bangkok – Singapore	3K516	Wed, Sat	1250	1615	2h 25m	A320
Singapore – Kuala Lumpur	3K685	Thu	1250	1355	1h 5m	A320
	3K663	Sun	0935	1040	1h 5m	A320
Kuala Lumpur – Singapore	3K686	Thu	1440	1545	1h 5m	A320
	3K664	Sun	1120	1230	1h 10m	A320

Jetstar Asia has also added that these services are only available to citizens and permanent residents who are returning home, or those with prior written approval for travel.

Note that there will be in-flight services at all. All seatback magazines and menus have been removed, while in-flight meals and duty-free items will not be sold at all.

All passengers will also be required to wear masks at all times during the flight.

Final thoughts

These flights are obviously not for leisure, but to facilitate essential travel and transport of goods. Many may not be aware, but the bulk of air freight – including your fresh food, electronics, medication and many other goods – are transported in the belly of passenger aircraft.

In this extraordinary times where passenger aircraft are almost all on the ground, cargo space becomes very precious. Airlines around the world are flying some seemingly empty planes, but in reality they are probably filled to the bream carrying goods under the passenger cabin.