Singapore Airlines will resume two more fifth freedom flights in November: Frankfurt to New York and Hong Kong to San Francisco
Singapore Airlines announced that it will reinstate two fifth freedom services to USA in November 2021, using the four-class Boeing 777-300ERs.
The two services will resume SIA’s pre-pandemic connection between Frankfurt and New York as well as Hong Kong and San Francisco. Both these services will originate from Singapore to Frankfurt and Hong Kong respectively, before carrying on to USA.
SIA last flew between Hong Kong and San Francisco in February 2020, and between Frankfurt and New York in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold.
Tapping on reopening markets
This is the continuation of SIA’s strategy in tapping on regions with progressively relaxed border measures in recent months. SIA has earlier in the year launched intra-Europe flights between Copenhagen and Rome, and also introduced a Taipei – Los Angeles service.
In this latest development, SIA is definitely counting on the latest development in USA, who will ease restrictions and accept fully vaccinated travellers from 33 countries once again beginning November. Singapore is on the list of countries.
New USA services: Schedules
The two new services commencing November are:
SQ25/26 – Frankfurt to New York
SQ7/8 – Hong Kong to San Francisco
The full schedule are as follow:
SQ7/8 – Singapore – Hong Kong – San Francisco
(beginning 2 Nov 2021)
| Route | Day of Ops | Depart | Arrive | Flight Time | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore – Hong Kong | Tue, Thu, Sat | 0825 | 1225 | 4h | B777-300ER |
| Hong Kong – San Francisco | Tue, Thu, Sat | 1340 | 0940 | 12h | B777-300ER |
| San Francisco – Hong Kong | Tue, Thu, Sat | 1300 | 1910(+1) | 15h 10m | B777-300ER |
| Hong Kong – Singapore | Wed, Fri, Sun | 2040 | 0040(+1) | 4h | B777-300ER |
SQ26/25 – Singapore – Frankfurt – New York JFK
(beginning 1 Nov 2021)
| Route | Day of Ops | Depart | Arrive | Flight Time | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore – Frankfurt | Daily | 2355 | 0620(+1) | 13h 25m | B777-300ER |
| Frankfurt – New York JFK | Daily | 0820 | 1215 | 8h 55m | B777-300ER |
| New York JFK – Frankfurt | Daily | 2115 | 0950(+1) | 7h 35m | B777-300ER |
| Frankfurt – Singapore | Daily | 1140 | 0650(+1) | 12h 10m | B777-300ER |
Unfortunately, SIA will not be mounting an Airbus A380 for SQ26/25. The double decker jumbos remain in storage, although part of the fleet will return to the skies soon. This also means those who are waiting to take a ride in the coveted Suites will just have to wait a while longer.
For Frankfurt, there are also three times weekly Singapore – Frankfurt – Singapore SQ326/325 flights (which operate as VTL services on the FRA-SIN leg).
Boeing 777-300ERs
Singapore Airlines will mounting its Boeing 777-300ERs for both USA services.
The aircraft comprises 4 cabin classes, which can take 264 passengers. The number of seats available in each cabin are as follow:
| Cabin | Seats |
|---|---|
| First | 4 |
| Business | 48 |
| Premium Economy | 28 |
| Economy | 184 |
Final thoughts
With the resumption of these flights, SIA would have restored about two-thirds of its pre-Covid-19 roster of services to and from USA.
These developments are a natural follow up as countries start easing border restrictions. As USA opens up quarantine-free travel for vaccinated travellers from all of EU, the Frankfurt–New York leg is definitely geared at tapping travel between Europe and USA, which traditionally see strong demand pre Covid-19.
It would be fair to say that this will definitely not be the last of SIA’s fifth freedom ventures. The more interesting question is: where next?
Shanescape 