The first of Singapore Airlines’ three evening flights between South Africa and Singapore took to the skies from O. R. Tambo International Airport on 31 March. With demand growing for connectivity to Singapore’s Changi Airport as a gateway to Asia, Singapore Airlines now provides 10 flights a week from Singapore to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Singapore Airlines has been operating to South Africa for 27 years and currently operates daily daytime flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Singapore. Says Bongiwe Pityi-Vokwana, General Manager of O.R Tambo International Airport: “We have a long-standing and strong relationship with Singapore Airlines. We see the airline as a key partner providing Asian passengers access to the African continent and opening up a world of opportunities for African passengers travelling to the Asia Pacific region.”
Singapore Airlines has continuously invested in South Africa over the past 27 years and currently operates its new Airbus A350-900 aircraft on flights between South Africa and Singapore to meet growing travel and cargo demand. “The South African government sees Southeast Asia as a strategic trade partner and we believe that the additional three evening flights from our award-winning O.R Tambo International Airport will bolster trade relations, tourism growth and economic ties,” says Pityi-Vokwana.
Says, Kian Hwa Chua, Singapore Airlines General Manager for Central and South Africa: “Singapore Airlines has maintained its commitment to the South Africa route for nearly three decades now. We are delighted that increasing travel demand and growing trade links have enabled us to further expand our service.
“We have listened to our customers and travel trade partners’ requests to increase capacity on this route and offer more opportunities for South Africans to visit Singapore. In addition, we are able to offer more extensive travel options and seamless connectivity through our Singapore hub for customers travelling to destinations in the Asia-Pacific region such as Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand and Thailand.”
The three additional flights (coded SQ481) will depart from O.R Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings at 10.30pm and arrive at the award-winning Changi Airport at 2.55pm local time. The return flights from Singapore (coded SQ482) will also depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in the afternoon at 4.35pm local time and arrive in Johannesburg in the evening at 9.10pm local time. All flights will be operated on the Airbus 350 aircraft offering the latest inflight products and amenities with service that even other airlines talk about.
