Singapore Airlines: Again flying London to Australia via Singapore

It’s been hard for Australians returning from the United Kingdom and Europe. Airline choices have been limited, with most people I know choosing Qatar Airlines. Its difficult to blame the airlines either when they are limited to 50 or so passengers per flight due to capacity limits on arrivals heading into hotel quarantine in most capital cities.

Singapore transfer

It looked like yet another route was being closed due to the outbreak of what is thought to be a more contagious – although not more severe version of COVID-19 in Britain. The Singaporean government decided last week to block people traveling from the UK to Singapore.

However Patrick Hatch over at the Traveller is reporting that Singapore Airlines has confirmed that as of Friday, they have received approval to transport passengers from Heathrow Airport in the UK via Singapore through to Sydney and on to Auckland.

No disembarkation

There will be know stopping at Singapore for a quick shop, either at the Airport or in town. Passengers will be confined to the aircraft, and will be segregated from other passengers on board. You will also need to supply the airline with a negative result from a PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of boarding the plane before Singapore Airlines will allow you to travel.

SIA comes forth

Singapore Airlines has been running over 30 flights per week into Australia covering most capital cities in the last few months. That is despite limits of around 30 passengers per flight.

According to data supplied by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics, 2760 passengers travelled with Singapore Airlines into Australia in October, or about 7.5% of all international passenger traffic. That put the carrier forth behind Qatar, New Zealand Airlines and Emirates.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

Good move Singapore! There are still thousands of Australians wanting to return home. OK, some of the crush was caused by the wish to reunite with family over Christmas, but some of the demand is to return from the pandemic infested hell-hole that is Europe and the UK (they separated, and the divorce wasn’t pretty!) to the relatively light touch restrictions and almost no cases (in comparison) of Australia.

Oh, and you know that speculated travel bubble between Singapore and Australia – in The famous line from The Castle film, spoken by Darryl Kerrigan who lived under a flight path: ‘You’re dreaming!’