SINGAPORE AIRLINES: Swaps Boeing 737 for Airbus A350 to Cairns

Upgrade your seat to Business Class if you are booked on this Cairns to Singapore route from 31 March. Singapore Airlines currently uses a 737 MAX-8 aircraft on the route five times a week, but it is swapping it out for an Airbus A350, but reducing frequency to only four times per week.

The good news is that it nearly doubles capacity on the route. In business class, the capacity per flight increases from 10 to 40 seats. In Economy it goes from 154 seats on the 737 to 303 seats on the Airbus A350.

Singapore Airlines A350 Seat configuration

In the A350 Business Class, you’ll get the regional seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat converting into a fully-flat bed. That compares to just 10 seats in the Boeoing 737s. Mind you, you will not have any ‘throne’ seats on the replacement aircraft. The A350 gives you larger 18-inch HD screen plus AC and USB ports.

The economy cabin moves from a 3-3 configuration on the B737 to a 3-3-3 on the Airbus A350.

Singapore Airlines Flights

The Singapore Airlines’ A350 scheduled flights between Cairns and the Merlion city run:

• SQ203 8:40 am from Singapore (Sun, Mon, Wed & Fri) arrives Cairns 5:00 pm
• SQ204 6:15 pm from Cairns (same day) arrives Singapore 10:40 pm

Flight time is around 7 hours between Cairns and the state of Singapore.

Singapore Airlines Lounge access

Unfortunately, no Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance lounge in Cairns for elite Krysflyer members or Business Class passengers. Current advice to passengers is to approach the check-in desk to find out what interim arrangements are. Cairns airport is not flush with lounges. The Cairns Reef Lounge in the International Terminal is currently closed. In Singapore, you will have access to the SilverKris Business Lounge at Changi Airports Terminal 3.

2PAXfly Takeout

Singapore Airlines has a major presence in Australia with 128 flights a week servicing Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Singapore Airlines is bringing forward its additional fight from Brisbane to make up four per week from the previously scheduled November, to the earlier August.

Anyone who has flown with Singapore Airlines will know they are one of the best airlines in the world. We welcome more capacity into Australia.