Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi) has confirmed plans to open up longhaul flights to the Australian capital, Canberra, with effect from September of this year.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the Singaporean carrier will operate 4x weekly Singapore Changi-Canberra and Canberra-Wellington return services on-board B777-200(ER) equipment with Virgin Australia International (VA, Brisbane International) codesharing on sectors between Canberra and Singapore. Singapore Airlines is also in the process of securing Fifth Freedom traffic rights for sectors between the Australian and New Zealand capitals.
“This new service linking Singapore, Canberra and Wellington reflects the close ties between the three countries,” Singapore Airlines CEO, Goh Choon Phong, said. “We are excited about the prospects for our new ‘Capital Express’ route, which we are confident will appeal to leisure, government and corporate travellers. We are especially pleased to be bringing more convenient travel options to customers with Canberra’s first regularly scheduled international flights and the first non-stop links between the capitals of Australia and New Zealand.”
