SIA, SilkAir to resume flights to San Francisco, Nagoya from Dec

Singapore

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) and its regional wing SilkAir will reinstate flights to San Francisco and Nagoya between December 2020 and January 2021.

Meanwhile, Jetstar Asia said separately on Friday that passengers travelling from six South-east Asian cities will be able to transit through Changi Airport to nine onward destinations from Dec 1, as long as their connection is within 48 hours.

Non-stop flights from San Francisco International Airport to Singapore will start on Dec 17, reported airline market intelligence platform Aviator.

The reinstated flights come amid a slew of changes which will allow the SIA group to reach about 19 per cent of its pre-Covid-19 levels by the end of January 2021, according to its press statement on Thursday.

Both SIA and SilkAir will also increase frequencies on selected services, the national carrier said.

Scoot's services to Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Perth will be temporarily suspended, while SIA and SilkAir increase their frequencies on those routes.

Meanwhile, SIA and SilkAir will temporarily suspend services to Penang, Surabaya and Taipei, while Scoot operates flights to these destinations at higher frequencies.

These changes are subject to regulatory approval and are expected to take place in November and December 2020.

SIA said the adjustment of services among SIA, SilkAir and Scoot is the result of a detailed review to determine which airlines in the SIA group portfolio are best suited to meet evolving customer and cargo demand.

SIA was to be one of two airlines plying the route between Singapore and Hong Kong when a bilateral travel bubble - earlier scheduled for Nov 22 - comes into effect.

As a start, there was be one flight a day into each city with a quota of 200 travellers per flight.

Separately on Friday, Jetstar Asia said its passengers travelling from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Phnom Penh will be able to transit through Changi Airport to another city served by the budget carrier.

Transiting customers will need to book the full journey on one booking and must check with relevant authorities if they meet the entry requirements for their final destination as restrictions may apply.

Some measures Jetstar has introduced include transit passengers wearing a wristband provided at the port of origin check-in, having transit passengers sit at the front of the plane to disembark first, and guidance by airport staff to a transit holding area or transit hotel.

These measures will not apply to transit passengers arriving from Vietnam due to the unilateral reopening of borders to the country.

All passengers arriving in Singapore must also wear a mask at all times and practise safe distancing, Jetstar said.

SIA shares closed at S$4.09 on Friday, up 0.74 per cent or three cents.