SIA to launch flights from Singapore linking Canberra, Wellington

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) will operate flights to both the Australian and New Zealand capitals from Sept 20, making it the first airline with flights linking the two cities.

SIA will operate a Singapore-Canberra-Wellington routing (subject to the relevant approvals) four times weekly using 266-seat retrofitted Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The plane will have 38 Business Class seats and 228 Economy Class seats. Return flights will be on a Wellington-Canberra-Singapore routing.

SIA will also be the first airline to operate regularly scheduled international services to and from Canberra.

"This new service linking Singapore, Canberra and Wellington reflects the close ties between the three countries," said SIA chief Goh Choon Phong. "We are excited about the prospects for our new 'Capital Express' route, which we are confident will appeal to leisure, government and corporate travellers."

The new Canberra services will add to SIA's Australia network, which currently includes Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Regional wing SilkAir also serves Cairns and Darwin, while a wide-ranging partnership with Virgin Australia tacks on a further 40 codeshare destinations.

In New Zealand, SIA currently serves Auckland and Christchurch.