Singapore Airlines will introduce four times weekly services to both Canberra and Wellington with a new ‘Capital Express’ route connecting the two capitals of Australia and New Zealand from 20 September 2016 subject to regulatory approvals.
A 266-seat retrofitted Boeing 777-200s fitted with 38 Business Class and 228 Economy Class seats will be operated on the Singapore – Canberra – Wellington and Wellington – Canberra – Singapore routes.
Singapore Airlines will be the first airline with flights between Canberra and Wellington as well as the first to operate regularly scheduled international services to and from Canberra.
Bookings for these flights will be available on a progressive basis through the Singapore Airlines website, call centres and travel agents in the coming weeks. Tickets go on sale from 25 January 2016.
VisitCanberra Director Ian Hill said the commencement of direct international flights would have a significant impact on Canberra and the region in terms of trade, investment and tourism.
Canberra’s recently opened international terminal is now perfectly positioned to welcome Singapore Airlines and for further international expansion. The airport offers a fitting gateway to the national capital as a result of the Capital Airport Group’s significant investment into infrastructure and facilities.
Canberra’s first international flight will arrive in time for Floriade, Australia’s biggest celebration of spring featuring more than one million flowers, which runs from 17 September to 16 October 2016.
The ‘Capital Express’ flight SQ 291 will depart Singapore on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 11pm and arrive in Canberra at 8.35am the next day. It continues on from Canberra to Wellington on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 9.50am and arrives in Wellington at 3.05pm.
The return flight SQ 292 will depart Wellington on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 8.15pm and arrive in Canberra at 10.05pm. It continues on from Canberra to Singapore on the same day at 11.30pm and arrives in Singapore at 5.50am the next day.
Timings of these flights will change soon after the launch date of 20 September 2016 due to daylight savings in Australia and New Zealand.
When you are in Wellington, take the opportunity to visit WETA Cave and learn about the world of movies and props making. Read about that here.
Singapore Airlines currently flies to the following cities in Australia – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney while its subsidiary SilkAir serves Cairns and Darwin. It has a partnership with Virgin Australia which includes its Australia network to another 40 codeshare destinations. The airline’s New Zealand destinations include Auckland and Christchurch and has an extensive partnership with fellow Star Alliance airline Air New Zealand which offers daily flights to Auckland.
