SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, today launched its inaugural flight to Cairns, the second Australian city in its route network, after Darwin. The addition of Cairns will increase the number of destinations in SilkAir’s route network to 49 destinations in 12 countries.
The inaugural flight departed this morning at 1.40am* from Changi Airport and is expected to arrive at Cairns International Airport at 10.25am. The return flight will take off at 11.55am and is expected to land in Singapore at 5.50pm.
Flights to Cairns will operate on a thrice weekly basis service on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, through a circular routing with Darwin. The inaugural flight and subsequent Saturday flights will depart Singapore for Cairns non-stop and then return to Singapore via Darwin. The Monday and Thursday flights will fly to Cairns via Darwin and then return to Singapore non-stop.
With the launch of Cairns, SilkAir together with parent company Singapore Airlines, offers a total of 121 services each week to seven points in Australia, namely Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
The new services will be operated with SilkAir’s latest Boeing 737-800 aircraft, featuring both Business and Economy class cabins. Customers will enjoy a full service experience, including in-flight meals, wireless inflight entertainment through SilkAir Studio, where movies, TV features and music tracks can be wirelessly streamed to customers’ personal device, baggage allowance of 40kg and 30kg for Business and Economy class respectively, as well as through check-in if they are connecting to or from another SilkAir or Singapore Airlines point via the Singapore hub.
To mark this special occasion, customers on the first flight out of Singapore were presented with a luggage tag, a turtle plush toy from Cairns to represent the nature and wildlife of the area, and inaugural flight certificates personally signed by Chief Executive SilkAir, Mr. Leslie Thng, and the flight commander.
Commenting on the launch, SilkAir’s Chief Executive, Mr. Leslie Thng said: “We are excited to be adding Cairns in our growing network and we look forward to connecting thrill-seeking leisure travellers with Australia’s adventure capital. This new route will also allow us to provide connectivity to travellers from Australia to Singapore and the rest of the world via our joint SilkAir-Singapore Airlines network of more than 90 destinations in 35 countries.”
Located in Queensland, Cairns is home to two of the world’s greatest natural wonders: the UNESCO listed Great Barrier Reef and 170 million years old Daintree rainforest. The dazzling natural environment shapes the region’s stunning landscape, from secluded island hideaways to eco-lodges, creating the perfect getaway for couples, friends and families. Be it whitewater rafting or diving, skydiving, zip-lining, walking amid primeval ferns or cuddling koalas, Cairns has something exciting for everyone.
Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Brown, said: “The connectivity with Singapore that the new SilkAir service provides will be a great boost for the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef destination.
“It is an exciting day here at Cairns Airport as we welcome SilkAir as a new international carrier to our city. This Singapore service is a key link in our international network, giving holiday visitors from Asia and Europe a new option for easy access direct into Cairns,” Mr. Brown said.
“It also offers convenient new options for local people to travel overseas, whether to enjoy Singapore as a destination in its own right or to connect through to other destinations.”
Australian customers visiting Singapore can look forward to a myriad of attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, Marine Life Park, River Safari, Jurong Bird Park, and Gardens by the Bay to exploring cultural neighbourhoods such as Kampong Glam and Little India. Singapore is also known as a gastronomic city and shopping paradise with abundant options around the city.
Detailed flight schedules to Cairns are as follows:
From Singapore:
Flight
|
Days of Operation
|
Departure
|
Arrival
|
MI822
|
Mon, Thu
|
Singapore 0140hrs
|
Cairns 1150hrs (via Darwin)
|
MI828
|
Sat
|
Singapore 0140hrs
|
Cairns 1020hrs
|
To Singapore:
Flight
|
Days of Operation
|
Departure
|
Arrival
|
MI822
|
Mon, Thu
|
Cairns 1240hrs
|
Singapore 1720hrs
|
MI828
|
Sat
|
Cairns 1110hrs
|
Singapore 1720hrs (via Darwin)
|
