Following a well-received soft launch in August 2018 for flights to and from North Asia, customers travelling in Suites, First Class and Business Class on any SIA flight may now view the in-flight menu for their flight on the Airline’s website, singaporeair.com, and pre-order their main courses, ensuring their choice of meal.

Customers may pre-select their meal choices anytime from three weeks before travel up to 24 hours before flight departure.

The new service complements the existing Book the Cook programme, which enables customers in Suites, First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy Class on selected flights to pre-order main courses from a separate menu of up to 68 choices.

SIA’s Book the Cook programme features a wide range of gourmet main courses that include classic Western-style favourites, healthier wholesome and meatless choices, popular Asian dishes, iconic Singaporean fare familiar to home, and exclusive creations from the Airline’s International Culinary Panel of acclaimed chefs1.

SIA extended its Book the Cook service to Premium Economy Class when the new class of travel was introduced in 2015.

“The response to our soft launch of the new meal pre-ordering service was very encouraging, and we are now pleased to offer it to all premium-class customers travelling across our global network,” said Mr Yeoh Phee Teik, Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice President Customer Experience.

“The introduction of this new service is another of our industry firsts, and demonstrates our commitment to the constant enhancement of our product and service offerings, and our increased focus on personalisation for customers, both on the ground and in the air.”

This will bring the total number of SIA flights between South Africa and Singapore to 10 a week.

The three additional flights will depart OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 22h30 and arrive in Singapore the following day at 14h55.

The return flights from Singapore will depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 16h35 and arrive in Johannesburg at 21h10 on the same day.

Singapore Airlines currently operates daily flights from Singapore to Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The first new non-stop flight between Singapore and New York departed Changi International Airport on 11 October 2018 at 2337hrs (SIN time) and arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport a day later, at 0529hrs (US Eastern time). The flight duration was 17 hours 52 minutes.

Operated by the all-new Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range), the route will initially be served thrice-weekly, departing Singapore on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Daily operations will commence from 18 October after an additional A350-900ULR aircraft enters service.

To commemorate the inaugural flight, customers departing from Singapore were treated to an evening of performances and an assortment of food and beverages at a special boarding gate event. Customers also received an exclusive goodie bag containing a commemorative certificate and a pair of SIA-branded Bodum glasses.

Customers on the world’s longest flight were treated with a comfortable and relaxing travelling experience with special Wellness Cuisines curated by chefs and nutritionists from Canyon Ranch, a leader in healthy living and wellness, in addition to SIA’s own meal selections and creations by its International Culinary Panel of chefs.

Designed with the customers’ well-being in mind, sleep strategies and specific cabin lighting settings to enhance cabin ambience for rest and relaxation were also introduced. The aircraft is designed with higher ceilings, larger windows and an extra wide body to help reduce jetlag and ensure that customers feel well rested and relaxed upon arrival.

Customers also have greater control over their in-flight entertainment (IFE) experience with myKrisWorld – a world-first IFE personalisation offering that provides content recommendations based on customer preferences and viewing history. KrisFlyer members are able to save and resume content, create playlists, and customise their preferences on myKrisWorld for subsequent flights. In addition, KrisFlyer members will have access to 200 additional hours of in-flight entertainment content. This is on top of the more than 1,000 hours of existing in-flight entertainment offerings.

Customers can also experience high-speed in-flight WiFi service on Singapore Airlines’ new A350-900ULR aircraft. Equipped with Panasonic Avionics’ new satellite modem that operates with its third generation satellite network, the service is capable of delivering higher-speed Internet to customers. Currently available on A350-900ULR aircraft in Singapore Airlines’ fleet, this service will be progressively introduced on other aircraft that are equipped with Panasonic Avionics’ Internet and mobile in-flight connectivity.

SIA is the world’s first customer for the new A350-900ULR, with seven firm orders with Airbus. The aircraft will be configured in a two-class layout, with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy Class seats.

The aircraft will also be used for new non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles, which are to be launched on 2 November 2018, as well as to increase services on the existing Singapore-San Francisco route. By the end of the year, SIA will have 27 non-stop flights per week between Singapore and the United States.

Flights will be operated by an A350-900 on the following schedule:

SQ478 SIN0125 – 0610JNB 359 x146
SQ478 SIN0200 – 0635JNB 359 146
SQ482 SIN1400 – 1835JNB 359 357

SQ479 JNB1345 – 0610+1SIN 359 x146
SQ479 JNB1355 – 0610+1SIN 359 146
SQ481 JNB1955 – 1220+1SIN 359 357

(Source: Airline Routes)

In December last year, the airline also announced that it will be increasing flight frequency to Cape Town, South Africa, to meet growing travel demand.

Cape Town will be served with a daily flight via Johannesburg, up from the current four flights per week, with effect from 26 March 2018. The additional flights will complement SIA’s current daily service to Johannesburg and operate as SQ478 (Singapore—Johannesburg–Cape Town) and SQ479 (Cape Town–Johannesburg–Singapore).

SIA will operate flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft seats 253 customers in three classes, with 42 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy Class and 187 in Economy Class.

The new flights are subject to regulatory approvals. Tickets will be made available for sale progressively through the various distribution channels. For more details click here

Cape Town will be served with a daily flight via Johannesburg, up from the current four flights per week, with effect from 26 March 2018. The additional flights will complement SIA’s current daily service to Johannesburg and operate as SQ478 (Singapore—Johannesburg–Cape Town) and SQ479 (Cape Town–Johannesburg–Singapore).

SIA will operate flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft seats 253 customers in three classes, with 42 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy Class and 187 in Economy Class.

The new flights are subject to regulatory approvals. Tickets will be made available for sale progressively through the various distribution channels.

The flight schedule will be as follows: