Singapore Airlines A380 Returns to Melbourne

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has welcomed its flagship Airbus A380 back to Melbourne for the first time since January 2020 with the arrival of SQ237 at 09:30 this morning.

The return of the highly popular A380 marks a milestone for SIA in Melbourne, with the additional capacity taking the Airlines' operations to 110% compared to January 2020 levels.

Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President South West Pacific, Mr Louis Arul, said the additional capacity injected into the Melbourne market would support the robust demand over the peak Northern Summer holiday period.

"It is incredibly pleasing to have the A380 returned to Melbourne to support the strong demand for travel to and from Australia," Mr Arul said.

"The arrival of this morning's flight marks the first destination in our Australian network to exceed pre-Covid capacity levels, which underlines the popularity of Victoria. I am sure our customers are pleased to see the hugely popular aircraft back at Tullamarine and we look forward to welcoming them on board."

The A380 will operate daily between Singapore and Melbourne between now and 28 October 2023 as SQ237 and SQ228.

Customers can enjoy six luxurious Suites privately located on the upper deck, as well as 78 Business Class seats, also on the upper deck, 44 Premium Economy seats nestled into the front of the main deck and 343 ergonomically designed Economy Class seats.

Melbourne Airport CEO, Ms Lorie Argus, said the return of Singapore Airlines A380 service represented a vote of confidence in the Victorian market.

"Singapore Airlines was one of the few carriers that continued to fly into Melbourne throughout the pandemic, and we are pleased to see them reaffirming their commitment to Victoria again today," she said.

"The A380 is a passenger favourite and has more than 200 extra seats than the Boeing 777 it is replacing on this service. This extra capacity is a huge win for consumers and with one-stop connections to an impressive range of destinations in south-east Asia, India and Europe, we're confident these A380 flights from Melbourne will prove a popular option."

Melbourne flight schedule

Singapore Airlines Suites

With six Suites tucked spaciously within the front cabin of the upper deck, customers can experience a sense of exclusivity and intimate privacy aboard the A380.

Behind its artistically-designed sliding door lies a personal oasis complete with lavish furnishing and finishes. Each Suite is furnished with a separate full-flat bed with adjustable recline and plush leather chair, enabling customers to lounge comfortably in the chair or rest in bed without the need to convert the bed from a sitting position. For couples travelling together, the beds in the first two Suites of each aisle can be converted to form a double bed. When not in use, the bed can be stowed completely, creating even more personal space within each Suite.

Each seat is upholstered by world-renowned Poltrona Frau in fine leather and is fully adjustable using an electronic control side panel which can accommodate a variety of sitting and lounging positions. The swivel capability of the chair (between 135 and 270 degrees) with recline up to 45 degrees provides added flexibility for dining and relaxation.

Each Suite also has a 32-inch full HD monitor that can swivel for the different viewing angles in seat and bed modes, a full-sized personal wardrobe, customised handbag stowage compartment, amenity box lined with soft leather, specially designed carpet, and a feature wall with mood lighting - all exquisitely crafted to give a touch of luxury and intimacy.

The exclusivity of the Suites cabin is further accentuated by its two stylishly-furnished lavatories, one of which has a sit-down vanity counter.

The Suites were designed by Pierrejean Design Studio and manufactured by Zodiac Seats UK.

Business Class

Designed by JPA Design of the UK and manufactured for Singapore Airlines by JAMCO Corporation of Japan, the interior of the Business Class cabin showcases a modern yet organic colour scheme featuring a selection of soothing and classy leather and fabrics, in addition to lightweight carbon composite materials.

Measuring 25 inches in width, the Business Class seat, which has two side wings for better back support, reclines directly into a comfortable full-flat bed (78 inches). Customers may also stretch out fully in a 'sun-deck' position to watch movies on the 18-inch high definition touch-screen monitor. The Business Class seat is upholstered by Poltrona Frau as well.

A larger back shell on every seat creates a cocoon-like feel for more privacy while the centre divider can be fully lowered to form double beds, making the two centre seats an ideal choice for customers such as families travelling together.

A unique feature of the Business Class seat is that it has a carbon fibre composite shell structure, as compared to conventional aircraft seats which use metal as the primary support structure. This thinner base structure allows for better optimisation of the seat and creates more under-seat stowage space to accommodate a full-sized cabin bag and laptop bag or handbag.

Seats in the Business Class cabin are arranged in a forward-facing, four-abreast (1-2-1) configuration that offers all customers direct access to the aisle.

Other features include a business panel equipped with USB ports and in-seat power, reading lights with adjustable brightness level, mood lighting, enlarged dining table designed for flexibility in dining positions, as well as stowage space for personal amenities with a thoughtful design that puts everything within easy reach.

Premium Economy Class

Premium Economy Class comes with a contemporary and stylish design. Each seat is 19.5 inches wide, with eight-inch recline and seat pitch of 38 inches. Customers will be treated to an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience with the provision of active noise-cancelling headphones and a sleek 13.3-inch full HD monitor.

Other features include a full leather finishing, calf-rest and foot-bar for every seat, individual in-seat power supply, two USB ports, personal in-seat reading light, cocktail table, and more stowage space for personal items.

The Premium Economy Class seat was manufactured by ZIM Flugsitz GmbH and customised by design firm JPA Design.

Economy Class

The Economy Class seat, designed and built by RECARO, offers more space and greater comfort through an improved design. Leveraging on advanced technology and ergonomics, seats offer more legroom and back support, with a six-way adjustable headrest with foldable wings. The Economy Class seat also features a more contemporary fabric seat cover design.

An 11.1-inch touch-screen monitor eliminates the need for handsets and offers more convenience to customers who wish to catch the latest movies on KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines' award-winning in-flight entertainment system.

Other features include a patented non-intrusive reading light installed underneath the seatback screen, personal storage space for small personal items, a coat hook, in-seat power supply and ergonomically designed footrest with adjustable positions.