Singapore could be a step closer...kinda...
Three Singapore-related stories in one week in one article! Singapore has been pretty much out of reach for everybody across the globe since March 2020. Besides recent attempts for business "bubble" travel at Changi International Airport (External - Business Insider), whereby business travellers can meet Singapore business people in a split room, there's been very little movement from the Government of Singapore in opening up their borders. Things might be about to look on the up...
A taste of Singapore Airlines...at home!
In celebration of Singapore Airlines' fiftieth anniversary of connecting London and Singapore, they have collaborated with Feast Box - an a la carte food box delivery service akin to Hello Fresh - offering a combination of South East Asian dishes that you can follow and serve up at home. These include dishes such as Singapore classic Hainanese Chicken Rice or Malaysian Curry Puffs that make your taste buds travel back to the hawker markets like those on Maxwell Road. Even better, to put the proverbial cherry on top, Singapore Airlines offers a voucher code as part of the dal with up to £100 off flights.
Singapore Airlines collaboration with Feast Box can be purchased here.
Singaporean luxury in the skies of Europe
Often when making a choice of flying between two cities within Europe, you'll be making the choice between either a low cost carrier, like Ryanair, Wizz or EasyJet, or legacy airlines like BA or Lufthansa - with very little difference in experience. Although on some routes, such as London to Helsinki with Finnair's A350, you get to experience a better standard of flying - possibly the most premium option to date will be up and running in the coming weeks for a sustained period.
Singapore Airlines, the country's flag carrier, will be flying the Airbus A350 between Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy and Copenhagen Airport in Denmark as a continuation of their Singapore to Copenhagen flight. Why is Singapore Airlines doing this? Demand for travel between Europe and Asia is still extremely low and serving two lower yield cities with separate flights is unprofitable even with cargo. By tagging on the Rome to Copenhagen segment, they can restart services to both cities with less risk. Even better the airline has received regulatory approval to sell tickets on this segment, known as "fifth freedom rights", enabling European travellers to buy tickets between the two cities only and to give Singapore Airlines a go without having to travel to it's home country.
Which would you rather fly?
And a quick comparison of Economy...
You would expect the huge jump in comfort would attract an associated increase in ticket costs - however fifth freedom flights are usually competitive in pricing too. Economy flights start at around GBP 72 one way including baggage, which can't be said for the competition, whilst Business Class starts at around GBP 240 one way. See below for comparison between Singapore and SAS on the routes:
These prices are exceptionally reasonable for the quality of service you will receive from the airline - and a touch of Singaporean hospitality. Flights operate on Tuesday, Sunday and Friday from Copenhagen and Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from Rome. I would love to give it a go...just to experience Singapore Airlines Business Class for a few hours...
Thanks to Business Traveller for sharing this.
Could Singapore be realising a new realpolitik and opening its borders safely?
In a recent Straits Times opinion piece, there has been calls for Covid-19 to be classified as endemic and that it may never go away - with this being a reason for why a new normal will need to be embraced. It states that as testing, treatment and vaccination improve the chances of survival from Covid-19 it will enable society to reopen and, importantly, enable people to travel in and out of Singapore again at least to countries that have "controlled the virus and turned it into an endemic norm". Opinion pieces like this aren't anything new but it is the people writing it that is noteworthy. These include:
- Gan Kim Yong - Minister for Trade and Industry
- Lawrence Wong - Minister for Finance
- Ong Ye Kung - Minister for Health
This is big news particularly for a country like Singapore that has been sealed off for much of the past 18 months. In all countries, ministries like Finance, Health and Trade are some of the most important parts of a functioning government and to have them endorse an article which moves them towards a more open approach as the pandemic evolves is interesting to say the least. The level to which Singapore tolerates foreign travel is yet to be seen, however it might not be as long as you think before you might be able to experience Marina Bay Sands or Singaporean culture yet again.
Let me know your thoughts on the Straits Times article in the comments below, or if you're thinking of trying out Singapore Airlines in Europe in the coming months.