Scoot Takes a Leap—Slipping SilkAir Routes Into Its Fleet
Picture this: Scoot, the low‑cost wing of Singapore Airlines (SIA), is on a fast‑track to pick up a handful of routes from its now‑soon-to-be‑merged partner, SilkAir. Over the next two years, the jump‑start will happen in stages, beginning as early as April 2019 and spreading through the back half of 2020.
Why the Shuffle?
Goh Choon Phong, the big boss at SIA, summed it up: “We’re already halfway through a three‑year makeover, and today’s announcement is another big move.” He said the reshuffle will align each airline’s strengths with where customers want to go, giving the group a stronger, more focused network.
Key Route Moves
- SilkAir’s Mandalay Flight – It’s being turned into a seasonal service: the current thrumming will pause in March 2019, then bounce back in November 2019, running all the way into January 2020.
- Scoot to Honolulu – The launch has been hit the brakes, effective June 2019, because the numbers just weren’t keeping up.
- Other tweaks around the network will also come to life, as part of this broader review.
What Happens to Your Tickets?
Cheaper airlines always have to keep the customer happy, so for everyone booked on the affected routes:
- You’ll get a choice: hop onto a new Scoot, SIA, or SilkAir flight if options exist.
- If there’s no sweet spot elsewhere, refunds are on the table.
SilkAir’s Big Upgrade Play
Back in May, SIA announced that SilkAir would get a serious cabin makeover before merging with the parent company. Think of it as switching from a paper cup to a full‑sized cup of coffee—only it’s lid‑less and more like a perfect lie‑flat experience.
- All Business Class seats will get new lie‑flat cushions that will let you snooze in style.
- Seat‑back entertainment kits will go live in both Business and Economy, turning every row into a personal cinema.
Fleet Boosts & Growth
Scoot is also getting stronger: 14 sharp‑looking Boeing 737‑800s are moving from SilkAir’s roster into Sprout‑like service. Meanwhile, SilkAir isn’t losing steam—its plan involves adding new Boeing 737‑MAX8s in the coming years.
All in all, SIA’s plan feels like a chess game, with each airline moving pieces to set up a winning board. And if you’re a travel fan, keep an eye on the upgrades—they’re all about better comfort, more tech, and a smoother journey.
THE ROUTE TRANSFERS ARE:
Air Connects: SilkAir, Scoot, and SIA Route Spotlight
Ever wondered how SilkAir, Scoot, and SIA keep expanding their skylanes? Grab your flight plan and let’s trace the recent route additions—because airport expansions are a lot cooler than a rainy day in transit!
SilkAir’s Takeoff to Scoot
- Asia’s Gem Cities
- December 2019: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – cable cars + sun.
- May – July 2020: Balikpapan, Lombok, Makassar, Manado, Semarang, Yogyakarta – Indonesia’s heartland gets its turbo‑boost.
- Charming Southeast
- October 2019: Chiang Mai, Thailand – think temples and street‑food.
- October 2019: Coimbatore, Trivandrum, Visakhapatnam, India – May ’19 to Oct ’19, giving the south a fresh jet‑set twist.
- Fresh Footloose
- May – June 2019: Changsha, Fuzhou, Kunming, Wuhan, China – a micro‑tour of China’s southern hubs.
- Cool Off the Corner
- April 2019: Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Laos – putting Phra Kaew in a new light.
Scoot’s Short Hauls to SIA
- May 2019 & May 2020: Bengaluru & Chennai, India – SIA’s high‑rise doors opened for Scoot’s eager flyers.
Scoot’s Smooth Moves to SilkAir
- June 2019: Shenzhen, China – pro‑level business meets jet‑fuel.
- October 2019: Kochi, India – coastal charm in a new flight line.
All of this sprinkles fresh itineraries across the region, next the day soon you’ll find yourself exploring these new stops! (All listed destinations were already in SIA’s base)
Stocking up on fresh context comes from The Straits Times—so a quick heads‑up: permissions are needed for full reproduction.