Singapore Airlines announces capital connection service between Wellington, Canberra and Singapore

Wednesday 20th January 2016

Singapore Airlines has announced its 'Capital Express' route, which will make the first direct flight from Wellington to Canberra and then on to Singapore four days per week on a Boeing 777.

The widely anticipated announcement will not involve codesharing with Singapore Airlines' Star Alliance partner Air New Zealand, though Virgin Australia will codeshare the flight's Canberra-Singapore leg.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges said the service would have significant benefits for the Wellington economy and the tourism sector, and is expected to generate $95 million in visitor expenditure and add around $44 million to the national economy.

Wellington Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson said the service linked Australia’s and New Zealand’s capital cities together "with the most efficient onward connections to Singapore and beyond."

“Wellington’s connections will be greatly improved, and travellers will be able to stay on the same widebody plane all the way to Singapore and connect onwards to Asia, Europe and other parts of the world from their award winning global hub, Changi Airport," Sanderson said.

Tickets for the new service go on sale on Jan. 25 with flights beginning on Sept. 20. An economy return flight to Singapore will cost from $1,808, while an economy return flight to Canberra will cost from $587.

Singapore Airlines will fly from Wellington at 8:15pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in Canberra at 10.05pm. After refuelling, the plane will continue from Canberra to Singapore at 11:30 pm, landing in Singapore at 5:50am.

On the return journey, a plane will leave Singapore at 11pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, stop over in Canberra at 8:35am the following day, and arrive in Wellington at 3.05pm.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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