Routes: Adelaide-Singapore / Singapore-Adelaide

My first post in the Routes series and I’ll start it off with the international route I fly the most ADL-SIN/SIN-ADL, in other words, Adelaide International Airport (ADL) to Changi Airport Singapore (SIN) and back.

Airlines

At present only one airline offers this route in and out of Adelaide, Singapore Airlines.

Singapore Airlines is part of the Star Alliance.

In Australia Singapore Airlines codeshares with Virgin Australia.

The Singapore Airlines flights are designated SQ278 (ADL-SIN) and SQ279 (SIN-ADL) and fly daily, all-year round. A second service runs only in December and January designated SQ276 (ADL-SIN) and SQ277 (SIN-ADL) and fly four times a week (Tue, Thu, Sat, and Sun).

Schedule

• SQ278
  Northern Summer: ADL 09:10 – SIN 15:10
  Southern Summer: ADL 10:35 – SIN 15:10
• SQ279
  Northern Summer: SIN 23:10 – ADL 07:25+1
  Southern Summer: SIN 23:40 – ADL 09:05+1
• SQ276
  Southern Summer: ADL 18:35 – SIN 22:55
• SQ277
  Southern Summer: SIN 08:05 – ADL 17:20

Southern Summer schedule starts when Summer Daylight Saving begins.
+1 denotes next day

Route

The ADL-SIN route is in a northwesterly direction. The return leg SIN-ADL in the opposite direction, southeasterly. The flight passes through two time zones, one where Adelaide is situated the other Singapore (same time zone as Perth, Western Australia). Flight time is between 6.5 to 7.5 hours Adelaide to Singapore and about 6 to 6.5 hours depending on favourable winds (jet stream) on the return leg.

Aircraft

On October 29, 2023, Singapore Airlines replaced the Airbus A350-900MH (Medium Haul) with the Boeing 787-10 for flights SQ278/SQ279. The Boeing 787-10 is configured with 36 Business seats staggered in a 1-2-1 pattern with all seats having direct access to the aisles and 301 Economy seats arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration across two cabins.

The Airbus A350-900MH will continue to fly to Adelaide but only on the designated flights SQ276/SQ277. The Airbus A350-900MH has a two-class layout. Business Class 40 seats configured in a staggered 1-2-1 pattern with direct access to aisles. Economy Class 263 seats arranged in rows of 3-3-3 across two cabins.

In-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi

• Airbus A350-900
  Thales Avant audio/visual system operational gate to gate
  Thales Avant Ka-band satellite WiFi

• Boeing 787-10
  Panasonic eX3 audio/visual system operational gate to gate
  Panasonic Avionics Ku-band satellite WiFi

Meals Service
Main meals and refreshments served inflight.

• SQ278 lunch and refreshment
• SQ279 refreshment and breakfast
• SQ276 supper and refreshment
• SQ277 breakfast and lunch

Jet Lag

• SQ278 ADL-SIN is flown entirely in daylight.
• SQ279 SIN-ADL late evening/early morning. The length of the overnight SIN-ADL flight and the crossing of only two time zones does not cause jet lag, only loss of sleep.
• SQ276 ADL-SIN is an evening flight. It’s possible to catch a couple of hours sleep mid way through the flight and waking an one hour before landing at Changi Airport.
• SQ277 is a daylight flight. If SQ277 is a connecting flight from a previous flight coming from Europe or another destination to the west of Singapore flown overnight; trying to catch some sleep will be very hard. There will be jet lag and recovery will take a day or so. So it’s recommended to stay the day in Singapore and take SQ279 in late evening back to Adelaide. This will alleviate any tiredness (and irritability).

Airports

Adelaide International Airport is situated approximately 6 kilometres from the centre of the city. The airport is easily reachable by private car, taxi, limo and public transport (at present only by bus). There’s ample paid parking and a hotel on site, the Atura Adelaide Airport, of 165 guest rooms.

Changi International Airport Singapore is one of Asia’s largest airports. It’s situated east of the Singapore city CBD and reachable by private car, taxi, limo, and public transport (buses and train). The Changi MRT (train) station is situated below Terminals 2 and 3. Transit accommodation is available through several hotels: Ambassador Transit Hotels (airside T2 and T3); Aerotel Singapore (airside T1); YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport (landside on the 4th level of Jewel); Crowne Plaza Changi Airport (T3 landside and accessed after Immigration).

Destinations

From Adelaide direct flights to other locations in South Australia and Australia, Fiji and New Zealand can be reached by domestic carriers (Jetstar, QANTAS, Rex, Virgin Australia) and Fiji Airways (oneworld) and Air New Zealand (Star Alliance).

From Singapore direct flights to destinations in Southeast Asia, Northern Asia, India, Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America with Singapore Airlines and other airlines.

Lounges

Singapore Airlines Business Class passengers and frequent flyers with status (KrisFlyer Gold or Star Alliance Gold) can access the Plaza Premium Lounge pre flights between 07:00 and 10:00 daily. The lounge is situated airside in T1 Departures after security/passport control and before Gates 16/18.

At Changi, First and Business Class passengers have access to the SilverKris Lounges in T2 and T3 while KrisFlyer Gold and Star Alliance Gold passengers have the KrisFlyer Gold Lounges in T2 and T3. Both lounges open 24 hours. There are other pay-per-use lounges or lounges accessible via lounge memberships (eg., Priority Pass) or credit/charge card offers for anyone who does not have status with Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance. Go to Pay-Per-Use-Lounges and Airline Lounges on the Changi Airport website for more information.

For current info and other details about flights and onward destinations, lounges, promotions, etc., visit the Singapore Airlines website.