Tokyo will become the fourth city in the world to receive A380 commercial flights, when Singapore Airlines starts services to the Japanese capital on 20 May 2008.
The inaugural A380 flight to Tokyo – SQ636 – will depart Singapore’s Changi Airport on Tuesday, 20 May 2008, at 0040hrs and arrive at Tokyo’s Narita Airport at 0830hrs (all times local), on a special schedule to coincide with the 30th anniversary celebrations of Narita Airport.
The return flight, SQ637, will depart Narita at 1300hrs on Tuesday, 20 May 2008. The aircraft will touch down at Changi Airport on the same day at 1905hrs.
Thereafter, the Singapore Airlines A380 will commence regular scheduled services, operating SQ638 daily on the Singapore-Tokyo sector from 20 May 2008, and on SQ637 for the return leg from 21 May 2008. A schedule of the flight times can be found in Annex 1.
Singapore Airlines is the first to fly the A380: the world’s largest commercial aircraft. Tokyo is Singapore Airlines’ third A380 destination, following the commencement of the Singapore-Sydney service on 25 October 2007 and the Singapore-London service on 18 March 2008.
“We are proud to operate the inaugural A380 flight into Japan, the A380’s first Asian destination. The fact that Tokyo is the A380’s first Asian city highlights Singapore Airlines’ 40 years of dedicated service to the Japanese market,” said Mr. Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice President, Marketing and the Regions.
“We are sure that our Japanese customers will be delighted to try our extensive range of new cabin products and the state-of-the-art entertainment system on board the A380,” Mr Huang added. Besides operating to Tokyo 20 times weekly, Singapore Airlines also flies daily to Nagoya, five times weekly to Fukuoka and 17 times weekly to Osaka.
Those who wish to be part of this landmark experience may purchase tickets via the Singapore Airlines website, singaporeair.com, or through their travel agents.
Customers who hold ticketed bookings on flights to be operated by the A380 will be automatically accommodated on the new aircraft without any change required to their tickets. Customers holding bookings, but not yet ticketed, may need to check if there have been changes to their fares as a result of the aircraft change.
The Singapore Airlines A380: Redefining Air Travel
The Singapore Airlines A380 heralds a new era in air travel, with its cabin offerings providing unprecedented comfort, space and luxury.
The aircraft is the quietest large passenger aircraft ever built, and delivers substantial fuel burn reductions per seat kilometre over the next largest aircraft. This means it becomes a cleaner, greener alternative for long-haul travel, while allowing for the addition of extra capacity to congested airports, like London.
The Singapore Airlines A380 seats 471 passengers in three classes – 12 in the ultra-luxurious Singapore Airlines Suites, 60 in the award-winning Business Class, configured in a spacious 1-2-1 layout on the upper deck, and 399 in Economy Class.
Singapore Airlines currently has three A380s in service, a further 16 on firm order and options on six more.
SCHEDULE OF SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 FLIGHTS TO/FROM SINGAPORE AND TOKYO
| INAUGURAL A380 FLIGHT | |||
|
Flight Number |
Date |
Departure Time |
Arrival Time |
|
SQ636 |
20 May 2008 |
0040 hours |
0830 hours |
|
SQ637 |
20 May 2008 |
1300 hours |
1905 hours |
| Inaugural flight departs one hour later than normal schedule for Tokyo, and returns 90 minutes later than normal schedule. | |||
| SCHEDULED A380 SERVICES (NORTHERN SUMMER 2008) | |||
|
Flight Number |
Operating |
Departure Time |
|
|
SQ638 |
Daily from |
2340 hours |
0730 hours |
|
SQ637 |
Daily from |
1130 hours |
1735 hours |
Annex 2: Fact sheet on cabin products
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SUITES: A CLASS BEYOND FIRST
Unrivalled exclusivity and privacy await the privileged customers who fly Singapore Airlines’ newest cabin product, aboard the A380.
The Singapore Airlines Suites sets a new standard in ultimate premium air travel by featuring a bold and unique concept where each Suite is the customer’s very own private cabin in the sky.
Each seat is fully adjustable, and measures almost a metre wide when its armrest is folded away.
The seat converts to a full-sized bed with a plush mattress, covered in a lavish duvet and furnished with cushions, both designed by French fashion house Givenchy.
Using separate sleeping and sitting surfaces, the intelligent design of the full flat bed offers customers the choice to rest in their preferred sleeping positions, and also allows them to sit and lounge in bed to read or catch movies on their personal 58 centimetre (23-inch) LCD screen.
For couples traveling, the beds in the middle two seats can be converted to an optional double bed.
NEW SINGAPORE AIRLINES BUSINESS CLASS
Singapore Airlines’ awarding-winning Business Class seat is the world’s widest in its class.
Measuring 86 centimetres (34 inches) in width, the Business Class seat can be transformed into a comfortable full-flat bed for a good night’s sleep.
Innovative design of the bed enhances sleeping comfort, and also allows customers to lounge in bed to watch TV or eat, as they might at home. Seats in the Business Class cabin are arranged in a forward facing, 1-2-1 configuration that offers all customers direct access to the aisle. The fixed back shell on every seat can be extended to the sides for greater personal privacy.
Other features include a 39-centimetre (15.4-inch) LCD screen fully equipped with USB ports and in-seat power, exclusively designed bedding and dining-ware by Givenchy, enlarged dining table that is height-adjustable, as well as trolley bag stowage under the seat.
NEW SINGAPORE AIRLINES ECONOMY CLASS
The new Singapore Airlines Economy Class seat offers greater comfort through improved seat design and the use of new, lighter and thinner materials. They provide more personal space, legroom and knee-room.
Each seat comes with a larger 27-centimetre (10.6-inch) screen and a USB port to allow customers to access the enhanced functionalities on KrisWorld.
Other intelligent features include the non-intrusive reading light installed underneath the seatback screen, personal storage space for spectacles and small personal items, a coat hook, foot rest and in-seat power supply.
KRISWORLD: THE GREATEST SHOW IN THE SKY
Singapore Airlines award-winning inflight entertainment system, KrisWorld, provides more than 1000 entertainment options – from movies, TV programmes, music, learning applications to 3D games.
For customers who prefer to work while in the air, KrisWorld offers a comprehensive suite of office applications. What’s more, they can do so without the use of a laptop, and simply save their work at the end of the trip by plugging in a USB thumb drive.
