The flag carrier of Singapore, Singapore Airlines has operated its first Boeing 737-800 revenue flight between Singapore and Phuket, in Thailand. The plan to integrate SilkAir into its parent company, Singapore Airlines was announced back in 2018 and the full integration is scheduled to be complete by March of this year, marking the end of the regional subsidiary of Singapore Airlines Group, SilkAir after 31 years.

Singapore Airlines Flight 736 departed from Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN) at 4:31 pm (UTC +8) and successfully landed at Phuket Airport (HKT), in Thailand at 5:01 pm (UTC +7). The flight was operated by Singapore Airlines’ first Boeing 737-800 aircraft registered 9V-MGA, which was repainted in the carrier’s livery back in October 2020.

Back in January, Singapore Airlines confirmed it would use the Boeing 737-800 starting off with services to Phuket on March 4th, 2021 and at the time it added that it would be taking over some of SilkAir routes. Singapore Airlines has now confirmed it will also operate the Boeing 737-800 from Singapore to Chongqing, Brunei, Phnom Penh, Colombo, Yangon, Mandalay, and Male. According to Singapore Airlines, “more SilkAir routes will progressively be transferred as nine 737-800 NG join the SIA fleet. This would also allow SIA to operate the aircraft to points within its current network.”

In total, nine of SilkAir Boeing 737-800s registered 9V-MGA, MGB, MGC, MGD, MGE, MGK, MGL, MGM, and MGN will all be repainted in the iconic Singapore Airlines livery and will operate under Singapore Airlines from March 2021, while the remaining eight SilkAir Boeing 737-800 aircraft will be put up for sale.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 737-800 fleet will retain SilkAir’s 12 business class and 150 economy class configuration but all the seats will be fitted with new upholstery. The new lie-flat vantage business class seats will only be available on Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which are currently grounded. The planned merger was only meant to involve the integration of SilkAir’s brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 with Singapore Airlines. However, due to the worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX aircraft, Singapore Airlines has been forced to adopt the Boeing 737-800 into the fleet, while the 737 MAX aircraft gradually gains its approval to return to the skies.

Ultimately, these narrow-body aircraft will give Singapore Airlines more flexibility when it comes to flight operations. This will allow the flag carrier to deploy the Boeing 737-800 aircraft on cargo focused routes with low-passenger demand, helping the airline to manage costs better for the next few years, as air travel demand gradually returns to post-COVID level.

The Chief Exectutive Officer of Singapore Airlines, Goh Choon Phong said “The introduction of the SIA 737-800 NG will bring about a more comfortable and seamless travel experience for customers on our regional airline. Integrating SilkAir with SIA also allows us to be nimble and flexible in aircraft deployment and supports our fleet and network growth strategy.”

To offer greater consistency with customers, former SilkAir cabin crew will undergo retraining and will be given Singapore Airlines iconic Sarong Kabaya uniform. Singapore Airlines stated that the service and food provided on these narrowbody flights will be the same. If you are travelling on a flight in Business Class that is longer than 3.5 hours, your meal will feature a unique fruit and cheese platter and if your flight is longer than 5 hours, business class passengers will be treated to Singapore Airlines signature satay canape. Singapore Airlines is promising a world-class experience on all its flights and the airline also confirmed that its “Book the Cook” meals will be available to all passengers, regardless of their cabin class.

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Source: https://aeronewsx.com/singapore-airlines-commences-flights-using-boeing-737-800/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=singapore-airlines-commences-flights-using-boeing-737-800