Singapore Airlines’ A350 announcement a vote of confidence in Wellington
20 Aug 2019
Wellington Airport today welcomed the announcement by Singapore Airlines’ that it is to fly the Airbus A350-900 into the Capital.
Passengers on the airline’s Singapore-Melbourne-Wellington route will travel on their most modern aircraft and cabin product from 1 November 2019.
“The decision by the world’s most awarded airline to bring this modern aircraft to the city is a vote of confidence in the region and Wellington Airport,” says Steve Sanderson, chief executive of Wellington Airport.
“Singapore Airlines has been operating out of Wellington for three years and over that period there has been a 35% increase in visitors from Asia. This illustrates how popular the service is and we are thrilled with the positive response from travellers.”
Last month, Singapore Airlines announced it will increase services on the Singapore-Melbourne-Wellington route to five times a week from 1 January 2020.
“Wellington and Central New Zealand has greater access to Asia and better onward connections to Europe than ever before,” says Mr Sanderson. “The service has also made it far easier for travellers from Europe and Asia to make Wellington their gateway to New Zealand.”
Over the past three years, Wellington Airport has partnered with WellingtonNZ, Singapore Airlines and travel agents in Asia on a series of overseas marketing initiatives designed to put Wellington on the map.
“Wellington is being fully promoted across Singapore’s international network. Tourism trade itineraries are being sold with either arrivals into Auckland and exiting via Wellington or arriving Wellington and exiting Christchurch. This never happened before.
“Visitors from Asia and Europe are spending $73m more per year in Wellington than they were before the service started. It shows the importance of being connected to Singapore’s award winning hub, Changi Airport.”
Singapore Airlines will be the first airline out of Wellington to offer customers the option of flying Premium Economy. The A350-900 also features lie-flat Business Class seats and a new ergonomically designed Economy Class seat.
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