
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced an expansion of its flight schedule to Brisbane, Australia, increasing its service to four times daily starting from June 16, 2025. This move restores the airline's pre-COVID capacity to the Queensland capital and is a response to the robust travel demand observed between Singapore and Brisbane. The enhancement in service frequency will add three additional weekly flights, pushing the weekly service count from 25 to 28.
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The new services, designated as SQ265/266, will operate on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, using the A350-900 medium-haul aircraft. These flights will leave Singapore early in the morning and return in the evening, providing travelers with more convenient options for both business and leisure travel. The increase in flight frequency is part of SIA's strategy to cater to the growing need for connectivity, especially as Brisbane continues to establish itself as a major gateway for Queensland, seeing significant growth as a global destination for both business and leisure travelers. Louis Arul, SIA's regional vice president for South West Pacific, commented that the travel demand has been particularly strong in recent peak seasons. He stated, "Travel demand has been strong as Brisbane continues to grow as a major gateway and Queensland gains significance as a global destination for business and leisure." The additional services are also expected to offer more connectivity options for passengers heading to over 110 cities globally via Singapore Changi Airport.
This expansion has been welcomed by local authorities and airport management in Brisbane. Gert-Jan de Graaf, CEO of Brisbane Airport, highlighted the importance of this route, noting, "This is a milestone announcement delivering four services per day, every day, marking the end of a long five-year recovery on this critical route for Queensland." The Singapore to Brisbane connection is the second busiest international route for the airport, bringing a steady stream of tourists from across Asia and Europe to Queensland. Notably, last year, more than half of all visitors from India to Brisbane traveled via Singapore Airlines. The Queensland government, through its Tourism Minister Andrew Powell, views this expansion as a success for the state's Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF), which aims to enhance Queensland's aviation connections. "It's also extra capacity for our awesome exporters, with more direct flights to get their produce to market in Asia," Powell remarked.
The upgrade in flight frequency coincides with Brisbane Airport's plans for a major revamp of its international terminal, the most significant in its 29-year history. The renovation includes relocating security and passport control to a "light-filled atrium" on level four, enhancing security screening with new equipment, introducing self-service check-in and bag drop facilities, upgrading baggage systems, and expanding retail offerings, including doubling the size of the duty-free area. This renovation is expected to significantly improve the passenger experience, aligning with the increased flight operations. The decision by Singapore Airlines to increase its Brisbane services is not just about meeting current demand but also an investment in the future of travel between these two destinations. It ensures that Brisbane remains well-connected to Asia and beyond, facilitating both tourism and trade. As the global travel market continues to recover and evolve, such strategic expansions are pivotal in maintaining and enhancing international air routes, providing travelers with more options, and fostering economic growth through increased accessibility.