Singapore Airlines has announced it will increase services between Singapore and Christchurch to pre-Covid levels from 27 June, with daily flights scheduled to operate between the two cities.

 The daily services will continue to be operated by SIA’s long-haul Airbus A350-900 aircraft, providing customers the choice of lie-flat Business Class seats, Premium Economy and Economy Class.

 Singapore Airlines General Manager New Zealand, Mr George Robertson, said the decision to reinstate daily services to Christchurch was due to the increasing demand for travel to and from the South Island and Singapore Airlines’ longstanding commitment to keeping the South Island connected.

 “Demand for long-haul travel has continued to grow since New Zealand’s borders began to reopen in April, providing us with confidence to step-up our services to their pre-Covid levels,” Mr Robertson said.

 “For more than 35 years we have been committed to connecting the Canterbury region to the world, a commitment that has been unwavering, even during the most challenging period in aviation history.

“We are very pleased to be in a position to be able to return to operating daily services, which will help support the regions recovery efforts.

“Being able scale up our operations back to daily so soon after Aotearoa’s borders have begun to reopen is thanks to the support from the local community, travel trade, Christchurch Airport, and our alliance partner Air New Zealand.

“The additional three flights a week from 27 June will provide even more opportunities for people to travel to Christchurch and explore the South Island as well deliver greater connectivity to our global network of 96 destinations through our famous Singapore hub.”

During the period of April 2020-January 2022, SIA operated more than 1,700 passenger services, helping to return close to 37,000 people to New Zealand, the vast majority being returning Kiwi citizens who entered MIQ. SIA has also supported the safe travel of more than 45,000 expats living in New Zealand to their home countries.

From April 2020 through to December 2021, SIA operated 277 freighter services and 888 passenger aircraft carrying cargo only services delivering thousands of tonnes of cargo to New Zealand, including essential pharmaceuticals, PPE and 14 shipments of around 1.6 million COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines.

Christchurch Airport’s Chief Aeronautical and Commercial Officer Justin Watson said the city is very grateful to have such a strong commitment from one of the world’s best airlines.

“Singapore Airlines continued to fly into Christchurch during the pandemic and played an important role in getting South Island freight out to the rest of the world and help bring in returning New Zealanders,” Mr Watson said.

“Demand for Singapore Airlines flights is extremely high reflecting both the South Island’s strong appeal to international visitors and that, after two years of closed borders, New Zealanders are excited at being able to explore the world once more.”

On 27 June, when daily services resume to Christchurch, it will take SIA’s operations to New Zealand to 66% of its pre-Covid schedule, with the airline operating daily flights between Auckland and Singapore, while SIA’s alliance partner Air New Zealand currently operates three-weekly flights.