Singapore Airlines Restructures NZ Services

Singapore Airlines Restructures New Zealand Services

In response to softening demand for international air travel, due to the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Singapore Airlines (SIA) has today announced that it will be restructuring its services to and from New Zealand for the period 11 May to 31 May, with a possible extension into June.

This restructuring will re-route the current B777-200ER aircraft service from Christchurch through Auckland three times a week to replace three of the daily B747-400 services between Auckland and Singapore.

The temporary change to the routing of the Christchurch flight has no effect on the frequency of departures from Christchurch or Auckland but rationalises capacity to match current demand.

Singapore Airlines General Manager New Zealand, Mr C W Foo, said this re-routing was a practical way to ensure minimal disruption to passengers.

"We are linking our Christchurch and Auckland services using a circular routing, so our B777-200ER flight from Christchurch will stop over in Auckland before proceeding on to Singapore. This solution ensures that we continue to operate daily services into Auckland and five weekly services from Christchurch to Singapore," Mr Foo said.

Mr Foo said the restructure of services to New Zealand was part of SIA's international response to reduced demand, which has seen the airline cut 28.9 per cent of its total capacity worldwide during May.

SIA will contact New Zealand passengers to provide details of the changes affecting services.

Mr Foo said passengers in transit through Singapore to and from New Zealand could be assured that the Singapore Government was taking full and stringent measures to contain the spread of SARS. Measures being applied at Changi airport are designed to protect passengers by ensuring all users of the terminal are not showing symptoms of SARS.

This was reinforced by the New Zealand Ministry of Health's official travel advice that "the risk of getting SARS is minimal while in transit in an airport." ***

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