Singapore brings A380 back to Europe: world's best first class returns to Frankfurt

The A380 of Singapore Airlines will return to fly to continental Europe, but only in 2024. In fact, the Asian airline has announced the new features of its network for the upcoming Iata summer schedule (March 31 to October 26, 2024): these include the return of the "giant of the skies" to Frankfurt, in Germany.

The best booth in the world

It becomes easier, therefore, for the Italian frequent flyers be able to travel in what is considered the "best first class in the world," and to do so, most importantly, through points and miles with the Krisflyer program.

At the same time, however, the option remains limited to flights to the East; while until recently the most attractive opportunity was related to the flight from Frankfurt to the States that could be Redeemed with about 86k points plus tax.

Finally, just a few weeks ago, Skytrax also awarded Singapore as the best first-class cabin in the world 2023.

To date, in fact, the only "European" destination served by Singapore's A380 is. London Heathrow...but since Brexit it is more difficult to consider the UK as part of the "EU system."

Because it is a half-hearted comeback

In November last year, Singapore Airlines had announced that just from May 2023. Would have sacrificed the A380 on routes in fifth freedom regime Singapore-Frankfurt-New York, operating instead on the Boeing 777-300ER on both SQ26 and SQ25 (the Singapore-Frankfurt and Frankfurt-New York (JFK), respectively.

From March 31, 2024, therefore, the flight to Frankfurt (SQ 325 and SQ326) will return to A380 operation; while fifth-freedom flights from Asia to the U.S. via Frankfurt will continue with the 777-300.

At the moment very expensive premium places

At a quick check on award seat availability there are plenty of first class seats available, the problem is that the saver fare is only available on flight SQ25, which is the one continuing from JFK then operated by B777/300, while securing one of the six very rare suites requires a whopping 225,500 KF points, way too much even for the best first class in the world.

Even worse in the opposite direction, there is no sign of the saver fare and the ticket in Suite costs the full rate 225,500 points and is often only on the waiting list.

The differences with the 777

The 777 is also equipped with SIA's renowned first class, but the two products as we have already recounted are not at all comparable.

The first-class cabin on Singapore's A380 is a 5sqm mini apartment. In contrast, on the 777/300, there are classic airplane seats: certainly large, comfortable, and spacious, but still seats that totally recline to become a bed.

In night version, for example, On the A380 it is the staff who make a real bed (if traveling as a couple it becomes a double) where you can sleep like in a hotel room.

Even the bathroom is not a classic airplane bathroom, but a studio: it lacks a shower, which we find aboard Emirates' A380s instead.

After announcing the hat trick over London, therefore, Singapore anticipates even more traffic growth over Europe next year and has therefore decided to bring the double-decker back to Frankfurt.

The other routes served by the A380 from Singapore are to Australia (Melbourne and Sydney), Shanghai, Mumbai and Hong Kong.

More direct flights to Milan Malpensa

But there is also other news for Italian travelers. As of June 2, 2024, in fact, Singapore Airlines. Will increase non-stop frequencies between Singapore and Milan Malpensa (SQ 356 and 355) going up to four flights per week from the current two.

As a result, however, SQ flights 378 and 377, which are the Singapore-Milan-Barcelona under fifth freedom will drop from five times a week to three frequencies a week, while the direct Singapore-Barcelona route will thunder with 2 flights a week. All flights on the Singapore-Italy-Spain axis will use the Airbus A350-900.

• first class