Tuesday, August 13, 2024 Singapore Airlines has made the strategic decision to terminate its flights to Houston, Texas effective April 2025. This move will bring an end to the world’s longest one-stop scheduled passenger service, connecting Singapore and Houston via Manchester. The airline will instead rely on its Star Alliance partners to serve passengers traveling to and from the Texan metropolis.
Data from the US Department of Transportation reveals a decline in seat occupancy on the Houston route. Load factors dropped from a robust 70% in 2019 to a concerning 33% in 2023. This significant downturn underscores the challenges faced by the airline in maintaining profitability on this route.
Initially launched in 2008 via Moscow to capitalize on the energy sector, the route was later shifted to Manchester in 2016 due to Russia’s economic instability. This marked Singapore Airlines ‘ foray into transatlantic passenger operations from the UK. The route’s commencement also led to a non-stop Singapore-Manchester service, replacing a previously Munich-bound flight.
Despite the Houston cutback, Singapore Airlines has confirmed its commitment to the Manchester market, with five weekly A350-900 flights scheduled to continue. This increased capacity is expected to bolster the UK airport’s position as a global aviation hub. The freed-up aircraft resources will be reallocated to enhance frequency on various European routes and expand services to Adelaide.
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