Summary Starting in February, Etihad will fly the Airbus A380 to Singapore. By using its highest-capacity equipment, Changi's frequency has halved. Singapore gains its fifth superjumbo operator for the first time since 2020.
Etihad Airways has announced its first-ever Airbus A380 flights from Abu Dhabi to Singapore. Beginning in February, the Southeast Asian city-state will – subject to more changes – become the carrier's fourth double-decker route that month, joining London Heathrow, New York JFK, and Paris CDG. The disclosure came soon after Etihad added temporary A380 flights to Jeddah in 2024 for crew familiarization reasons ahead of more quadjets returning to service.
It suggests more places will see it. It will operate three times weekly, but flights don't hang around. Abu Dhabi-Singapore gets the A380 Changi has been part of Etihad's passenger network since 2007.
On February 1, 2025 , the 3,178 nautical mile (5,886 km) route will switch to the 486-seat A380. It is unclear if the A380 will be used throughout 2025 or for only part of it . The link, which will operate daily, is scheduled as follows, with all times local.
The nearly 10 hours of unproductive time in Changi is to maximize connectivity over Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi to Singapore : EY496, 22:05-09:35+1 (7h 30m) Singapore to Abu Dhabi : EY497, 19:25-23:20 (7h 55m) Want tickets? Get them here! How many of them can you name? Singapore's frequency has halved By upgauging to such enormous equipment, Etihad has halved Singapore's frequency from the previously planned double daily to daily. Which is better for competitive, performance, and market share reasons? Even when it had two, it would have been far smaller in Singapore than Gulf giants Emirates (four daily on the A380 and 777-300ER) and Qatar Airways (triple daily on the 777-300ER and A350-900). Etihad had previously scheduled the 290-seat Boeing 787-9, providing 580 departing seats daily (double for both ways).
The A380 has 486 seats, so available capacity has fallen by 16%. Even before any 'A380 effect' on bookings, this will help with higher yields and loads. A notable difference is the A380's two three-room The Residence cabins .
Moreover, Etihad's double-deckers will provide nine first class seats (which the 787-9 does not have) and 14 more business seats. Economy capacity will fall by more than a fifth (-22%), with 119 fewer seats available each way. Switching to the A380 is designed to improve yields and loads significantly.
Singapore's fifth A380 airline While February is far away and things may certainly change , data as of August 9 shows that Etihad will become Changi's fifth A380 operator: Singapore Airlines : nine daily superjumbo departures Emirates : double daily Qantas : double daily (one to London Heathrow, one to Sydney) British Airways : daily Etihad : daily Schedule analysis using Cirium data shows that Singapore last had a quintet of A380 users in 2020. It was when Lufthansa flew the type from Frankfurt, a route that saw the type from 2011. It is worth noting that Air France flew the double-decker to Singapore in 2012 and 2013.
It has withdrawn the type from its fleet. Joint 2nd airport for A380 diversity With five superjumbo operators, Singapore will overtake Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, which has four. It will have as many users as Los Angeles and Sydney but will be one place behind – you guessed it – London Heathrow, with six.
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