Would Singapore Airlines Be Considering Airbus A350-900 Service To Geneva? : Non-stop To Switzerland

Representatives from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Geneva Airport have met with organisations and authorities in Singapore, including Singapore Airlines, to discuss the possibility of launching direct flights between Geneva Airport and Singapore Changi.

Simple Flying understands that Singapore Airlines' only concern is not its willingness to open the high-yielding and business-oriented route but rather a lack of Airbus A350s. In an interview, Geneva-based Philippe Meyer, an aviation consultant who often works with the local airport, tells us that the connection with Singapore is a familiar ambition. Still, today, it is seemingly more reachable.

A Trip to Singapore

A Swiss delegation from Geneva set off for Singapore at the end of last month to convince the world-famous carrier to start direct flights to GVA. After the trip, Vincent Subilia, Director General at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, said on social media. "And what better way than a direct air service between Geneva and Singapore to further consolidate and strengthen historic toes all the service of the business community diplomatic circles and the many tourists eager to discover our magnificent region and Southeast Asia? We are on this with determination and conviction". Avid readers of Simple Flying will also recognise the iconic Singapore Airlines logo in the second photo down at the rightmost side of the publication. Meyer said, "I think now, with this delegation of the business community and the airport, direct flights to Singapore are in sight. The feedback I have from them is that they are very persuasive, and Singapore Airlines has been very receptive to this, and I think they are convenient that there is a market".

"It is a big market for the first rows of the plane."

Notably, the Geneva to Singapore connection would focus on high-yielding business passengers; booking data shows that last year, the route had approximately 37,000 roundtrip passengers, making Singapore GVAs the fourth largest long-haul market after Bangkok, Sau Paulo, and Seoul Incheon. The business aspect of this route is prominent, with various Geneva-headquartered companies establishing their Asian hubs in Singapore and vice versa. Subilia said, "While many Geneva-based companies have made the city-state their Asian hub, Geneva, which combines Swiss reliability and its international status, has served as a springboard for Singapore-based companies. Geneva Airport also recognised the relevance of premium demand; on its website, the company notes the following from Singapore, "Strong travel demand with around 45% of high yield traffic+dynamic business relations)". Geneva is also Singapore's largest unserved market per booking data outside of Asia; it only recently reached the top of the list, taking Vancouver's spot. Air Canada began its country's only connection to Singapore earlier this year.

The A350 is the perfect fit.

Singapore Airlines operates relatively high-density premium layouts onboard its Airbus A350 fleet, which Meyer believes is the best plane for the job. Ch aviation data depicts the carrier has 57 A350-900s in service. Thirty-three of the airline's A350-900s feature premium economy in the following layout.

• 167 economy class seats
• 24 premium economy seats
• 42 business class seats

The remaining aircraft have 263 seats in economy and 40 in business, given that the most significant demand for flights between Geneva and Singapore would be those seated in the two higher-yielding cabins. Planes deployed in the sector would most likely feature the three-class layout. Meyer mirrored this based on his time as Director of International Affairs of Aviation Business at the Chamber of Commerce, which ended in 2015. Geneva is an attractive opportunity for Singapore Airlines, given its high-yielding potential and its growing attractive position as a business hub for Singaporean businesses and vice versa.

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