Singapore Airlines Adds Four Long-Haul Routes
Singapore Airlines is launching or restarting four long-haul routes from Singapore Changi Airport in late 2026, including a new service to Western Sydney
Singapore Airlines will launch or restart four long-haul routes from Singapore Changi Airport in the final months of 2026. According to OAG data, the airline plans an average of 125 daily widebody departures from its hub during that period.
Widebody aircraft are central to the carrier's strategy, accounting for 73% of its flights from Singapore. These planes provide higher passenger and freight capacity. Singapore Airlines is the world's fifth-largest operator of international widebody flights and does not operate any domestic services.
New Route To Western Sydney Airport
The most notable new service will connect Singapore Changi with the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. Singapore Airlines will be the first long-haul carrier to operate from the new Australian airport.
This route launch contributes to the airline having record flight and seat capacity to Australia for the northern winter season. The move is seen as boosting its competitiveness against rival carriers, particularly those based in the Gulf region.
Returns To Madrid, Riyadh, And Dubai
Three of the four route changes are resumptions of previous services. The return to Madrid's airport is particularly significant, coming after a 22-year hiatus.
Flights to Dubai International are also set to resume after a suspension induced by war. Flightradar24 data shows the last service to Dubai operated on February 28. Previously scheduled Airbus A380 flights on this route have been removed entirely.
| Route | Status | Last Operated | Key Aircraft Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore - Western Sydney | New Launch | N/A (New airport) | First long-haul carrier for WSI |
| Singapore - Madrid | Resumption | 2004 | Previously via Paris; now via Barcelona |
| Singapore - Riyadh | Resumption | 2014 | Previously operated 2008-2014 |
| Singapore - Dubai | Resumption | February 28 | A380 services removed |
Madrid Service Details
Singapore Airlines previously served Madrid in 2004 using Boeing 747-400 aircraft, with stops in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in both directions.
The new service will operate five times weekly using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. These flights will stop at Barcelona-El Prat Airport both outbound and inbound. As the Barcelona-Madrid segment is a domestic Spanish flight, traffic rights will not be available for sale.
As part of this change, all flights between Singapore and Barcelona will become nonstop. Until Madrid service resumes, some Singapore-Barcelona flights will stop at Milan Malpensa Airport. Once Madrid is back online, all services to Milan will operate on a 'terminator' basis, meaning aircraft will not continue to another destination.
Riyadh Service History
Schedule data indicates Singapore Airlines previously flew to Riyadh between 2008 and 2014. The Boeing 777-200ER was used from 2008 to 2011, after which the Airbus A330-300 took over until services ended.
Notably, the Riyadh route was served on a one-stop basis via Dubai between 2008 and 2012. However, it appears some flights stopped at Abu Dhabi International Airport instead of Dubai during 2011 and 2012.
Between 2012 and 2014, nonstop flights to Riyadh were extended to Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport. Singapore Airlines had served Jeddah for some time, with most flights operating via Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Riyadh. Services to Jeddah ended in 2016, though the destination remains in the group's network through its lower-cost unit, Scoot.
The airline's reliance on widebody aircraft is underscored by OAG data showing 125 daily twin-aisle departures planned from Singapore Changi for late 2026.
