The current reign of Emirates as the only airline flying the largest passenger plane in the world to and from New Zealand every day will soon be over.
Singapore Airlines has announced it will restart daily A380 services between Auckland and Singapore in late November, adding more than 1500 seats per week on the route.
On November 22, flight SQ285 - operating on one of the airline's flagship 471-seat superjumbos - will depart Changi Airport at 10:25pm and arrive at Auckland Airport on November 23 at 1:20pm.
It will then depart Auckland for the return flight, SQ286, at 3:15pm and arrive back at Singapore at 8:55pm.
The airline said using an A380 on the route will continue through the busy northern summer season until the end of March, 2024.
The Singapore Airlines A380's upper deck features six luxury suites and 78 business class seats, while the lower deck features 44 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout and 343 economy seats in a 3-4-3 layout.
"The return of seasonal A380 operations marks a significant milestone in our continued recovery since borders reopened to New Zealand a little over a year ago," said Singapore Airlines' general manager NZ George Robertson.
"When SQ285 touches down in Auckland on November 23, it will be the first time our A380 has operated scheduled services to New Zealand since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020."
From November 19 through to February 16, the airline also plans to add three extra flights per week between Christchurch and Singapore on its smaller A350-900 aircraft.
Emirates relaunched daily A380 services to and from New Zealand in December.
