Tickets for Singapore Airlines’ A380 restaurant, ‘cruises to nowhere’ snapped up

As the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on the travel industry, Singapore’s national carrier and cruise companies are looking for ways to earn income

A380 restaurant seats sold out in 30 minutes. Genting Cruise Lines had 6,000 bookings and Royal Caribbean International’s bookings rose 500 per cent

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Singapore Airlines opened a pop-up restaurant on an A380 superjumbo parked at Changi Airport as part of a ‘suite of experiences’ for customers to raise revenue amid the Covid-19 downturn in travel. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:55am, 13 Oct 2020Updated: 8:52pm, 13 Oct 2020

Singapore Airlines (SIA) said all seats on its Airbus A380 plane pop-up restaurants were reserved within 30 minutes of bookings opening on Monday.

With flights largely grounded by the coronavirus pandemic, Singapore’s national carrier is trying novel ways to raise money, including using two of the superjumbos parked at Changi Airport as temporary eateries.

SIA’s initial idea for short “flights to nowhere” was jettisoned after it conducted a market study and review which looked at factors such as environmental implications and financial viability. But it received “overwhelming support” for the restaurant initiative.

A meal in a suite costs S$642 (US$474), while seats in business class are going for S$321, dropping to S$96.30 for premium economy and S$53.50 for economy. Customers can also pay with frequent-flier miles. Some diners will get an exclusive tour of the plane.

After lunch on the initial weekend dates of October 24 and 25, sold out, Singapore Airlines said it will extend the offer for a further two days the following weekend and also add a dinner option on all four days.

The airline has opened its waiting list for diners to indicate their interest. “Those on the wait-list will be contacted by SIA should there be additional availability for the Restaurant A380 @ Changi experience,” the airline said.

About half the seats in each aircraft will be used for dining, in line with restaurant guidelines on group limits and distancing, the carrier said in a statement.