The Restaurant A380@Changi serves meals aboard the plane while parked at Singapore’s Changi Airport. Photo: Handout
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https://scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3105252/tickets-singapore-airlines-a380-restaurant-cruises-nowhere Southeast Asia
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
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
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.
In normal flying service, the carrier’s A380s can seat as many as 471 people, according to its website.
The A380 will be parked and linked to a gatehold room, with diners entering via an aerobridge. SIA will apply for airport passes on behalf of the diners since the activity will be in a restricted area.
Singapore Airlines, which suffered a record S$1.12 billion (US$827 million) net loss in the quarter through June and is laying off about 20 per cent of its workforce, is also selling a range of first- and business-class meals and offering a service whereby a private chef reheats, plates and serves customers in their homes.
Meanwhile, demand is soaring for spots on two cruise ships that will start sailing from Singapore next month on round-trip journeys as the city state aims to give residents an outlet for their wanderlust.
Operator Genting Cruise Lines has received more than 6,000 bookings in five days, while competitor Royal Caribbean International said bookings are up 500 per cent compared with the past two weeks, reported The Straits Times.
The boats will sail at a reduced capacity of 50 per cent and the journeys are only open to residents of Singapore.
Additional reporting by Today Online.