ZIPAIR Tokyo received a warm welcome at Changi

Hailing from Japan, ZIPAIR Tokyo is a wholly owned low-cost carrier of Japan Airlines, and officially launched its first flight from Tokyo (Narita) to Singapore on 7 September 2021. It is the first low-cost carrier to operate a direct non-stop service on this route. Flying a B787-8 wide-body aircraft, it runs a weekly service and plans to increase its operations to thrice weekly in November this year. Singapore is ZIPAIR’s fourth destination after Bangkok, Honolulu and Seoul and the airline is planning to launch services to Taipei next.

ZIPAIR’s full-flat seats were designed with passengers’ comfort in mind.

Japan ranks highly as one of the top leisure destinations for Singaporeans, with over 3.4 million passenger movements between Singapore and Japan in 2019. Travellers can look forward to a new and more affordable flight option when travel restrictions between Singapore and Japan are eased.

Ferrying cargo between Singapore and Japan is also crucial. ZIPAIR’s air cargo from Japan comprises fresh foods (from fisheries) which locals love, as well as industrial and electric parts, while cargo from Singapore consists of computer parts and health care products.

The airline offers two types of seats, 272 standard basic seats and 18 full lie-flat seats, equipped with a 180-degree reclining function. The lie-flat seats are designed with comfort and privacy as a priority. Complimentary inflight Wifi is also offered to all passengers, a rarity on most airlines. 

STARLUX Airlines, a luxury boutique airline, was founded in May 2018

STARLUX Airlines, operating from its hub at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, is the next entrant to join Changi’s family of airlines.

Singapore is the fourth destination the airline has added to its route network this year after Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila. STARLUX hopes to be the preferred airline for both business and leisure travellers between Singapore and Taiwan. Its inaugural flight to Singapore was on 23 September 2021.  

The cabin interior is designed by BMW Group Designworks, featuring natural and warm colors to evoke a sense of being “Home in the Air.”

STARLUX Airlines’ A321neo aircraft has a capacity of 188 seats, including eight business class and 180 economy class seats. Each business class seat transforms into an 82-inch fully flat bed. For flights departing Taipei, business class meals are specially prepared by Michelin-starred Taiwanese restaurant Longtail, while economy class features a menu created by the renowned Japanese-style grilled meat restaurant Hutong. STARLUX also prides itself in paying painstaking detail toward hospitality and services on all its flights.

Thai Vietjet will commence operations at Changi Airport with thrice weekly services to Bangkok and twice weekly services to Phuket. toward the end of the year. Vaccinated travellers can already enter Phuket without quarantine under the current Phuket Sandbox programme and will be able to travel to Bangkok from October 2021. All of these are part of the Thailand’s efforts to safely revive its tourism industry, a key sector of the country’s economy.

The Thai VietJet crew masked up and ready to serve

As the fastest growing low-cost carrier of the year in 2020 (by Global Business Outlook Magazine London), Thai Vietjet has continuously expanded its domestic and international flight network. In addition to Singapore, the airline will be launching services to Taipei, Fukuoka and Hong Kong, Its strong domestic network will provide additional travel options especially to foreign travellers who desire to travel around Thailand beyond Bangkok and Phuket.

Gulf Air, Jetstar Asia, Scoot and Singapore Airlines currently operate services between Singapore and Thailand.

These three new airlines add to the over 70 airlines currently operating at Changi, connecting Singapore to over 90 cities globally.