In a boost for inbound tourism, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines have expanded their codeshare agreement on SQ services to the South Australian capital from Europe and the United Kingdom.
The new codeshare services are in addition to the existing codeshare on Singapore Airlines services between Adelaide and Singapore and onwards to 30 destinations throughout Asia and into South Africa.
Subject to regulatory approval, Virgin Australia customers will now be able to travel on Singapore Airlines services from Adelaide via Singapore to the following destinations in Europe and the United Kingdom (and vice versa): Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London – Heathrow, Manchester, Milan [interline], Moscow, Munich, Paris, Rome [interline] and Zurich.
Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network and Yield Merren McArthur said: “South Australia is an important focus for Virgin Australia and key to this is providing our customers in Adelaide with an extensive international network.
“Singapore Airlines currently offers 10 flights per week from Adelaide to Singapore, meaning Virgin Australia customers will have access to the greatest frequency of flights of any international airline from Adelaide, allowing connections to Singapore Airlines extensive network to Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia and South Africa.
“With a quick one-stop service through Singapore, our customers will be able to connect seamlessly to important business and leisure destinations including London and Paris and earn frequent flyer points and status credits in the process,” McArthur said.
Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President Subhas Menon said: “We are delighted to offer more travel options to Europe from Adelaide. The frequency of Singapore Airlines services out of Adelaide to all of Europe’s major destinations allow our customers in South Australia to enjoy optimal transit times as well as a range of same day travel options.
“In addition to this, our alliance with Virgin Australia further provides South Australia the benefit of seamless travel as well as reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and lounge access across our global network, not to mention improved options for visitors to travel beyond Adelaide to other Australian ports.
“As we approach 30 years of connecting Adelaide to the world, the alliance with Virgin Australia further reinforces our unwavering commitment to South Australia,” Menon said.
This announcement is a continuation of the roll-out of Virgin Australia’s alliance with Singapore Airlines, which already includes 62 codeshare and interline destinations in Asia and South Africa from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin as well as 12 destinations in Europe and UK from Perth and Darwin. Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines will continue to work closely to develop a network aligned with the needs of their customers.
According to the airlines, regulatory approval is expected to be granted in coming months and Virgin Australia will move quickly to implement the codeshare services as soon as possible.