SilkAir celebrates its 25th birthday on 21 February this year. The regional carrier of parent company Singapore Airlines is celebrating this milestone and taking delivery of its first Boeing 737-800NG early next month. It expects to take delivery of eight this year from an order of 54 signed in August 2012. This will be added on to its current fleet of 18 A320s and six A319 of which four of the airline’s older A320s will be retired. SilkAir received its final A320 last November.
The new aircraft will offer upgraded cabin interiors with more spacious overhead luggage compartments and lighting system featuring the Boeing Sky Interior, in-seat audio and power supply. There will be 12 Business Class Seats and 150 in Economy, an eight percent increase in seat capacity.
The first aircraft is planned to enter service 20 February flying to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Phuket and Medan. The second aircraft will enter service 17 March. SilkAir’s chief pilot will take delivery of the new aircraft from Seattle and fly it back to Singapore en route Honolulu, Major in Marshall Islands and Guam on a three-day journey. This aircraft will also be displayed at the Singapore Airshow on 14 February.
The airline is also offering consumers the chance to ‘virtually’ deliver the plane to Singapore in a 25-hour flight simulation activation programme. This event will be held on 7 and 8 February. More details will be announced in SilkAir’s Facebook Fan page. A new brand campaign will be rolled out next month. 250,000 tickets at special rates will also be offered around the region.
SilkAir current flies over 300 weekly flights to 45 destinations in 12 countries. It will add Kalibo, Philippines on 27 May and Mandala, Myanmar on 10 June to its route.
