First SIA Flight to Beijing Since Pandemic on Dec. 30, Economy Ticket Priced at S$4,160

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will resume flights to Beijing, China, starting on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, after a nearly three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, according to The Straits Times. The Singapore-to-Beijing route will operate on a fortnightly basis, marking the first passenger service to the Chinese capital since flights were suspended on March 28, 2020.

SIA had already resumed flights from Beijing to Singapore on Sept. 27, 2022, which operate every Tuesday and Friday. The airline also runs flights to and from Shanghai on Mondays and Saturdays.

Steep Economy Ticket Prices

However, flying to China comes with a hefty price tag. A round-trip economy ticket from Singapore to Beijing on Dec. 30, with a return flight on Jan. 10, is priced at S$4,160. Meanwhile, a round-trip economy ticket from Singapore to Shanghai on Dec. 31, with a return flight on Jan. 7, can go up to S$6,400.

Besides Beijing and Shanghai, SIA also offers flights to and from Chongqing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Xiamen. However, flights to and from Guangzhou have yet to resume, according to an SIA spokesperson.

In light of the reported surge in new Covid-19 cases in China, an SIA spokesperson addressed safety concerns, saying: “The health and safety of our customers and staff is our utmost priority. We have implemented comprehensive health and safety measures from check-in to arrival, including enhanced cleaning, disinfecting, and contact minimisation innovations. We follow all local health regulations and work closely with relevant authorities.”

SIA encourages customers traveling to China and Singapore to check its travel information center for the latest entry requirements.

Background

China lifted its strict zero-Covid policy in December 2022. However, this has led to a sharp rise in cases across the country, fueled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant. On Dec. 25, China’s National Health Commission announced it would no longer release daily Covid-19 data, which had been regularly reported for the past three years.

Top image from SIA.