Singapore Airlines is flying the Airbus A380 on up to eight routes this summer, with Australia the big winner as Melbourne takes the superjumbo baton from suspended Dubai services, joining twice-daily Sydney for three flights in total.
Nearly a month into the northern summer 2026 season, which runs until 24th October 2026, Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 flying programme looks a little different to the one the airline originally had planned, thanks to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The superjumbo will now serve up to eight cities on the network during NS26, though not all of these routes are season-long.
Only London, Frankfurt, Sydney and Melbourne have at least one daily A380 service across the full summer period, while Delhi, Mumbai and Shanghai see the superjumbo for most of the season, with each suffering a one-month break at various times.
Finally, the A380 is deployed for a short part-season stint on Hong Kong flights.
Here’s our latest analysis of the airline’s plans for this aircraft type over the next six months.
The Dubai – Melbourne switch
Dubai was meant to be SIA’s headline A380 story of summer 2026, with the upgauge first announced right at the start of the year.
Back in February, Singapore Airlines confirmed year-round superjumbo service on flights SQ494 and SQ495, marking the first time the A380 would be a permanent fixture on the Gulf route.
That plan unravelled after the Iran conflict flared up in mid-March, forcing SIA to suspend its Dubai service entirely. With a spare A380 freed up and Australian demand running strong, the airline redeployed the aircraft to Melbourne at short notice from 29th March, restoring the superjumbo to Tullamarine for the first time in nearly three years.
Dubai flights remain suspended until at least 1st June 2026, and SIA has since formally dropped the A380 from the route for the rest of the NS26 season, loading the Boeing 777-300ER through to 24th October 2026.
The superjumbo is still pencilled in to return on Dubai flights from 25th October for the NW26/27 season, though that remains contingent on the situation stabilising, and regular demand returning.
The upshot: Australia is the unexpected beneficiary of the reshuffle, with three daily A380 services across the full summer, instead of the two originally scheduled.
Route summary
Eight cities on the Singapore Airlines network will see at least some Airbus A380 service between now and late October 2026.
Singapore Airlines A380 operation
April 2026 – October 2026
| Singapore to/from |
NS26 (Apr ’26 – Oct ’26) |
| Delhi | |
| Frankfurt | |
| Hong Kong | |
| London Heathrow | |
| Melbourne | |
| Mumbai | |
| Shanghai | |
| Sydney |
= Partial operation during the NS26 season
Singapore Airlines will operate 126 weekly A380 flights during the summer 2026 season, based on October 2026 schedules, a sharp rise compared to the 98 weekly flights we saw in summer 2025, perhaps signalling the end of the type’s maintenance woes.
Recently up to three or even four of the 12-strong fleet of aircraft has been out of action in the hangar at any one time, some as far away as Spain, but that situation finally seems to be improving, with flight frequencies promised to be back up to levels not seen for the type since early 2024.
The A380 schedules
Here’s how the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 schedules look on these routes between now and late October 2026.
Simply expand the schedule boxes below for each of SIA’s confirmed A380 destinations, to see which flights the aircraft is operating on, including timings and days of operation through to the end of the northern summer schedule on 24th October 2026.
29th March 2026 – 20th June 2026
and
26th July 2026 – 24th October 2026
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ406 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 16:45 |
DEL 20:05 |
||||||||
| Duration: 05:50 | |||||||||
|
SQ403 A380 |
||||||||
| DEL 21:55 |
SIN 06:10* |
||||||||
| Duration: 05:45 | |||||||||
Other aircraft types on this route
SQ402/401 flights on this route use Boeing 787 aircraft.Note
SQ406/403 flights use Boeing 777-300ER aircraft between 21st June and 25th July 2026. See here for details.29th March 2026 – 24th October 2026
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ326 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 12:35 |
FRA 19:40 |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:05 | |||||||||
|
SQ325 A380 |
||||||||
| FRA 21:40 |
SIN 16:20* |
||||||||
| Duration: 12:40 | |||||||||
Other aircraft types on this route
Until 28th March 2026, SIA’s daily SQ326/325 Frankfurt flights are operated by the Boeing 777-300ER. Daily SQ26/25 flights on this route are operated by the Boeing 777-300ER. See here for details.21st June 2026 – 25th July 2026
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ892 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:50 |
HKG 13:55 |
||||||||
| Duration: 04:05 | |||||||||
|
SQ893 A380 |
||||||||
| HKG 15:40 |
SIN 19:25 |
||||||||
| Duration: 03:45 | |||||||||
Other aircraft types on this route
Apart from short-term Airbus A380 service listed above, SIA serves Hong Kong up to five times daily using a mixture of Airbus A350 MH, Airbus A350 LH and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. See here for details.29th March 2026 – 24th October 2026
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ308 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:00 |
LHR 15:45 |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:45 | |||||||||
|
SQ322 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 23:00 |
LHR 05:55* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:55 | |||||||||
|
SQ317 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 11:25 |
SIN 07:30* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:05 | |||||||||
|
SQ319 A380 |
||||||||
| LHR 20:35 |
SIN 16:45* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:10 | |||||||||
Other aircraft types on this route
SIA operates up to four times daily to and from London Heathrow, using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its non-A380 services. See here for details.SIA also operates daily between Singapore and London Gatwick Airport, using Airbus A350 LH aircraft.
29th March 2026 – 24th October 2026
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ237 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 01:45 |
MEL 12:10 |
||||||||
| Duration: 07:25 | |||||||||
|
SQ228 A380 |
||||||||
| MEL 16:40 |
SIN 21:10 |
||||||||
| Duration: 07:40 | |||||||||
Other aircraft types on this route
Singapore Airlines also operates the Airbus A350 Long Haul and Boeing 777-300ER on its Melbourne route, on four daily flights in addition to the A380 service listed above.29th March 2026 – 25th July 2026
and
30th August 2026 – 24th October 2026
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ424 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 18:50 |
BOM 22:10 |
||||||||
| Duration: 05:50 | |||||||||
|
SQ423 A380 |
||||||||
| BOM 23:40 |
SIN 07:40* |
||||||||
| Duration: 05:30 | |||||||||
Other aircraft types on this route
SQ422/421 flights on this route use Boeing 787 aircraft.Note
SQ424/423 flights use Boeing 777-300ER aircraft between 26th July and 29th August 2026. See here for details.1st May 2026 – 24th October 2026
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ830 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 09:30 |
PVG 15:05 |
||||||||
| Duration: 05:35 | |||||||||
|
SQ833 A380 |
||||||||
| PVG 16:50 |
SIN 22:20 |
||||||||
| Duration: 05:30 | |||||||||
Other aircraft types on this route
SIA operates five times daily to and from Shanghai this summer, using a mixture of Airbus A350 MH, Airbus A350 LH, Boeing 787-10 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, in addition to these A380 services. See here for details.29th March 2026 – 24th October 2026
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ231 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 00:45 |
SYD 10:25^ |
||||||||
| Duration: 07:40 | |||||||||
|
SQ221 A380 |
||||||||
| SIN 20:25 |
SYD 06:05*^ |
||||||||
| Duration: 07:40 | |||||||||
|
SQ232 A380 |
||||||||
| SYD 11:00^ |
SIN 17:30 |
||||||||
| Duration: 08:30 | |||||||||
|
SQ222 A380 |
||||||||
| SYD 15:00^ |
SIN 21:20 |
||||||||
| Duration: 08:20 | |||||||||
^ 1 hour from 4th October 2026 (due to Daylight Saving Time)
Other aircraft types on this route
SIA operates four times daily to and from Sydney, using a mixture of Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350 LH aircraft on its non-A380 services. See here for details.KrisFlyer award pricing
Here are the one-way KrisFlyer award rates on these Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 services.
Singapore Airlines A380 routes
One-way KrisFlyer award rates
x 1,000
| Singapore to/from |
Saver | Advantage | |||||
| Y | PY | J | F | Y | J | F | |
| Hong Kong | 15.5 | 28 | 35.5 | 47.5 | 33 | 57.5 | 84 |
| Delhi | 19 | 36 | 45 | 61.5 | 40.5 | 75 | 112.5 |
| Mumbai | |||||||
| Shanghai | 20.5 | 36 | 45 | 61.5 | 44 | 75 | 112.5 |
| Melbourne | 29 | 53.5 | 72 | 98 | 60.5 | 103.5 | 178.5 |
| Sydney | |||||||
| Frankfurt | 44 | 74.5 | 108.5 | 148 | 79 | 141.5 | 259.5 |
| London | |||||||
As you can see, the cheapest way to experience the A380’s cabin products this summer is between Singapore and Hong Kong, or between Singapore and India. Delhi and Mumbai in particular are competitively priced for five+ hour flights , and often have good award availability, even in Suites and Business Class.
Shanghai is also identically priced in the premium cabins, with the opportunity to redeem on this route between May and October this summer.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
SIA’s Airbus A380 fleet
Singapore Airlines reduced its fleet of Airbus A380s from 19 before the pandemic down to 12 aircraft.
All of the dozen A380s that returned to operation have the new 2017 cabin products installed, and while all 12 of the jets are now part of the airline’s operating fleet, at the time of writing 11 SIA superjumbos are in service, with one undergoing maintenance work, as outlined below.
Singapore Airlines A380 Fleet
(as of 23rd February 2026)
 |
|||
| Registration | Cabin Refit |
Re-entered Service* |
Current Status |
| 9V-SKM | 18 Nov 2020 | 11 Nov 2021 | In Service |
| 9V-SKN | 30 Jun 2020 | 2 Dec 2021 | In Maintenance |
| 9V-SKP | 28 Nov 2023 | 7 Dec 2023 | In Service |
| 9V-SKQ | 7 Oct 2022 | 16 Oct 2022 | In Service |
| 9V-SKR | 23 Dec 2021 | 19 Jan 2022 | In Service |
| 9V-SKS | 20 Jun 2019 | 19 Nov 2021 | In Maintenance |
| 9V-SKT | 26 Nov 2019 | 18 Apr 2023 | In Service |
| 9V-SKU | From new | 4 Nov 2021 | In Service |
| 9V-SKV | From new | 5 Nov 2021 | In Service |
| 9V-SKW | From new | 17 Feb 2022 | In Service |
| 9V-SKY | From new | 26 Dec 2021 | In Service |
| 9V-SKZ | From new | 3 May 2022 | In Service |
* Post-COVID-19 grounding
This is the best shape we’ve seen the A380 fleet in for some time, and while we can’t promise more maintenance downtime isn’t planned for some of these aircraft the summer 2026 schedule calls for only 10 A380s to be needed at peak, with an 11th as an operational spare, allowing for one to continue to be out of action for engineering if necessary.
That necessity will kick in from 1st May 2026 when Shanghai starts to see a daily A380 flight added to the schedule.
(Photo: Duc Huy Nguyen / Shutterstock)
A380 cabin products
The A380 is popular with passengers in all cabin classes, but in particular it’s the latest Suites and Business Class seats rolled out in 2017 that are still a big draw for many of our readers.
(Photo: Agent Wolf / Shutterstock)
There’s also a large 44-seat Premium Economy Class section, in the space the Suites cabin used to occupy in the older configuration, at the forward main deck.
The A380s also feature the latest KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system and Wi-Fi connectivity – now free and unlimited for all Suites and Business Class passengers, and for KrisFlyer members in Premium Economy and Economy Class.
Here are our reviews of the Suites (double bed) and Business Class cabins on these A380s.
What about 25th October 2026 onwards?
Singapore Airlines is already loading Airbus A380 operation on its network for the northern winter 2026/27 season from 24th October 2026 onwards, but there’s a big caveat here.
This is usually just a copy-paste of the previous winter season operation, and so isn’t necessarily indicative of the actual aircraft types that will operate on these routes at this early stage.
Some A380 routes are a sure bet, like SIA’s twice daily flights to Sydney and London, but beyond that, the airline has flexibility to reshuffle its superjumbo network – and as we’ve seen in recent years, even staple routes like London and Sydney can see temporary cuts.
The following winter 2026/27 flights are currently planned for A380 operation at the time of writing:
- Auckland (SQ285/286)
From 17th January 2027 (SQ285)
From 18th January 2027 (SQ286) - Delhi (SQ406/403)
- Dubai (SQ494/495)
- Frankfurt (SQ326/325)
Until 16th January 2027 only - London Heathrow (SQ308/319 and SQ322/317)
- Mumbai (SQ424/423)
- Shanghai (SQ830/833)
- Sydney (SQ231/222 and SQ221/232)
We tend to get more clarity on the final winter season schedules and aircraft allocation by around August, so don’t rely too much on the aircraft types listed beyond 24th October 2026 until then, though most proposed A380 operation should stick.
Dubai will be the one to watch here, depending on how long Middle East tensions endure and how that potentially affects demand on the route, even assuming a return to normal daily operations in the coming months.
Singapore Airlines is operating its Airbus A380s to four cities on a consistent basis across the full NS26 season: London, Sydney, Melbourne and Frankfurt.
Shanghai picks up the type from May 2026, Delhi and Mumbai continue with their usual short seasonal gap, and even Hong Kong gets a brief appearance mid-summer.
The big winner this year is Australia, with three daily A380 services after Melbourne’s short-notice upgauge, a direct consequence of the airline’s Dubai plans unravelling amid the ongoing Iran conflict. Whether Melbourne keeps the superjumbo beyond October, or cedes it back to Dubai once the geopolitical picture improves, will be the next thing to watch.
Overall, NS26 represents a significant recovery for SIA’s A380 operations, back to early 2024 levels. The maintenance challenges that previously kept up to four aircraft grounded simultaneously appear to be behind the airline, with the bulk of the 12-strong fleet now flying.
(Cover Photo: Peter Gronemann)
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