Summary
- Geneva and Singapore representatives met to discuss the potential of direct flights.
- Singapore Airlines’ concern is supposedly a lack of Airbus A350s, although this is not confirmed.
- The route would focus on high-yielding business passengers and poses an interesting opportunity for the carrier.
Representatives from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Geneva Airport have met with organizations and authorities in Singapore, including 
Singapore Airlines , to discuss the possibility of launching direct flights between Geneva Airport (GVA) and Singapore Changi (SIN).
Simple Flying understands that Singapore Airlines’ only concern is not its willingness to open this high-yielding and business-oriented route, but rather a lack of Airbus A350s. In an interview, Geneva-based Philippe Meyer, an aviation consultant who often works with the local airport, tells us that the connection with Singapore is not a new ambition; but today, it is seemingly more reachable.
A trip to Singapore
A Swiss delegation from Geneva set off for Singapore at the end of last month in an attempt (among other things) to convince the world-renowned carrier to start direct flights to GVA. After the trip, Vincent Subilia, Director General at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, took to social media saying (translated from French):
“And what better way [to celebrate a shared dynamic economic fabric] than a direct air service between Geneva and Singapore to further consolidate and strengthen these historic ties, at the service of the business community, diplomatic circles and the many tourists eager to discover our magnificent region and Southeast Asia? We are working on this with determination and conviction.”
Avid readers of Simple Flying will also recognize the iconic Singapore Airlines logo in the second photo down at the rightmost side of the publication. Meyer tells us exclusively:
“I think now, with this delegation of the business community and the airport, direct flights to Singapore are in sight. The feedback I have got from them is that they have been very persuasive and Singapore Airlines (the Board of the company) has been very receptive to this and I think they are convinced that there is a market.”
Photo: The Global Guy | Shutterstock
“It is a big market for the first rows of the plane”
Most importantly, the Geneva to Singapore connection will focus on high-yielding business passengers. Booking data shows that last year, the route had approximately 37,000 roundtrip passengers, making Singapore GVA’s fourth largest unserved long-haul market after Bangkok (BKK), São Paulo (GRU), and Seoul Incheon (ICN).
Meyer comments that the São Paulo route has been in the works for a while, with slot availability on the Brazil side proving to be the biggest challenge.
The business-focused aspect of this route is significant, with many Geneva-headquartered companies establishing their Asian hubs in Singapore and vice-versa. Subilia said:
“While many Geneva-based companies have made the city-state their Asian hub, Geneva – which combines Swiss reliability and its international status – has very solid assets to serve as a springboard for Singapore-based companies.”
Photo: Santi Rodriguez I Shutterstock
Geneva Airport also recognized the importance of premium demand. On its website, the company notes the following from Singapore: “Strong travel demand with around 45% of high-yield traffic + dynamic business relations (finance, pharma, watches, etc.)”
Geneva is also Singapore’s largest unserved market per booking data outside of Asia. It only recently reached the top of the list, taking Vancouver (YVR)’s spot. Air Canada began its country’s only connection to Singapore earlier this year.
The A350 is the perfect fit
Singapore Airlines operates fairly high-density premium layouts onboard its Airbus A350 fleet, which Meyer believes is the perfect plane for the job. Ch-aviation data shows the carrier has 57 A350-900s in service (not counting the seven A350-900ULRs). 33 of the airline’s A350-900s feature premium economy in the following layout.
- 187 economy class seats
- 24 premium economy seats
- 42 business class seats
The remaining aircraft have 263 seats in economy and 40 in business. Given that the target demand for flights between Geneva and Singapore would be those seated in the two higher-yielding cabins, planes deployed in the sector would most likely feature the three-class layout. Meyer reflects on this based on his time as Director of International Affairs of Aviation Business at the Chamber of Commerce, which ended in 2015.
“Every time we meet [with Singapore Airlines] we made a survey with the economic/business community and every time, Singapore is the number one destination by far that is not served from Geneva Airport and is requested by this business community. So we’ve been working on that for a very long time.”
Bottom-line: could GVA be coming to the SIA network?
Photo: Bradley Caslin | Shutterstock
Geneva Airport declined to comment when asked, and the Chamber of Commerce did not immediately get back to us. In a statement, a Singapore Airlines spokesperson told Simple Flying:
“Singapore Airlines (SIA) regularly reviews our network and the destinations that we fly to.
This review includes meetings with potential partners globally.
Should there be any new additions to our network, we will announce them publicly at the appropriate time.”
Geneva is clearly an attractive opportunity for Singapore Airlines, given both its high-yielding potential and growing attractive position as a business hub for Singaporean businesses and vice versa.
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