SilkAir to launch Fuzhou service

SINGAPORE SilkAir will launch services to Fuzhou, China, from 21 November subject to applicable approvals.

SilkAir intends to offer four weekly flights, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Following the Fuzhou launch, SilkAir and Singapore Airlines will serve a total of 11 Chinese cities.

The number of destinations in SilkAir’s route network will increase to 52 destinations in 14 countries, which now include: Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.

The new services will be operated with SilkAir’s Boeing B737-800 aircraft, featuring both business and economy class cabins.

Flights provide full service, including in-flight meals, in-flight entertainment, baggage allowances of 40kg and 30kg for business and economy class respectively, as well as through check-in connecting to or from another SilkAir or Singapore Airlines point via Singapore.

“We are delighted to launch our new flight to Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province. We hope that this would open up travel between Fuzhou and Singapore, and also beyond these two major gateways,” said SilkAir chief executive, Foo Chai Woo.

Flights will be available for booking on a progressive basis through the SilkAir website, call centres and travel agents in the coming weeks.

Fuzhou is a city in south China famous for its sea views, mountains and historical sites. As the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, Fuzhou is also known as the “city of banyans”, because of the numerous Banyan trees planted there. Fuzhou boasts of forest parks, historic temples, ancient-style architecture and old streets – a few noteworthy attractions include West Lake Park, Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Pingtan Island and Xichan Temple.

From now until 31 March 2017, Fuzhou customers who transit in Singapore on to another SilkAir or Singapore Airlines flight will gain SGD40 Changi Dollar vouchers for use in the airport.

SilkAir destinations are Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Kunming, Shenzhen, Wuhan and Xiamen.

Singapore Airlines destinations are Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

As the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, SilkAir operates the Singapore Airlines Group’s narrow-body fleet and extends the group network by developing new destinations in Asia Pacific.

The airline took to the skies in February 1989 as Tradewinds the Airline, before evolving into SilkAir in 1992. In its early days, the airline catered to passengers holidaying in exotic destinations in the region, including Phuket and Tioman.

Today, the full-service airline operates almost 400 weekly flights to 49 destinations in 13 countries.

SilkAir’s network will increase to 52 destinations in 14 countries when Vientiane and Luang Prabang commence operations this October and Fuzhou in November.