Why does Singapore Airlines fly between Manchester and Houston?

From a network development perspective, Singapore Airlines Flight 52 (and return Flight 51) is one of the strangest flights you’ll find in the skies. The service will be operated by Airbus A350-900 twin jets, connecting the airline’s hubs Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, with stops along the way at Manchester Airport (MAN) in the United Kingdom. ).

Firstly, this flight is a fifth freedom service, a service in which an airline operates a flight between two foreign countries and then on to their home country. Although such connections are rare today, they are not unheard of. Nor is that what makes this route so difficult to understand.

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The route seems relatively random, connecting two cities that are neither the capitals nor the largest cities of two countries separated by an entire ocean. Additionally, a direct route between Houston and Singapore would pass over Alaska and Siberia before heading south.

Photo: Kittikun Yoksap I Shutterstock

In contrast, passing through Manchester would require a flight path across the Atlantic Ocean and then through Asia, making it appear to be traveling in the ‘wrong direction’ around the world. In this article, we take a closer look at why Singapore flies such a unique and confusing route.

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The route between Houston and Manchester began with an even more attractive service connecting both cities with Singapore in between. Initially, the airline wanted to add Manchester to its route network, but was unable to meet the demand from Manchester alone to justify the cost of a separate flight to Manchester.

Photo: Wichitla | Shutterstock

As a result, the airline has chosen to launch this new route with a new fifth freedom service across the Atlantic. Since resuming operations in 2016, the airline has seen remarkable success with this transit, with only a temporary suspension due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic reversing it in 2021.

continued profitability

According to Business Traveler, the main factor driving the route forward was strong demand from UK travelers as well as Scottish travelers. Loganair’s interline agreement with Singapore allows him to travel from many remote locations in Scotland to the United States on one ticket.

Additionally, Houston serves as a major hub for Star Alliance member United Airlines, allowing passengers to take advantage of interconnections between Singapore Airlines and America’s legacy carriers to reach even more destinations. Travelers can also access travel between Manchester and Houston using miles on several Star Alliance airlines.

According to One Mile At A Time’s analysis, these routes have very good redemptions and offer some of the best premium cabin fares on transatlantic flights. Singapore’s route from Houston to Singapore via Manchester may seem rather odd, given the heavy traffic on both legs of the tricontinental journey. Yet, surprisingly, the business case has proven to be quite strong. This connection coincides with several other Fifth Freedom services from the airline, including flights from Barcelona to Milan.