Singapore Airlines to Return to Madrid and Increase European Frequencies

Dergam Mousa

6 hours ago

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will restructure its European route network starting in October 2026, marking its return to Madrid after an absence of more than two decades. This strategic move will be accompanied by a frequency increase across several key regional hubs to meet growing passenger demand.

Return to Madrid and Restructuring of the Barcelona Route

Starting October 26, 2026, SIA will begin operating flights to Madrid with five weekly frequencies via a combined route through Barcelona.

To implement this operation, the carrier will restructure its current five-times-weekly services between Singapore and Barcelona, transforming them into a Singapore–Barcelona–Madrid itinerary. With this addition, the Spanish capital will become the airline’s 14th destination in Europe and its second in Spain.

Dai Haoyu, Acting Senior Vice President of Marketing Planning at SIA, highlighted the significance of this step: “Madrid is a highly popular tourist destination, as well as a major financial and business hub. We are pleased to operate in this city once again after more than 20 years. This new service, alongside increased frequencies to key European destinations such as Manchester, Milan, Munich, and London Gatwick, will offer our customers more options and greater flexibility when planning their travels.”

Flight Schedules

Flight SQ388

Singapore-Barcelona: Departure 23:30 – Arrival 06:40 (next day)
Barcelona-Madrid: Departure 07:40 – Arrival 08:50

Flight SQ387

Madrid-Barcelona: Departure 10:00 – Arrival 11:15
Barcelona-Singapore: Departure 12:35 – Arrival 08:25 (next day)

→ Singapore Airlines to Enhance In-Flight Connectivity with Starlink Technology

To serve the Singapore–Barcelona–Madrid route, the airline will deploy the Airbus A350-900, configured with a total of 253 seats across three classes:

42 in Business Class
24 in Premium Economy
187 in Economy Class

Tickets for this new service will be available for sale starting June 2026 through the airline’s official distribution channels.

European Expansion: More Frequencies at Strategic Hubs

In tandem with the Spanish launch, SIA will progressively increase its operations at other key European destinations to enhance connectivity through its Singapore hub.

Manchester (United Kingdom)

Change: Services will increase from five weekly frequencies to daily operations.
Effective Date: From July 13, 2026.

London Gatwick (United Kingdom)

Change: Flights will increase from three weekly frequencies to a daily operation.
Effective Date: From October 25, 2026.
Global Impact: This will allow SIA to offer daily flights to Gatwick and a total of six daily flights to London (including the four existing daily frequencies to London Heathrow Airport).

Milan (Italy) and Network Adjustments

Change: Services will move from four weekly frequencies to a daily schedule starting October 25, 2026.
Route Adjustment: As a result of the new Madrid route, the three-times-weekly services between Singapore, Milan, and Barcelona will be terminated effective October 27, 2026.

Munich (Germany)

Change: A new three-times-weekly service will be launched.
Effective Date: From October 26, 2026.
Impact: The volume of operations to the German city will rise to a total of 10 weekly services.

All capacity increases, new routes, and detailed flight schedules are subject to obtaining the relevant regulatory approvals.