SIA increases flights to Shanghai

SHANGHAI: Singapore Airlines (SIA) will launch its third daily service to Shanghai on Sunday to meet the growing needs of its customers traveling to and from that vibrant business and financial center, SIA General Manager for Indonesia Hew Chuen Chiet said.

At present SIA offers travelers the choice of a twice-daily service to Shanghai, which is also well known for its architecture, arts, culture and entertainment scene, departing Singapore at 01:20 hours and 10:20 hours respectively.

Hew told Indonesian journalists, including one from The Jakarta Post, during a SIA-sponsored familiarization tour of Shanghai last week, that the third five-hour daily flight to Shanghai will depart Singapore at 07:05 hours.

He added that the additional service will increase SIA weekly direct flights to China to 87, reflecting the increasingly important role of China as an emerging economic powerhouse and favorite tourist destination.

The weekly services consist of 14 flights to Beijing, seven to Guangzhou, 21 to Shanghai and 45 to Hong Kong.

Hew said Indonesian visitors to China have also been increasing steadily along with the expanding economic ties between the countries.

"SIA alone flies around 2,000 Indonesian business travelers and tourists monthly to China," added Hew, who before his assignment to Indonesia four months ago, was SIA general manager in Shanghai. -- JP