THE world’s best airline has launched new flights from a UK airport – and it’s good news for long-haul travellers.
Singapore Airlines was named the best ‘World’s Best Airline’ in the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards, having won the top award for a number of years.
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And the airline announced last year that it would launch new flights from London Gatwick to Singapore.
Having launched this week, the service will now operate five times a week, arriving at Changi Airport (also often named the world’s best airport).
Singapore Airlines already operates flights to Singapore from London Heathrow, with four daily flights, and Manchester, with five weekly flights.
The new London Gatwick-Singapore flights start from £577 according to the Singapore Airlines website, and take around 13 hours.
However, we found some for as little £426 each way, when travelling in September and October, or £539 return, with Skyscanner.
And temperatures remain around 32C, so it is a great option for some post-summer sun.
But the new Gatwick flights are good news for Brits heading to longer haul, winter sun destinations.
This is because Singapore is often used as a stopover destination for destinations across Asia, with Brits connecting at Changi Airport.
The new London Gatwick route will also offer Brits the fastest UK-Sydney route, taking around 21 hours and 40 minutes.
SIA UK & Ireland general manager Mohamed Rafi Mar said: “We are pleased to offer more choices to customers, with London Gatwick as our third UK gateway.
“We have seen a growing demand for travel not just to Singapore, but to Southeast Asia and Australia.
“This new route from an internationally recognised airport also offers excellent transport links to London and the southeast of England, for those departing and arriving into the capital.”
If you fancy a trip to Singapore, here’s what the Sun’s Trisha Harbord thought.
And the new Singapore Airlines route isn’t the only new one coming to London Gatwick this year.
Norwegian has launched new flights to Gothenburg in Sweden, with four weekly routes.
For beachy holidays, easyJet is launching Gatwick flights to Skiathos in Greece as well as Salerno in Italy.
Wizz Air’s new London Gatwick-Varna routes will start next month, with airlines including ITA Airways launching Rome and Azores Airlines launching Ponta Delgada.
New long haul routes are being launched too.
Air India is launching a new London Gatwick to Bengaluru route in August.
And WestJet has already launched brand new Gatwick flights to both Halifax and St John’s in Canada.
What is it like to visit Singapore?
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey recently visited Singapore – here’s her verdict:
I was only a few sips into my Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel bar when a monkey-nut shell hit me on the back of the head, where punters are encouraged to throw the snacks while drinking.
The famous cocktail, invented in 1915, was created to allow women to drink a more “feminine” alcoholic beverage and this hotel sells as many as 1,000 a day.
But it isn’t the only great spot you’ll find in Singapore to knock back a cocktail — it’s crawling with brilliant bars, including Jigger and Pony, voted one of the best in Asia.
The city centre has some of the cheapest Michelin-starred meals on the planet.
At the Chinatown Complex Market is Liao Fan Hawker Chan, the world’s first Hawker stall to win the coveted star.
For £2 (yes, really) I gorged on the tastiest soy-sauce chicken noodles, smothered in a spicy sauce — so delicious that I spent 30 minutes queueing for a second helping.
Near here is the Michelin Guide-recommended Hill Street Tai Hwa — where I paid just £5 for a huge portion of juicy noodles with tender pork liver and crispy pieces of plaice on top.
The centre is a great place to just amble around — dubbed the City in the Garden for its luscious environment.
The most famous display of flora and fauna is at the Gardens by the Bay.
But what really makes Singapore unique is that most of its parks are found on the top of buildings.
One day, I opted for an early-morning walk on the Henderson Waves, the highest pedestrian bridge in the country.
The Sun’s Lisa Burn recently flew on the new five-hour WestJet flight to St John’s – here’s what she thought.
And we’ve rounded up some other flights launching at other UK airports such as London Heathrow, Liverpool and Manchester.
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