SINGAPORE—Singapore Airlines will commence flights to Madrid via Barcelona starting October 26, 2026, marking its return to the Spanish capital after a 22-year hiatus. The airline will modify its existing twice-weekly Singapore–Barcelona service into a 5X-weekly route connecting Singapore, Barcelona, and Madrid, discontinuing its Milan–Barcelona flights.
The route will be operated with Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured for long-haul travel, including 42 business-class seats, 24 premium-economy seats, and 187 economy seats. The move has received support from Changi Airport Group, which considers Madrid a highly underserved European market. Lim Ching Kiat, EVP for air hub and cargo development, highlighted the increasing demand, stating, “Madrid is one of Changi’s most in-demand destinations that has yet to be served by direct flights.” Since 2022, travel between Madrid and Singapore has grown significantly.
European Route Capacity Increases
In response to ongoing suspensions in other European markets, Singapore Airlines is boosting capacity to Europe. From July 13, it will increase the Singapore–Manchester route from 5X-weekly to daily flights. Additionally, flights from Singapore to London Gatwick and Milan will increase in frequency from 3X-weekly and 4X-weekly to daily, respectively. The airline also plans a new 3X-weekly service to Munich to complement its existing routes. The airline's strategic expansion aligns with a recent rise in European demand, with passenger traffic increasing by 14.7% in revenue passenger kilometers in March, and load factors on European flights reaching 93.5%.
