Singapore Airlines is today commencing additional direct services through Adelaide Airport, now offering the most weekly flights any international carrier has ever flown year-round to Adelaide. The Southeast Asian airline, which is also South Australia’s longest-serving international carrier, will operate 12 flights a week starting 25 October – an increase of 1,328 extra seats every week.
The two additional weekly flights means Singapore Airlines will touchdown every afternoon and five mornings each week, providing extra daily connections to South Australia through one of the world’s biggest aviation hubs, Singapore’s Changi Airport.
Singapore is an important visitor market for South Australia. In the year to June 2026, visitors from Singapore spent $73 million in South Australia – up almost 70 per cent on the previous year, driven by an increase in holidaymakers.
This uplift in flights will also unlock additional cargo space for the state’s exporters and enable more South Australian premium produce to reach overseas customers faster and fresher.
It comes as the state’s air freight exports are already on the rise, having soared by 54 per cent in the year to August 2026 – with 23,100 tonnes of goods travelling by air, valued at a $926 million.
Singapore represents a major trading hub in Southeast Asia, with South Australian exports to the region valued at a combined $3.82 billion.
The expansion of Singapore Airlines’ services comes during a busy year for Adelaide Airport amid a series of additional direct flight announcements in 2026, following an increase to Cathay Pacific’s peak services and the first direct China Eastern flights from Shanghai in June.
Later this year, China Southern Airlines will also expand its flight offering, increasing to daily direct flights from Guangzhou during the peak period of December to March.
Overall passenger numbers through Adelaide Airport continue to grow, with the total number of passengers reaching 9.18 million (up 4.2 per cent) in the year to August 2026.
Flights are now on sale.
Tourism Minister Emily Bourke said this is a fantastic show of confidence in South Australia from one of the world’s leading airlines.
“As our longest-serving international airline partner, Singapore Airlines has backed South Australia for decades, and expanding to 12 weekly flights sees that enduring relationship continue to soar,” she said.
“More seats means more capacity for holidays makers and business travellers to come to South Australia, supporting our visitor economy.”
“With record seat capacity and direct links into one of the globe’s premier aviation hubs, it is easier than ever for international travellers to connect directly with South Australia.”
Minister for State Development Chris Picton added; “Singapore Airlines has been a trusted travel partner to South Australians for decades and we welcome their decision to offer more direct flights than any international carrier ever before.”
“These additional direct flights will deliver more seats for visitors and more cargo space for our state’s export businesses.”
“Singapore is a major trading hub in the heart of Southeast Asia with this greater connectivity enabling our state’s meat, seafood and premium produce to reach overseas shelves faster and fresher.”
Singapore Airlines, Regional Vice President South West Pacific, Foo Chai Woo said after 42 years of connecting South Australia to Singapore and beyond, Singapore Airlines continues to strengthen its longstanding commitment to the South Australian market as its longest-serving international airline.
“Our 12 weekly services will provide customers with greater choice and connectivity, while supporting strong passenger travel demand and airfreight flows between Adelaide and key international markets,” he said.
“South Australia’s airfreight sector continues to see growth in exports of chilled seafood, meat, and general cargo.”
“The additional services will provide greater cargo capacity and connectivity to key markets across Singapore, Southeast Asia, and East Asia.”
Adelaide Airport, Managing Director, Brenton Cox added “we welcome this extraordinary commitment from Singapore Airlines.”
“For more than 40 years, they have been an incredible partner with Adelaide Airport, pioneering one-stop connections to the UK and Europe.”
“This expansion delivers unprecedented choice and flexibility to passengers looking to access Singapore and the airline’s vast global network, while providing our local exporters with the frequent, reliable connectivity needed to grow international markets.”
Connie Bonaros, the CEO of Seafood Industry SA said South Australia’s seafood exports have increased by $29m to $275m and are expected to grow further, with premium products including Southern Bluefin Tuna, rock lobster, abalone, oysters and prawns reaching key markets such as Japan, China and Hong Kong.
“Reliable international air freight is critical to our export success. Singapore Airlines has been a trusted partner to the industry, and these additional export opportunities will help us meet growing international demand and get premium South Australian seafood to customers around the world,” she said.
“This is a great outcome for our industry, our exporters and South Australia’s reputation as a producer of premium seafood.”
