Singapore Airlines will progressively increase frequencies to Manchester, Milan, Munich and London Gatwick from July 2026, and launch a new five times weekly service to Madrid via Barcelona on 26 October 2026. The expansion, announced by the carrier today, makes Madrid its 15th European destination and its second in Spain, subject to regulatory approvals.
The Madrid launch marks a return to the Spanish capital after a 22 year absence. Singapore Airlines previously served Madrid as a tag on from Paris until 2004. The new service will be operated by an Airbus A350-900 long haul variant in a 253 seat configuration, with 42 Business Class, 24 Premium Economy and 187 Economy seats.
To make room for Madrid, the airline is restructuring its existing twice weekly Singapore to Barcelona service into the new five times weekly Singapore to Barcelona to Madrid operation. The current three times weekly Singapore to Milan to Barcelona service, SQ378 and SQ377, will be cancelled from 27 October 2026 once the new Madrid route takes effect.
Frequency increases across four cities
Manchester gets the earliest boost. From 13 July 2026, Singapore to Manchester services SQ302 and SQ301 will move from five times weekly to a daily operation. London Gatwick services SQ314 and SQ313 will then step up from three times weekly to daily on 25 October 2026, giving Singapore Airlines two daily flights to the airport and six daily services to London once Heathrow is included.
On the same date, Milan services SQ356 and SQ355 will rise from four times weekly to daily. Munich gains a new three times weekly Singapore to Munich service, SQ340 and SQ339, from 26 October 2026, complementing the existing daily SQ328 and SQ327. The combined Munich operation will reach 10 weekly flights, up from seven.
“Europe is an important market for Singapore Airlines, and these adjustments reflect our commitment to it. Madrid is also an increasingly popular tourist destination, as well as a financial and business hub.” — Dai Haoyu, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Singapore Airlines
Madrid schedule and ticket sales
The inaugural flight, SQ388, will depart Singapore at 11.30 pm on 26 October 2026 and arrive in Barcelona at 6.40 am the following day. After a one hour layover, it will continue to Madrid, landing at 8.50 am local time. The return SQ387 will depart Madrid at 10 am, transit Barcelona, and arrive in Singapore the following morning at 8.25 am.
Tickets for the Madrid service will go on sale from June 2026 through Singapore Airlines distribution channels. Tickets for the additional services to Manchester, Milan, Munich and London Gatwick will be released progressively. The carrier has confirmed that it will not be possible to book travel solely between Barcelona and Madrid on the new route.
What it signals for the Asia to Europe market
The package of changes points to sustained appetite for premium long haul travel between Southeast Asia and Europe. By converting underused multi stop services into more direct daily operations, and by adding a fresh capital city to its map, Singapore Airlines is concentrating capacity where yields and demand are strongest. For passengers and the trade in our region, the result is more daily choice into the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and now Spain from late October.
MyAviation Magazine will track ticket release dates, aircraft type assignments and onward connection options as the new schedule rolls out, with further analysis ahead of the 26 October launch.
