SINGAPORE- Singapore Airlines (SQ) will introduce First Class between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW), serving London (LON), from 1 October 2027. The four-class Boeing 777-300ER will replace the Airbus A350-900 Long Haul on daily flights SQ312/SQ309.
The aircraft change adds four First Class seats, six Business Class seats and four Premium Economy seats per flight. It also creates a new KrisFlyer redemption option, with the initial First Class Saver award rate set at 148,000 miles one-way.
Singapore Airlines Upgrades Its London Gatwick Service
Singapore Airlines is scheduled to introduce First Class on its original daily Gatwick service from October 2027. The Boeing 777-300ER will operate flight SQ312 from Singapore on 1 October, followed by the return flight SQ309 from Gatwick on 2 October.
The upgrade marks the first time Singapore Airlines will offer First Class at Gatwick since launching flights to the airport in June 2024. It also expands premium cabin capacity on a route that has grown from an initial 5 times weekly service to as many as two daily flights.
The aircraft assignment is currently published through the end of the Northern Summer 2027 schedule. The airline had not published the full winter 2027/28 schedule at the time of the original report, so the long-term aircraft allocation remains subject to confirmation.
Flight Schedule and Aircraft Allocation
Singapore Airlines operates two Gatwick services: SQ312/SQ309 and SQ314/SQ313. Both use the Airbus A350-900 Long Haul before the planned October 2027 change.
The original SQ312/SQ309 service began in June 2024 with five weekly flights and became daily the following winter. SQ314/SQ313 was introduced as an additional summer service in 2026.
It operated three times weekly for much of that season, increasing to daily flights in July and August before becoming a more regular part of the schedule.
The published Northern Summer 2027 timetable shows the following pattern:
| Period | SQ312/SQ309 | SQ314/SQ313 | Total weekly flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 March to 30 May 2027 | Daily, A350 | Daily, A350 | 14 |
| 31 May to 29 August 2027 | Daily, A350 | 3 times weekly, A350 | 10 |
| 30 August to 30 September 2027 | Daily, A350 | Daily, A350 | 14 |
| 1 October to 30 October 2027 | Daily, 777-300ER | Daily, A350 | 14 |
The table reflects the published outbound schedule. Return flights operate on the corresponding service dates, generally one calendar day after the outbound service begins its new aircraft assignment.
The reduction to 10 weekly flights between late May and late August 2027 is notable because the period includes the UK school summer holidays. The original report noted that Gatwick flights operated around 90% full in both 2024 and 2025 during the comparable summer periods.
Aircraft availability may help explain the reduction. Singapore Airlines is expected to cycle its Airbus A350 Long Haul fleet through a cabin retrofit programme, although the available information does not establish that this programme is the reason for the frequency change.
The aircraft upgrade applies to the original SQ312/SQ309 rotation rather than the supplementary SQ314/SQ313 service. Gatwick is scheduled to reduce to one daily service during parts of January and February 2027, when SQ314/SQ313 is the rotation expected to be suspended. If that operating pattern continues after October and the Boeing 777-300ER assignment remains unchanged, First Class could continue to operate daily. This remains conditional on future schedules.
Flight Times From October 2027
The published schedule lists the following local departure and arrival times for the late-October operating period.
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQ312 | Singapore to Gatwick | 23:55 | 06:55 next day | 14 hours |
| SQ314 | Singapore to Gatwick | 02:30 | 09:00 | 13 hours 30 minutes |
| SQ309 | Gatwick to Singapore | 10:10 | 06:25 next day | 13 hours 15 minutes |
| SQ313 | Gatwick to Singapore | 13:15 | 09:30 next day | 13 hours 15 minutes |
SQ312 and SQ309 are the flights scheduled to use the Boeing 777-300ER and feature First Class. SQ314 and SQ313 are scheduled to retain the Airbus A350-900 Long Haul for this period.
The Boeing 777-300ER assignment was listed through 29 October 2027 for departures from Singapore and 30 October 2027 for departures from Gatwick. Travellers booking beyond these dates should verify the aircraft type once Singapore Airlines publishes its subsequent schedules.
The schedule and award details, along with the cabin and airport comparisons in this article, were reported by Mainly Miles.
More First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy
The Boeing 777-300ER offers 264 seats in four classes, compared with 253 seats across three classes on the current A350 Long Haul configuration. Most of the increase goes to premium cabins.
| Cabin | Airbus A350-900 Long Haul | Boeing 777-300ER | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class | 0 | 4 | +4 |
| Business Class | 42 | 48 | +6 |
| Premium Economy | 24 | 28 | +4 |
| Economy Class | 187 | 184 | -3 |
| Total | 253 | 264 | +11 |
Each Boeing 777-300ER flight adds four First Class seats, six Business Class seats and four Premium Economy seats, while removing three Economy Class seats.
On a daily schedule, this provides 28 First Class seats per week in each direction where there were previously none. It also adds 42 weekly Business Class seats and 28 weekly Premium Economy seats in each direction.
The increase gives Singapore Airlines greater premium seating capacity without a substantial reduction in Economy Class. It also provides a new option for passengers who want to redeem KrisFlyer miles for First Class travel but prefer Gatwick’s flight times or airport location.
Business Class Differences Between the Two Aircraft
The aircraft change does not automatically mean a new Business Class seat on SQ312/SQ309. The Boeing 777-300ER uses Singapore Airlines’ 2013 Business Class product in a 1-2-1 layout, as does the A350 Long Haul configuration described in the original schedule.
The main difference is the cabin layout. The A350 divides Business Class into a large forward cabin and a smaller four-row section. The Boeing 777-300ER has a smaller three-row forward cabin and a larger section behind the second set of doors.
Singapore Airlines’ A350 Long Haul fleet is also due to receive a new cabin product through its retrofit programme. The new Business Class seats are expected to include closing privacy doors. If the retrofit programme progresses as anticipated, SQ314/SQ313 could offer a newer Business Class product by October 2027, even though those flights will not have First Class. That possibility is not yet a confirmed aircraft or seat assignment.
First Class Capacity Returns
The Gatwick upgrade restores Singapore Airlines’ overall daily First Class and Suites capacity between Singapore and London to the level that existed before July 2026.
When Singapore Airlines introduced Gatwick services in June 2024, it added Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy seats to the London market without adding First Class. The subsequent change at Heathrow reduced the number of First Class seats available on the route.
In July 2026, flight SQ306/SQ305 switched from the Boeing 777-300ER to the Airbus A350 Long Haul, removing four First Class seats from the Heathrow schedule.
The published changes to daily First Class and Suites capacity per direction are as follows:
| Period | Aircraft providing First Class or Suites | Daily seats |
|---|---|---|
| Before July 2026 | Two A380s and two 777-300ERs at Heathrow | 20 |
| 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2027 | Two A380s and one 777-300ER at Heathrow | 16 |
| From 1 October 2027, subject to the published allocation remaining | Two A380s and one 777-300ER at Heathrow, plus one 777-300ER at Gatwick | 20 |
The 4 First Class seats added at Gatwick effectively restore the capacity lost at Heathrow. They do not increase the combined London total beyond its earlier level.
Heathrow is scheduled to retain its mix of two Airbus A380s, one Boeing 777-300ER and one Airbus A350 Long Haul across its four daily flights in each direction. All 12 daily A380 Suites seats per direction remain at Heathrow under this aircraft allocation.
Passengers seeking Singapore Airlines’ 2017 Suites product will therefore still need to consider Heathrow. Gatwick will offer the airline’s separate 2013 First Class product on the Boeing 777-300ER.
Boeing 777-300ER First Class Cabin Offers
Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER First Class cabin contains four seats arranged in a single row in a 1-2-1 configuration. It is a different product from the enclosed Suites available on the Airbus A380.
The compact arrangement creates a dedicated cabin with limited seat numbers. A large open section behind the middle pair allows cabin crew to move between the two aisles while remaining largely out of passengers’ direct view.
The 2013 First Class product does not offer the separate enclosed living space of the 2017 A380 Suites, but it remains Singapore Airlines’ other active First Class cabin. The airline retired its older 2006 First Class seats when it withdrew its non-ER Boeing 777-300 aircraft.
For passengers, the choice between Gatwick and Heathrow is therefore not only about airport convenience. It also depends on whether they prefer the Boeing 777-300ER’s First Class cabin or the A380 Suites experience.
Singapore Airlines’ planned Boeing 777-9 is expected to introduce a new First Class cabin with sliding privacy doors and companion dining options. The new Business Class product is also intended to include closing doors.
The same new First Class product is planned for refurbished Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft. However, the delivery timing for the Boeing 777-9 remains uncertain, and its availability on Gatwick flights in October 2027 has not been confirmed.
Gatwick is not an established launch destination for the future product. Flagship routes such as London Heathrow and Sydney could be considered more likely early candidates, but Singapore Airlines has not confirmed the future aircraft allocation described here.
First Class Lounge Experience at Gatwick
The introduction of a First Class cabin does not automatically provide passengers with a dedicated First Class lounge at Gatwick.
Singapore Airlines does not currently operate its own SilverKris Lounge at the airport. Since the Gatwick route launched, the airline has used the third-party No1 Lounge in the North Terminal for eligible Business Class passengers, PPS Club members and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members.
The No1 Lounge offers complimentary champagne for eligible Singapore Airlines passengers and views across the airport. However, it has no showers and is also accessible to Priority Pass members. These facilities do not provide the same level of exclusivity as a dedicated First Class lounge.
One possible alternative is the Clubrooms, a more premium lounge operated by the same lounge group in the North Terminal. Singapore Airlines has not confirmed whether First Class passengers will receive access to this facility or continue to use the existing No1 Lounge arrangement.
A dedicated SilverKris Lounge at Gatwick appears unlikely while the airport has only two daytime Singapore Airlines departures.
The prospect could change if the airline obtains slots for a third daily service, especially an evening departure. Heathrow slot constraints make further expansion there difficult, but a Gatwick expansion has not been announced.
Passengers departing Singapore on SQ312 will have access to Singapore Airlines’ First Class ground experience at Changi, subject to the airline’s eligibility rules. This includes The Private Room, the airline’s dedicated facility for eligible First Class travellers.
Book Cook on Gatwick First Class Flights
Singapore Airlines has offered Book the Cook on Gatwick flights in Business Class and Premium Economy since the route launched in June 2024.
The service allows eligible passengers to pre-order their main course from a selection of dishes before departure. As Singapore Airlines offers Book the Cook in First Class on routes where it is available in Business Class, passengers travelling in First Class on SQ309 will be able to select their main course from a dedicated First Class menu.
This gives passengers another benefit beyond the additional seat capacity. However, menu choices and availability may vary by route and departure date, so passengers should confirm the options offered for their booking.
KrisFlyer First Class Saver Awards
The Boeing 777-300ER service creates another First Class redemption option for KrisFlyer members travelling between Singapore and London.
The initial release described in the original reporting included First Class Saver award availability on SQ312 departing Singapore on 1 October 2027. The one-way Saver rate is 148,000 KrisFlyer miles. Award availability changes as seats are booked and released, so the initial inventory should not be treated as guaranteed availability on later dates.
The one-way KrisFlyer redemption rates reported for Singapore to London are shown below. These rates apply to flights to both Heathrow and Gatwick under the award table described in the source.
| Cabin | Saver | Advantage | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Class | 44,000 miles | 79,000 miles | 113,000 miles |
| Premium Economy | 74,500 miles | Not available | 107,000 to 131,500 miles |
| Business Class | 108,500 miles | 141,500 miles | 182,500 to 291,500 miles |
| First Class or Suites | 148,000 miles | 259,500 miles | 481,500 miles |
The First Class Saver rate is the same for the Boeing 777-300ER cabin and the A380 Suites product. From a product perspective, passengers may prefer the A380 Suites for the same mileage cost. The trade-off is award availability: the original report found First Class Saver space on the Gatwick service when comparable Heathrow First Class awards were waitlisted or unavailable.
Heathrow and Gatwick should be searched separately because available award inventory may differ between the two airports. PPS Club members may also have access to additional award inventory beyond that available to other KrisFlyer members.
When KrisFlyer Award Seats Become Available
Singapore Airlines generally releases initial award inventory 355 days before departure. For flights departing Singapore, the release occurs at 8:00 a.m. Singapore time. The return flight follows its own departure-date booking window.
The original report identified 1 October 2027 as the first SQ312 departure available for First Class Saver redemption. The corresponding SQ309 return departure on 2 October 2027 follows the same 355-day principle, based on its local departure date.
The booking window differs for departures from some other regions. Flights leaving New York have historically opened at 12:00 p.m. Singapore time, while flights from the US West Coast have opened at 3:00 p.m. Singapore time on the relevant release date.
Because the first batch of award seats can be limited, members seeking a specific date should check availability as soon as the relevant booking window opens. Neither the release timetable nor the published redemption rate guarantees that a seat will remain available.
Award Taxes, Fees and Cash Fares
The mileage requirement is only part of the total cost of a First Class redemption. Airport charges, government taxes and other fees differ between Singapore and the UK.
The original report listed the following approximate amounts:
| Booking or travel direction | Reported cost |
|---|---|
| First Class Saver award, Singapore to Gatwick | 148,000 miles one-way |
| Taxes and fees from Singapore to Gatwick | Approximately S$96 |
| Taxes and fees from Gatwick to Singapore | Approximately S$480 |
| Comparable Heathrow return-direction fees | Approximately S$535 |
| Cash First Class fare from Singapore to Gatwick on 1 October 2027 | S$15,275.80 one-way |
The Singapore-to-Gatwick award fee estimate includes Singapore’s new Sustainable Aviation Fuel tax applying to flights from 1 January 2027. The higher return-direction cost reflects UK Air Passenger Duty and airport charges. The reported Gatwick fees are lower than Heathrow’s because of differences in airport charges.
The quoted cash fare for the 1 October 2027 departure was the same for Gatwick and Heathrow at the time of the report. Passengers choosing between the airports should therefore consider departure times, lounge facilities, available award seats and their preference for the Boeing 777-300ER First Class cabin or A380 Suites.
These fares and fee estimates are snapshots from the reporting period, not permanent prices. Travellers should check the final amount and current award inventory before booking.
Wider Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Fleet Changes
Gatwick is one of several destinations affected by changes to Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER deployment.
The aircraft is scheduled to operate on Christchurch services from May 2027, while Auckland is receiving a second daily Boeing 777-300ER rotation during the referenced winter season. Hong Kong is set to lose its temporary second 777-300ER rotation from late October, and Jakarta’s First Class capacity is lower during the referenced winter season than in comparable recent periods.
These changes are taking place across different markets and dates. The available information does not establish one specific reason for every aircraft swap or capacity adjustment.
The A350 cabin retrofit programme and planned Boeing 777-9 deliveries could influence fleet allocation, but they should be treated as potential factors rather than confirmed explanations for the Gatwick change.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
