Singapore Airlines will reintroduce its long-haul cabin products on flights between Singapore and Brisbane beginning in November 2026, marking a notable upgrade for premium travelers and long-distance connections after a four-year absence.
The carrier confirmed that one of its four daily services on the Singapore–Brisbane route will transition from an Airbus A350 Medium Haul aircraft to the Airbus A350 Long Haul configuration. The change will restore wider Business Class seating and reintroduce Premium Economy, improving comfort for passengers traveling on ultra-long-haul itineraries through Singapore.
While overall seat capacity on the route will decline by approximately four percent, Business Class capacity will increase, reflecting Singapore Airlines’ strategic focus on premium demand.
A350 Long Haul Aircraft Returns to Brisbane
From 1 November 2026, the SQ265/266 rotation will be operated using the Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft, equipped with Singapore Airlines’ 2013 long-haul Business Class seats and a dedicated Premium Economy cabin.
According to Mainly Miles, this marks the first time since October 2022 that Brisbane will again receive Singapore Airlines’ long-haul cabin products. Prior to the pandemic, at least one daily Brisbane service regularly featured long-haul seating.
The premium-heavy configuration of the A350 Long Haul adds 14 additional Business Class seats per week in each direction compared with the current Medium Haul aircraft, offsetting part of the overall capacity reduction.
Operational Shift in Flight Assignments
The aircraft upgrade also reflects a broader operational adjustment. Before the pandemic and during parts of 2022, Singapore Airlines assigned the three-class A350 Long Haul aircraft to the SQ245/246 service.
From November 2026, that designation moves to SQ265/266. The change is notable because SQ265/266 was the last Brisbane frequency to return to daily operation following the pandemic. The service was restored from four weekly flights to a daily schedule in mid-June 2025.
This reassignment signals a recalibration of fleet deployment as international demand continues to normalize.
Brisbane’s Long-Haul Cabin Evolution
In 2018, Singapore Airlines operated all four daily Brisbane flights with long-haul Business Class seating, using either the 2013 Business Class product or the now-retired 2006 configuration.
Beginning in 2018, those seats were progressively replaced by the airline’s Regional Business Class product. Although technically newer, the regional seat is narrower and widely regarded by passengers as less comfortable than the long-haul design.
The return of the A350 Long Haul therefore represents a qualitative improvement rather than a simple fleet substitution.
Optimized Schedule for Global Connectivity
From November 2026, Singapore Airlines will continue to operate four daily flights in each direction between Singapore and Brisbane, with all services running daily.
The schedule includes a daytime departure from Singapore with an evening return from Brisbane, supporting both local travel demand and onward international connectivity.
The timing of SQ265 and SQ266 is specifically optimized for long-haul connections. Inbound connections include arrivals from London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Rome, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and select cities in India and China.
Outbound connections from Brisbane via Singapore include London Heathrow, Zurich, Rome, Manchester, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and multiple destinations across India and North Asia.
Many passengers on these itineraries travel for more than 22 hours, making consistent cabin quality a critical factor.
Strategic Importance of the Brisbane Route
Singapore is Brisbane Airport’s second-busiest international route after Auckland. In 2024, Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff stated that more than half of all visitors from India to Brisbane traveled via Singapore Airlines.
Indian nationals were the largest group of non-Australian passport holders arriving in Brisbane on Singapore Airlines flights in 2024, followed by Singaporean and British travelers. This underscores the airline’s role in supporting Queensland’s inbound tourism and business travel markets.
Looking Ahead
Singapore Airlines plans to introduce new closed-door Business Class suites on the Airbus A350 Long Haul from the second quarter of 2026, with a full fleet retrofit targeted for completion by late 2030.
While Brisbane may not be among the first destinations to receive the new seats, continued deployment of the A350 Long Haul places the city alongside Sydney and Melbourne as part of the airline’s long-haul premium network.
Overall, the restoration of long-haul cabin products on the Singapore–Brisbane route represents a measured but meaningful enhancement, particularly for premium and connecting passengers traveling between Australia, Europe, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
