Silk Air arrives in Cairns

TODAY MARKS THE INUAGRUAL FLIGHT OF SILK AIR INTO CAIRNS

 

Silk Air (founded in 1976 as Tradewinds Charters) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and with its fleet of 28 aircraft operates scheduled passenger services from Singapore to 45 cities in Southeast Asia, India, China and Australia. As the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, it serves the short-haul destinations in the Singapore Airlines network.

Silk Air plans to operate the Cairns service three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, through circular routings with Darwin. The inaugural flight and subsequent Saturday flights will depart Singapore for Cairns non-stop and then return to Singapore via Darwin. The Monday and Thursday flights will fly to Cairns via Darwin and then return to Singapore non-stop. The detailed schedules are as follows;

From Singapore
MI 822 Mon and Thurs; Departs Singapore 1.40am and Arrives Cairns 11.50am (Via Darwin)  
MI 828 Sat Departs Singapore 01.40 am and Arrives Cairns 10.20 (Direct Flight)

From Cairns
MI 822 Mon and Thurs; Departs Cairns 12.40 pm and Arrives Singapore 5.20pm
MI 828 Sat Departs Cairns 11.10 and Arrives Singapore 5.20pm (Via Darwin)
(I noticed the arriving flight numbers are the same as the departing flight numbers)

The airline currently has a fleet of 26 aircraft, comprising 6 A319s,13 A320s and 7 Boeing 737-800s. In August 2012, the airline announced the largest order in its history of up to 68 Boeing 737 aircraft, with firm orders comprising 23 Boeing 737-800s and 31 Boeing 737 MAX 8s.

The inaugural flight touched down in Cairns on Runway 15 right on time.

THE BELOW IMAGES ARE THE ACTUAL AIRCRAFT WHICH I
TOOK IN DARWIN LAST WEDNESDAY

SILK AIR B737-8FA 9V-MGJ (CN 44226)