FOLLOWING the collapse of Spanair, Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) codeshare partner on the Singapore-Barcelona-Sao Paulo route (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 30, 2012), the Singapore flag carrier is remaining steadfast in operating the thrice-weekly services.

SIA spokesperson Nicholas Ionides said: “We remain very committed to the Singapore-Barcelona-Sao Paulo route. We are discussing the matter with the relevant parties and for now, there is no change to our three-times-weekly operations on the route.”

Back when the Spanish government first granted fifth-freedom traffic rights between Barcelona and Sao Paulo to SIA, it was reported that SIA’s prerogative to ferry passengers from Barcelona to Sao Paulo were contingent on a codeshare arrangement with Spanair.

When SIA launched this service last March, it cited the greater catchment of South-east Asia (especially Indonesia) and China, as well as Brazil’s hosting of more than 90,000 events annually – including a Formula One Grand Prix, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games – as key attractions for the route.

Singapore signed an open skies agreement with Brazil in 2010.