After 16 years, Singapore Airlines to halt Houston service

Singapore Airlines, one of the world’s most renowned carriers, will officially end its service to Houston on April 1, 2025, marking the end of a 16-year journey. This decision comes after years of challenges and route adjustments aimed at making the Houston service viable.

The airline first launched its Houston operations in the summer of 2008, with a one-stop service from Houston to Moscow Domodedovo Airport, continuing on to Singapore. However, the route struggled to achieve sustainable passenger loads, prompting Singapore Airlines to shift the stopover from Moscow to Manchester, U.K., in October 2016.

Despite this change, reports indicate that passenger loads remained “seasonally abysmal,” and the route continued to face difficulties. Singapore Airlines is no stranger to complex route networks, including its extensive use of ‘fifth freedom routes,’ where flights operate between two countries outside the airline’s home base.

Currently, the airline operates these fifth freedom routes from New York JFK to Frankfurt, Los Angeles to Tokyo Narita, and, until its cessation, Houston to Manchester. Despite the end of the Houston service, Singapore Airlines will continue to serve Manchester with five-times-weekly flights to Singapore.

In its announcement, Singapore Airlines attributed the decision to discontinue the Houston route to “capacity adjustments” as part of its regular network reviews, aimed at aligning capacity with demand. The airline did not specify whether this cut is permanent or if the route might resume in the future, leaving the possibility of a return open, but uncertain.

Even with the impending end of the Houston service, Singapore Airlines continues to offer non-stop flights from key U.S. cities to Singapore, including New York JFK, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. The airline also maintains its fifth freedom flights from New York JFK to Frankfurt and Los Angeles to Tokyo Narita, showcasing its strategic approach to connecting major global hubs.

Singapore Airlines has long been recognized for its innovative approach to long-haul travel, including operating the world’s longest non-stop flight from New York to Singapore. However, despite its best efforts, the Houston route never fully met the airline’s expectations, leading to this difficult but necessary decision.