Quick summary
Singapore Airlines has extended its suspension of SQ494 and SQ495 — the Singapore–Dubai pair — through December 1, 2026, pushing what was a short-notice cancellation into a multi-month gap. Scoot, SIA’s low-cost subsidiary, has similarly halted TR796 and TR797 on the Singapore–Jeddah corridor. Both suspensions were triggered by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel, which continues to disrupt airspace and energy flows across the Gulf region.
The prior Dubai suspension boundary was October 24 — this extension adds another six weeks of dark capacity. Travelers holding tickets on either route need to act now: refunds are available, but alternative Gulf-hub seats are filling fast.
What began as a precautionary short-haul suspension has hardened into one of the longest scheduled-route shutdowns SIA Group has imposed in recent years. Singapore Airlines confirmed in its official advisory that SQ494 and SQ495 are cancelled through December 1, 2026, with December 2 the first date outside the stated cancellation window — not a confirmed restart date. Scoot’s advisory identifies TR796 (Singapore–Jeddah) and TR797 (the return) as cancelled, though the accessible Scoot material does not independently confirm the same December endpoint.
The suspensions strip Southeast Asia–Middle East travelers of two direct Singapore connections. Anyone routing between Singapore and Dubai or Jeddah now faces a detour through a competing Gulf hub — Emirates, Etihad, or Qatar Airways — or a longer connection elsewhere. The airline confirmed that affected passengers can request a refund on the unused ticket portion through Singapore Airlines or their booking agent.
Eight months into the conflict pitting the US and Israel against Iran, there is no visible off-ramp. Crude prices climbed this week — driven not by supply disruption but by stalled US–Iran negotiations and a fuel market that remains structurally tight. Brent’s roughly 14 percent rise this month would be its steepest since July. Two vessels came under projectile fire in the Strait of Hormuz the day prior, Britain’s maritime security authority reported, even as tanker traffic through the strait has edged higher in recent weeks. Natural gas, refined products, and crude are all moving in far smaller volumes than normal.
SIA Group warned that additional services may be drawn into further schedule changes as conditions shift.
What the suspension actually removes from the schedule
The capacity loss here is not trivial. According to a Singapore Airlines network-adjustment document for the 2026 summer season, SQ494 and SQ495 were planned as daily services, with the Airbus A380 assigned to the Dubai rotation between March 29 and October 24. That is a high-density widebody on a high-demand corridor — its absence for an additional six weeks beyond the original boundary represents a meaningful reduction in premium and economy seats between Singapore and the Gulf.
The document does not establish what equipment or frequency will return after the suspension ends. Treat any post-December timetable as provisional until Singapore Airlines republishes it.
| Flight numbers | Route | Operator | Cancellation through | Prior end date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQ494 / SQ495 | Singapore–Dubai (return) | Singapore Airlines | December 1, 2026 | October 24, 2026 |
| TR796 / TR797 | Singapore–Jeddah (return) | Scoot | Not independently confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Additional SIA Group services | Unspecified Gulf routes | SIA Group | Under review | Data pending |
For travelers planning connections through Singapore to the Gulf, the practical question is whether alternative carriers can absorb the displaced demand. Emirates operates multiple Singapore–Dubai frequencies daily; Etihad and Qatar Airways cover Singapore–Abu Dhabi and Singapore–Doha respectively, with onward connections to Jeddah. Availability on those services should be verified for the specific travel date before any rebooking decision.
Flight deals
most people never see
Our AI monitors 150+ airlines for pricing anomalies that traditional search engines miss. Air Traveler Club members save $650 per trip per person on average: see how it works.
Each deal saves 40–80% vs. regular fares:
Why the December date is less certain than it looks
A detail worth flagging before anyone books around it: SIA’s official notice says flights are cancelled until December 1 — meaning December 2 is the first date outside the stated cancellation period, not a confirmed resumption. That distinction matters in a conflict environment where the airline itself has warned that further schedule changes are possible.
The Scoot advisory confirms the Jeddah flight numbers but does not independently establish a December endpoint for TR796/TR797. Travelers should not infer a restart from the date alone. The safer read is that both corridors remain dark until Singapore Airlines or Scoot publishes a confirmed schedule or issues a rebooking record — whichever comes first.
Higher fuel costs add a second layer of uncertainty. If Brent stays elevated through the fourth quarter, the economics of resuming A380 service on a route that was already operating against a conflict backdrop become harder to justify quickly. Airlines rarely announce suspensions and then restart on the exact boundary date when conditions are still moving.
Steps to take if your booking is affected
Both corridors are dark through at least December 1, and SIA Group has flagged the possibility of further changes — act on your booking before alternative inventory tightens further.
- Verify your booking status now: Check Singapore Airlines’ flight-status tools for SQ494/SQ495, or the Scoot advisory page for TR796/TR797. If your itinerary still shows an operated flight, contact the issuing agent immediately — the cancellation is confirmed regardless of what the booking system displays.
- Request a refund or reroute through the airline: Singapore Airlines and Scoot are both offering refunds on the unused ticket portion. Before accepting a refund, ask whether the airline will reroute you via an alternative hub at no extra cost — this can be the faster and cheaper outcome if your travel date is firm.
- Compare Gulf-hub alternatives before self-funding: Emirates (Singapore–Dubai), Etihad (Singapore–Abu Dhabi), and Qatar Airways (Singapore–Doha) are the most direct substitutes. Verify operating status and availability for your specific date — do not assume these services are unaffected by the wider regional situation.
- Treat December 2 as provisional: The cancellation window ends December 1; that does not mean flights resume December 2. Wait for a confirmed schedule from Singapore Airlines before rebooking around that date.
- Monitor for further SIA Group changes: The airline has explicitly flagged that additional services may be affected. If you have other SIA Group itineraries touching the Gulf region in Q4, check those bookings proactively.
Watch: Singapore Airlines’ next schedule advisory — if it extends the cancellation beyond December 1 or names additional routes, the capacity gap widens further and alternative-hub fares will move accordingly.
Questions? Answers.
Are SQ494 and SQ495 definitely resuming on December 2, 2026?
December 2 is the first date outside Singapore Airlines’ stated cancellation window — not a confirmed restart. The airline has warned that further schedule changes are possible. Do not book around December 2 without a confirmed schedule from Singapore Airlines.
What refund am I entitled to if my SQ494/SQ495 or TR796/TR797 flight was cancelled?
Singapore Airlines and Scoot are both offering refunds on the unused portion of cancelled tickets. Contact Singapore Airlines directly or through your booking agent. If you booked through a third-party agent, the refund request must go through that agent.
Which airlines can I use instead for Singapore–Dubai or Singapore–Jeddah travel?
Emirates operates multiple daily Singapore–Dubai frequencies. Etihad covers Singapore–Abu Dhabi with onward connections, and Qatar Airways operates Singapore–Doha with connections to Jeddah. Verify operating status and availability for your specific travel date before booking — the wider regional conflict means schedules across Gulf carriers are also subject to change.
Why did Singapore Airlines extend the suspension beyond October 24?
The airline cited the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. The conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel has disrupted airspace and energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and shows no sign of resolution. SIA Group has also flagged that additional services may be affected as conditions develop.
