Singapore Airlines has announced that its “Capital Express” service to Canberra and Wellington will be retimed to allow more Asian passengers to connect to the flights.

From 28 October 2017, flight SQ291 will depart Changi Airport 55 minutes later, while the return flight SQ292 will leave Wellington one hour and five minute earlier.

SIA’s regional vice president for southwest Pacific, Tan Tiow Kor, said the changes would enable more Asian travellers to connect to the flights at Changi Airport.

“The later departure from Singapore will allow customers travelling from Bali, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phuket and Shanghai to connect to the Singapore-Canberra-Wellington flight,” he explained.

“These new connections provide a great opportunity to increase the number of inbound visitors to Canberra, while the shorter turnaround in Wellington will further assist in improving efficiency of the service.”

SIA launched the Capital Express route in September 2016, becoming the first international airline to fly to Canberra and the first airline to operate direct services between the capital cities of Australia and New Zealand.