Taking a Propeller (Turboprop) Plane for the First Time, via Firefly Airlines, from Seletar Airport in Singapore to Subang Airport in Malaysia

For the longest time ever, I was informed that propeller (also known as turboprop) isn't as safe as jet planes and for someone (Alex, that is) who treasures his life highly and happens to be my most frequent travel buddy; it did a while of persuading.

And the most helpful reason was that we shall be taking the propeller plane from Seletar Airport, which was just a 15-minute drive away, and check in was only 90 minutes before departure, with gate closing just 45 minutes in advance! 

So here we were, back in November 2024, at one of two Singapore's international airports, Seletar Airport! Unlike Chang Airport, do be mindful that it pales extremely in terms of size, at just 12 percentage of its  younger and busier sibling. 

Stepping in would be just one hall, combining both arrival and departures. Long accustomed to the spacious and award winning Chang Airport with its massive list of attractions and a wide variety of dining and shopping options, Seletar Airport appeared to be just functional, as an airport.

Check-in counters on the left, a small cafe by Teh Tarik Express on the right and a connected waiting area on the far right, which served as the exit for those taking planes arriving at Seletar Airport.

Menu of Teh Tarik Express for reference. 

A hot cup of Kopi cost a reasonable S$2! 

An automated foreign exchange counter! With many countries focusing on going cashless / cash lite, I am wondering if it's still necessary to hold on to so much cash! In addition, there are options like YouTrip which offers better exchange rates than banks / traditional money changers.

Checking in our luggage! Do you know that Firefly Airlines is the only commercial airline using Seletar Airport?! And it also offers "free 10kg checked baggage allowance"! 

Time to clear Singapore immigration! And in front of us was the ATR 72-500, a "twin-engine turboprop, short-haul regional airliner developed and produced in France and Italy by aircraft manufacturer ATR."

  

Departure lounge; you can absorb its full entirety even before you get to the security before clearing immigration! That's exactly how "big" it was. With nothing to do, and no F&B. Frankly, they should consider closing the gate 30, instead of 45 minutes before departure. 

Flight was scheduled to depart at 9.10am and we proceeded to walk out to the propeller plan at about 8.44am; no aerobridge, no shuttle bus, and enjoying the sun above us. Thank god it wasn't raining.

The propellers were huge!  

That's more than two-man tall! 

Entering from the back of the plane. Honestly, despite taking airplanes so many times, this virgin experience of taking a propeller plane was exciting! Would it be as safe as research shows it was? 

More photographs for your viewing pleasure! 

9.05am -  the propellers had started spinning and true to comments I previously received, the racket they gave was enough to make sleep impossible although it wouldn't be a problem for me since I can't catch a wink without a bed.

Getting ready for a time-lapsed video!

And here she went; soaring above Seletar Airport, with the new towns of Punggol and Sengkang on our right side, across the Straits of Johor, flying past Pasir Gudang, a city within the state of Johor and then to the rural middle section of Malaysia.

Guess the ladies were also first time passengers taking the propeller plane! 

Now back to the plane's interior; the distance between seats wasn't too tight although you cannot take my words for it since I am not that tall to begin with.

Just a single walking aisle in the middle, with a 2 by 2 seat configuration; I ran a check and the ATR 72-500 has a "typical standard seating capacity of 72 passengers". I didn't expect the passenger load to be that low; I had assumed about a hundred or so.

Included in our tickets were bottle of mineral water, a pack of famous cookies and a packet of salted peanuts. No other entertainment was provided, which wasn't an issue given how prevalent mobile usage is nowadays and most of us would make do with pre-downloaded movies / dramas and/or games that don't require internet. 

I am just as happy checking out the bird's eye view outside the plane, including imagining myself bouncing across the bundles of cotton-candy clouds! Heng I took a day flight.

Time for descent! 

Overshot the runway of Subang Airport as the shopping centre in front of us was the open concept (not sure how effective given how hot Malaysia is, just like Singapore) Elmina Lakeside Mall, which was further north of the airport. Maybe the runway requires airplanes to enter from the north. 

Just wondering; would a propeller plane be noisier than a jet plane? 

Would the residents near the airport be disturbed by the racket?

Official name of Subang Airport is Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, named after the Sultan of Selangor who reigned from 1960 till 2001. Do you know that Subang Airport served as the main airport for Kuala Lumpur until 1998, when KLIA started operations.

Disembarking from the front.

Last look of ATR 72-500 as we only booked a one-way ticket. However, it shall not be our last time since I found it a lot more convenient to travel to Kuala Lumpur by plane and via Seletar Airport given its proximity to Yishun! 

After clearing Malaysia immigration, it's baggage collection time. Unlike major airports, the scene at Subang Airport was muted and I can't imagine how it was like when it was the main airport for Kuala Lumpur! 

Like a mini shopping mall at the airport. Took a toilet break and waited for GRAB here to bring us to Village Park, where I shall finally have a second bite of its delicious nasi lemak! 

Sharing the video taken!

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Website

https://www.fireflyz.com.my/sg/en/home.html

Pricing

Seletar to Subang (One-way) - S$130.80 per person