Travel question of the day: Simon Calder on a new route to Texas

Have a travel question that needs answering? Ask our expert Simon Calder

Singapore Airlines will begin flights from Manchester to Texas in October (AFP/Getty)

Q I see that Singapore Airlines is starting flights from Manchester to Houston, which is great for me because I live in Merseyside and have relatives in that part of Texas. But how come they’re allowed to fly that route (not being American nor European), and are there any downsides to booking it?

KM, Wallasey

A Singapore Airlines has long flown between Manchester and its South-east Asian hub, currently with a stop en route in Munich. From 30 October the airline will make the service to and from Singapore non-stop. Furthermore, its existing Singapore-Moscow-Houston service will be re-routed to go via Manchester, offering a valuable new link from the north-west to Texas.

The airline has so-called “fifth freedom” rights that allow it to fly, and sell tickets, between two countries outside its own borders – just as British Airways sells seats between Singapore and Sydney.

Singapore Airlines regularly wins awards for its high-quality flight experience – and it will be a real pleasure to enjoy those standards across the Atlantic. There will also be plenty of onward connections from Houston to other parts of the US, Mexico and South America using Singapore Airlines’ Star Alliance partner, United, which has a huge base in the city.

The only downside I can see is that, as a non-EU carrier, Singapore Airlines is covered by the rules on passenger care and compensation for delays and cancellation only when flying from Manchester – not from Houston. But personally I’d accept that possible inconvenience.

Every day, our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder