Singapore Airways is planning a significant cabin facelift for its fleet of long-range Airbus A350 jets, together with a brand new first-class cabin that may sometime be supplied on the world’s longest airline routes.
On Monday, Singapore introduced a $1.1 billion cabin retrofit program for its A350-900 fleet — masking each its long-haul and ultra-long-haul plane.
The work consists of refreshed coach and premium financial system cabins, all-new enterprise class ideas, and — on its farthest-flying jets — new first-class choices. Collectively, the work will set “new trade benchmarks for journey on the world’s longest routes,” the service mentioned in a press release Monday.
It will additionally up the sport for an airline that is lengthy supplied an inflight product that ranks among the many world’s finest.
Singapore’s A350-900 retrofit plans
As a part of the modifications, Singapore plans to outfit its seven ultra-long-haul A350-900s with a brand new first-class cabin, “designed with more and more discerning vacationers in thoughts.” It is a clear transfer to select up on a robust demand for premium journey experiences that has been reported throughout the trade.
The service launched “sneak peak” renderings Monday that present a large footprint for the brand new seat idea — it is clearly Singapore’s tackle the personal suite idea airways are more and more deploying for his or her highest-end seats.
However we’ll have to attend till nearer to the product launch to actually get a take a look at the bells and whistles of the airline’s new top notch.
Singapore operates its A350-900ULR on its longest routes, together with the present longest flights on the earth from Singapore to Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) and John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK). Which means you may see the brand new first-class idea, and upgraded cabin, on these flights within the coming years.
Including a first-class cabin is not solely novel to Singapore. At the moment, you may ebook an “F” ticket on flights aboard its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER plane.
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Enterprise class refresh
In the meantime, as a part of the retrofits, Singapore will even unveil an all-new business-class product on its long-haul and extremely long-haul A350s. The restricted glimpse the service supplied of the brand new seats confirmed sliding privateness doorways as a part of the suite idea.
Singapore notes these merchandise will mirror the long run design on its upcoming Boeing 777-9 jets it has on order — although Boeing’s new 777X household plane continues to face prolonged manufacturing delays.
“The brand new First Class and Enterprise Class seat designs will incorporate considerate components that push the boundaries of consolation, luxurious, and modernity, permitting our clients to loosen up or work effortlessly on board,” Singapore CEO Goh Choon Phong mentioned in a press release Monday.
Learn extra: How does Singapore Airways’ KrisFlyer waitlist work for award flights?
Premium financial system and coach
It isn’t simply the high-end cabins getting an improve as a part of Singapore’s billion-dollar program.
The service plans to “refresh” its premium financial system and financial system cabins, too.
All through the plane, clients may have entry to an up to date KrisWorld inflight leisure system with larger personalization choices, the service mentioned — and, it’s going to supply all-new screens within the first- and business-class sections.
Retrofitted A350-900 long-haul jets will find yourself with 42 Enterprise Class seats and 24 Premium Financial system, on par with as we speak’s cabin configurations.
Nevertheless, the ultra-long-haul plane will boast 4 first-class suites, 70 business-class seats, and 58 seats in premium financial system. At the moment’s ULR jets characteristic 67 enterprise pods, and 94 premium financial system seats.
Learn extra: Singapore KrisFlyer: Final information to incomes, redeeming and elite standing
Backside line
Do not anticipate to see these new seats instantly.
Singapore expects its first long-haul A350 will enter service in mid-2026. Its first ultra-long-haul A350 with the upgraded cabin ought to arrive in service by early 2027, the service mentioned. The airline hopes to finish the whole retrofit program by the top of 2030.
Singapore presently operates nonstop flights to the U.S. from its hub at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to 4 U.S. airports: JFK, Newark, San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX).
You can too catch a Singapore fifth-freedom flight from JFK to Frankfurt; from LAX to Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT); and — till April — from Houston to Manchester, England. The latter service ends April 1, when Singapore will exit the Houston market altogether.
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