Singapore Airlines has just announced a huge investment into the passenger experience offered on its Airbus A350-900 fleet, which will see the introduction of all-new cabin products, plus the expansion of first class. These same cabins will also be available on newly delivered Boeing 777-9s in the future.
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Singapore Airlines updating 41 Airbus A350-900 cabins
Singapore Airlines will be investing 1.1 billion SGD (~835 million USD) to update the interiors of its entire long haul Airbus A350-900 fleet. This consists of a total of 41 jets, and includes the carrier’s seven A350-900ULRs, with the “ULR” standing for “ultra long range,” as these planes operate the world’s longest flights.
The only A350-900s that won’t be reconfigured are the ones that are specifically designed for regional flights, featuring the same cabin products you’ll find onboard Boeing 787-10s.
With this project, we can expect changes across cabins. We’ll see first class added to the carrier’s ultra long range A350s, an all-new business class product, refreshes to premium economy and economy, plus an updated inflight entertainment system.
How will the layouts of these jets change, once reconfigured? Singapore Airlines’ standard long haul A350-900s:
- Currently have 253 seats, including 42 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 187 economy seats
- Will have 258 seats, including 42 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 192 economy seats
- The business class and premium economy capacity will remain unchanged, while economy will get five more seats
Singapore Airlines’ ultra long range A350-900s:
- Currently have 161 seats, including 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy seats
- Will have 132 seats, including four first class seats, 70 business class seats, and 58 premium economy seats
- There will be four new first class seats, three more business class seats, and 36 fewer premium economy seats
Before we talk about the details of the new first and business class seats, let’s discuss the timeline:
- The first retrofitted A350-900 will enter service in the second quarter of 2026
- The first retrofitted A350-900ULR will enter service in the first quarter of 2027
- The entire retrofit project will be complete by the end of 2030
The aircraft will be retrofitted by SIA Engineering Company in Singapore. As you can see, we’ll have to wait around 18 months for the first aircraft to be reconfigured. Suffice it to say that this project will require some patience, as it will only be complete in around six years.
Singapore Airlines’ new first & business class products
Singapore Airlines will be introducing new first and business class products. This isn’t just some new interim product, but rather this is intended to be the carrier’s new premium product in the long run. The same seats that are being installed on the Airbus A350-900s will also be installed on the carrier’s Boeing 777-9s, so these are very much “flagship” cabins.
Singapore Airlines initially intended to debut new premium cabins on its 777-9s, which were first supposed to be delivered in 2020. However, those have now been pushed back all the way to 2026 at the earliest. So clearly Singapore Airlines decided that it’s finally time to introduce new cabins, even if the 777-9 keeps getting delayed.
Singapore Airlines’ new first class seat
Singapore Airlines will introduce a new first class product on its subfleet of A350-900ULRs, which operate the world’s longest flights. This same product will be available on 777-9s in the future, but won’t be available on standard A350-900s. Furthermore, there are no plans to retrofit existing 777s with this product. A350s will have four of these seats, while 777s will have six of these seats.
Below is the first teaser picture of Singapore Airlines’ new first class.
Currently Singapore Airlines only has first class on its A380s and 777-300ERs, so it’s cool to see this product expand.
Official details about the new first class are limited, other than that it’s “designed with increasingly discerning travellers in mind,” and that the first class seats “promise to deliver an unparalleled in-flight experience.”
We have reason to believe that the new cabin will be in a 1-2-1 layout. Why? Well, a sharp reader pointed to this Singapore Airlines patent that was filed a while back, clearly for the carrier’s new first class product. The patent is for the 777-9, where the airline will have a first class cabin with six seats.
The plan seems to be to have individual suites along the windows, plus a double suite in the center. However, the center suite can be used by either one or two people, so if people are traveling separately, there’s a partition that can go up.
As you can see, there’s a bit of staggering with the cabin, to maximize the width of the suite, as the aisle curves a bit.
This looks like a very nice product, though to be perfectly honest, it doesn’t look like anything revolutionary. Nowadays some of the top first class products are in a 1-1-1 configuration, like what you’ll find on Japan Airlines and Emirates.
For that matter, we have reason to believe that Cathay Pacific may offer the world’s best first class on its 777-9s, as it could very well be in a 1-1 configuration.
Singapore Airlines’ new business class seat
So far, we have limited information about Singapore Airlines’ new business class product. The airline has released the below rendering, and the company claims that the product will offer greater levels of privacy, comfort, and convenience.
This is super exciting. Singapore Airlines is one of the best airlines in the world, with incredible service, food, drinks, and more. However, at this point the carrier’s business class hard product isn’t really cutting edge anymore.
With details being so limited, all we can do is speculate as of now. So I have a few thoughts:
- It appears to me that the product will be in a staggered configuration, since it doesn’t look like the seat is angled toward the windows or aisles, based on the side table
- The seat will have privacy doors, and they look to be quite high, similar to what you’ll find in many of the top products nowadays
- While I know Singapore Airlines is claiming this is customized, I wonder if this is based on the Safran Unity platform, like what you’ll find in Japan Airlines’ incredible new A350 business class
Bottom line
Singapore Airlines has announced plans to introduce all-new cabins on its Airbus A350-900s, which will also eventually be installed on Boeing 777-9s. Most exciting is an improved new business class product, which is long overdue. Singapore Airlines will also be adding first class to its subfleet of A350-900ULRs, with a boutique cabin having just four seats.
This is a super exciting development, and I can’t wait to learn more details!
What do you make of Singapore Airlines’ plans to introduce new long haul cabins?
Current SQ business class seats may not be cutting edge anymore, but still they are way better than current LH, LX, TK...
Just landed from 14 hrs LH flight, oh my... I can't wait for my next SQ trip to feel as an appreciated customer again.
And when they introduce the new cabins, wow.
To be honest, the new F isn't so spacious as JAL A350 F, it isn't so creative as the A380 Suites as well. Anyways, new J is awesome unless there's a side footwell or a flipping bed.
I can wait to see the new cabins
This is how you do a center seat for two, Lufthansa, take a note!!!
But will they finally upgrade their tableware?
Did SIA just leak a redesign for A350 sidewalls? I know that the A350 recently introduced electrochromatic windows, but those have been in service for a few years with the existing sidewall design
Probably be installed 3rd party, as Emirates has similar on its Boeing aircraft, despite it not being a general Boeing option. Just have to pay for the certification.
No - it’s the 777X design…
Does anyone know why SQ didn't originally include F in the ULRs? I would have thought there would be significant premium demand (including for F) on the NYC-SIN non-stops.
Weight was the concern, especially weight in the fore of the aircraft, as the majority of the extra fuel (held by repositioning sensors/pumps in the existing center tank) sits particularly forward. They feared that heavy F seats could've exacerbated this effect, so despite their desire to launch the -ULRs with F, they ultimately decided to not.
Airbus was so concerned for this weight effect that they didn't certify the aircraft with the forward cargo bay...
Weight was the concern, especially weight in the fore of the aircraft, as the majority of the extra fuel (held by repositioning sensors/pumps in the existing center tank) sits particularly forward. They feared that heavy F seats could've exacerbated this effect, so despite their desire to launch the -ULRs with F, they ultimately decided to not.
Airbus was so concerned for this weight effect that they didn't certify the aircraft with the forward cargo bay active. By doing so, the internal loading equipment could be removed, which saves not-insignificant weight. But the because of that, the forward cargo bay cannot be used on any of the seven -ULR aircraft.
That's a big reason SQ removed the -ULRs from the LAX market (by far their most cargo-intensive) during Covid, and they've only recently come back (until the end of January) due to maintenance cycles.
What has changed though that they are now able to install F seats?
The main answer is reduced total pax count, but there is also the added benefit of "real world data."
The aircraft has proven FAR more capable than their conservative estimates allowed for. Remember, JFK was launched with the standard A359, not the -ULRs, in order to take advantage of its cargo volume allotment. The flight initially sold only the Business...
The main answer is reduced total pax count, but there is also the added benefit of "real world data."
The aircraft has proven FAR more capable than their conservative estimates allowed for. Remember, JFK was launched with the standard A359, not the -ULRs, in order to take advantage of its cargo volume allotment. The flight initially sold only the Business and Premium Economy cabins, as the -ULRs had, but also up to 6tonnes of cargo..... but eventually, they began to sell full-far standard Economy as well, because even at 280tonnes (same as the -ULR) their standard A350s were doing the job better than expected. And now keep in mind that the standard bird is available at 283tonnes and weigh 1tonne less than the -ULRs do.
But getting back to the -ULRs, they had larger winglets plus a new wing twist (now standard in all A359s) that proved so much more efficient than either they or Airbus initially estimated.
So with these allotments, plus fewer total passengers, as well as more than 15yrs experience flying SIN-NYC nonstop now, they feel they can get the performance out of the A359ULR necessary. Not bad, for a defunct platform that no one else wanted. :)
They had to. Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, and Thai Airways are all innovating, and the world’s most-awarded airline shouldn’t have waited this long to retrofit. Better late than never though! A most welcome announcement
You should knock of Emirates’ door!
The press release states that the ULR A350's will have 4 F seats which indicates either one row of 1-2-1 similar to existing 777 or 2 rows of 1-1
From the video it doesn't look like a 1-1 at all, looks just like the current F but with a door.
Singapore Airlines released a Patent in January, and I'm surprised no one has found out about that yet. Here is the link: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2024005705A1/en?assignee=Singapore+Airlines&oq=Singapore+Airlines&sort=new&dups=language
The patent is likely the layout of SQ's 777-9 First Class.
Based on the renderings, it seems like Singapore Airlines opted for Panasonic's new Astrova system. The Business class walls also look high, similar to QSuite and JAL's new A350-1000 Business Class product. I estimate it to be around 50 inches high....
Singapore Airlines released a Patent in January, and I'm surprised no one has found out about that yet. Here is the link: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2024005705A1/en?assignee=Singapore+Airlines&oq=Singapore+Airlines&sort=new&dups=language
The patent is likely the layout of SQ's 777-9 First Class.
Based on the renderings, it seems like Singapore Airlines opted for Panasonic's new Astrova system. The Business class walls also look high, similar to QSuite and JAL's new A350-1000 Business Class product. I estimate it to be around 50 inches high. Also, while the door does have a bit of a gap from the floor, the door completely covers the wall so there is no gap. That's very nice!
Very excited about this. Being 6'3, flying long haul on SIA is far from ideal unless I can secure a bulkhead seat. Love the convenience of the JFK-SIN route, but that was one and done after having experienced a non-bulkhead seat. Flying Etihad through AUH is worth the added travel time.
I'm fairly surprised that Singapore hasn't opted for the A350-1000, in order to get capacity missing by the lack of the 777X, and more space for premium cabins.
But very cool to see them continuing with the ULR configuration. Always wondered if they might install that configuration in some of their standard A350-900s as well, since those can also do North America nonstop now as well.
Wait till you sit on it before you comment Jay. Else don't comment and be a keyboard warrior.
It's funny that ~20 years ago SQ was planning to launch its then-new Business seat when the A380 came out, but ended up launching the Business seat on the 777-300ER first because of Airbus delivery delays ... and now they're doing the same thing with the manufacturers swapped..
SQ is merely responding to other airlines new products. So they are already behind. They never said they were to going to retrofit even though they claimed it has been in their plans since 2018. Their seats today are ordinary. Seriously ordinary.
Completed in seven years. By 2031 HAHAHAHA
SQ doesn't have industry leading hard product currently, but they do have a very standardized product across their longhaul fleet with a seat that checks all the basic boxes of direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 config, decent privacy etc.
SQ most likely waited bc the NYC to SIN flights have far more design considerations due to the weight restriction, so that they can release a full fleet update and maintain product consistency, something that...
SQ doesn't have industry leading hard product currently, but they do have a very standardized product across their longhaul fleet with a seat that checks all the basic boxes of direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 config, decent privacy etc.
SQ most likely waited bc the NYC to SIN flights have far more design considerations due to the weight restriction, so that they can release a full fleet update and maintain product consistency, something that is extremely under-appreciated in this industry.
Meanwhile other airlines rush out their latest products, but still have a bunch of their planes flying dated configs. Airlines like Qatar, Delta, Emirates, etc. This leads to poor customer experience with plane swaps.
SQ's strength has never really been the hard product anyways, it's been the consistent, professional, and friendly service.
Will SIA increase the first class capacity with that cabin retrofit?
My guess is that new first class suite will be in 1-1-1 pattern like some of the newest first class products, and to match the number of seats available as their A380s they could install one more row of first class, making a total of six suites per aircraft.
Regardless, I'm excited about this news - while I still consider SIA to...
Will SIA increase the first class capacity with that cabin retrofit?
My guess is that new first class suite will be in 1-1-1 pattern like some of the newest first class products, and to match the number of seats available as their A380s they could install one more row of first class, making a total of six suites per aircraft.
Regardless, I'm excited about this news - while I still consider SIA to be the world's best airline overall (with a high consideration of their economy class product), the airline is now somewhat falling behind in terms of hard products.
@yoloswag420 - I wrote that as a separate comment but it somehow became a reply to your comment... WTH?
"My guess is that new first class suite will be in 1-1-1 pattern"
Very little chance of that, seeing as it's going to be four seats. So either two 1-1 or a single 1-2-1, are far more likely.
@ImmortalSynn - while I can see 1-1 in two rows being real, I don't feel the same about retaining 1-2-1.
The new industry standard configuration for first class is becoming 1-1-1, and SIA having one more seat per row than its competitors might become a huge weak point (especially given the reputation the airline has).
Quite agree that the strengths of SQ is not on having the best hardware out there, but its big focus on the experience with wonderful FAs, Book The Cook, free unlimited Wi-Fi, up-to-date IFEs.
Having travelled a lot on SQ, it was never because they gave the best seats, but that they were enough for me to sleep well, the food was great and the cabin crew was attentive.
Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to the...
Quite agree that the strengths of SQ is not on having the best hardware out there, but its big focus on the experience with wonderful FAs, Book The Cook, free unlimited Wi-Fi, up-to-date IFEs.
Having travelled a lot on SQ, it was never because they gave the best seats, but that they were enough for me to sleep well, the food was great and the cabin crew was attentive.
Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to the new F and J cabins.
Side note: If it were just the hardware that matters, ZIPAir actually offers a good herringbone bed with no other frills at a very reasonable price.
I used to get excited when SQ announces new cabin products, but lately their announcements have been anti-climatic, non-industry-leading, and just disappointing. These two teases already shows how bland the new products are going to be (compared with their competitors).
SQ were never known for “industry leading” product announcements so I don’t get where you got that notion. But rather it was there product consistency and industry leading service that set them apart
Good to see this… somewhat overdue, as noted with the 777X delays. Hope the timeline doesn’t slip any further, though — 2026 is quite a while, and given this is being done at the SIA Engineering Company, unsure what experience they have getting the seat certified. A long lead time makes sense though — as noted by Mike O, both the SQ A350/777 and CX business seats are about the same age and are both...
Good to see this… somewhat overdue, as noted with the 777X delays. Hope the timeline doesn’t slip any further, though — 2026 is quite a while, and given this is being done at the SIA Engineering Company, unsure what experience they have getting the seat certified. A long lead time makes sense though — as noted by Mike O, both the SQ A350/777 and CX business seats are about the same age and are both in need of upgrades (both were introduced far before the A350 in the early 2010s and not changed) — and SQ’s competitors like CX steaming ahead with new products has put pressure on them. Looking forward to the A350ULR F when it comes, though!
I do hope they’ll finally get rid of the need to flip the bed over and allow passengers to just recline in J. We’ve seen that on new seats for the last two decades… perhaps the most sorely needed change from SQ
The CX 777/A330 seats are much older (around late 2010ish) and are their displays are not even in HD. The A350s started rolling out in 2016, so it's still a decent seat.
As for SQ, their seats started rolling out in 2013 on the 777. While old, it still has HD displays which should suffice till the new seats start rolling out.
Like I have said, they probably wanted to wait to have a unified long-haul product. The rollout of the first A350 retrofit seems to coincide with the rollout of the 779.
In CXs case, the new Aria Suites seem to be an interim solution as their current business class on the 77W are past due for an upgrade. Meanwhile, the A350s are still acceptable and by the time they are due for an upgrade, that's when the 779s start rolling out for them so the timing is perfect.