Singapore Airlines Unveils New First & Business Class Cabins For A350, 777-9

The wait is finally over — Singapore Airlines has today unveiled its all-new cabins, which were first teased two years ago. Most significantly, this includes a brand new business class, plus the expansion of first class to more planes. This really represents the carrier’s next generation product offering, since these cabins will be installed on future Boeing 777-9s, as well as retrofitted on dozens of Airbus A350s.

Let’s first talk briefly about which planes will be getting this product, and then we’ll cover the details of the cabins. Keep in mind these changes will also include an updated soft product, including a new dining concept as well as new amenities across cabins.

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New cabins coming to Airbus A350 & Boeing 777-9

Singapore Airlines’ new cabin products will be coming to all of the carrier’s upcoming Boeing 777-9s, as well as to select Airbus A350-900s. This includes a new first class, business class, premium economy, and economy, along with updated inflight entertainment and the installation of Starlink Wi-Fi.

Singapore Airlines has 31 Boeing 777-9s on order, which are expected to eventually be the carrier’s flagship aircraft. These will come delivered with the new cabins. As a matter of fact, Singapore Airlines had initially planned to debut the new cabins on these 777-9s all the way back in 2020. However, delivery of those planes has now been pushed back to late 2027 at the earliest.

More immediately, Singapore Airlines also plans to invest 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.

How will the layouts of A350s 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

Singapore Airlines’ new first & business class products

With the above out of the way, let’s take a look at Singapore Airlines’ new first class and business class seats. Let me say upfront that:

• In terms of the quality of the product, this is roughly what I expected; there’s not a huge “wow” factor to either cabin, but instead, the airline chose what feels like a safe product
• I’m really surprised by the business class design choices, which feel very un-Singapore Airlines to me

Singapore Airlines’ new first class seat

Below is a chart with the basics of Singapore Airlines’ new first class product.

Singapore Airlines’ new first class seat is designed by PriestmanGoode, and manufactured by Collins Aerospace, and it’ll be available exclusively on Boeing 777-9s and Airbus A350-900ULRS (so not on standard A350-900s, and it won’t be retrofitted on existing aircraft).

I’d describe this product as being a pretty traditional first class product in a 1-2-1 configuration, with large seats that turn into beds that are 80″ long and 30″ wide, each with a privacy door. Each first class seat also supports face-to-face dining, with a large table that provides ample space for two people to enjoy a meal together.

Entertainment will be available on a 32″ 4K monitor. As you’d expect, tech will be cutting edge beyond that, with bluetooth audio, wireless, AC, and USB-C charging, etc. There will also be a touchscreen handset that provides easy access to KrisWorld, plus a panel with seat controls and flight information.

One of the nice things is that the center suites have a retractable divider, potentially creating a large, expansive space, so that guests in the center seats can dine and relax together. Singapore Airlines claims that when combined, the double bed becomes the biggest bed in commercial aviation, as it measures 80″ long and 60″ wide.

There won’t be overhead bins in first class, so bags can be stored in a cabin baggage compartment underneath the seat. There will also be a personal wardrobe, and a leather-lined vanity drawer.

What’s my take on Singapore Airlines’ new first class? Quite honestly, this is almost exactly what I was expecting from the airline:

• The product is elegant, and looks on-brand for Singapore Airlines
• This is nothing over-the-top or that’s going to suddenly be ranked the best first class in the world, at least in terms of hard product, but it’s also not going to disappoint anyone; it’s obviously not to the level of what we’re anticipating from Cathay Pacific’s new first class
• This is a very functional use of space, and I love the concept of the center seats being able to turn into a double suite, because the concept of people traveling together is often forgotten in newer first class products, like Emirates’ new 777 first class
• Honestly, this is what Lufthansa Allegris and SWISS Senses first class should look like, in terms of functionality 😉

Singapore Airlines’ new business class seat

Below is a chart with the basics of Singapore Airlines’ new business class product.

Singapore Airlines’ new business class seat is designed by Designworks, and manufactured by RECARO, and it’ll be available exclusively on Boeing 777-9s and Airbus A350-900s (both long haul and ultra long haul).

This business class product will be in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, with seats that turn into beds that are 79″ long and 24″ wide, each with a privacy door.

Entertainment will be available on a 20-22″ 4K monitor. As you’d expect, tech will be cutting edge beyond that, with bluetooth audio, wireless, AC, and USB-C charging, etc. The airline also highlights how the seat has multiple storage options, which is appreciated.

Perhaps what’s most interesting is how in every other row, the center seats will be very close together, with the ability to form a double bed, which is a feature that customers always appreciate.

What’s my take on Singapore Airlines’ new business class? In some ways it’s what I expected, but there are some real surprises here:

• It’s hard to draw too much of a conclusion on the quality of the seat in terms of comfort, since this is a product from RECARO that’s not yet otherwise in service
• In terms of comfort, this seems to check all the boxes, and I like how a double bed can be formed in every other row
• This isn’t anything that’s revolutionary, but that’s not surprising, because ever since Qatar Airways Qsuites was introduced almost a decade ago, there just wasn’t much opportunity to up the ante
• My biggest takeaway is that the new design motif is just totally tripping me out; I guess Singapore Airlines is trying to modernize a bit, but I don’t at all like the colors of the new cabin, and it feels to me like what you’d expect on a low cost carrier, rather than an airline that has historically been known for such warmth

Maybe it’ll look different in person, but am I the only one who is genuinely confused by the color choices? Those yellow accents just feel very… Spirit Airlines or Scoot, no?

Timeline for debut of new Singapore Airlines cabins

When can we expect Singapore Airlines’ new premium products to debut? The expectation is that we’ll see a long haul Airbus A350-900 reconfigured first, and the first of those planes should now enter service in the second quarter of 2027. We don’t yet have any details beyond that.

The expectation is that the first retrofitted A350-900ULR (the ultra long range plane, operating the world’s longest flight) will debut at some point later in 2027, though that’s still up in the air. Meanwhile the 777-9s should start to join the fleet in late 2027 or early 2028 — only time will tell, given never-ending delays with Boeing.

Singapore Airlines should finish retrofitting its 41 A350s with the new cabins by either 2030 or 2031, though that timeline also remains subject to change. The delays with these new products reflects industry-wide supply chain constraints, as well as delays in the certification of the new seats (a common industry problem). The aircraft will be retrofitted by SIA Engineering Company in Singapore.

Which routes are likely to get the new cabins first? While we’ll see how this plays out, based on historical precedent, it’s likely that Sydney (SYD) and London (LHR) will be the first two destinations, since those are the first destinations where the airline has sent all of its new long haul products.

Bottom line

Singapore Airlines has just unveiled all-new cabins, which includes a new first class and business class. These cabins will be retrofitted on select Airbus A350-900s, and installed on all factory fresh Boeing 777-9s. These new products are long overdue, and I can’t wait to see them in service.

In first class, Singapore Airlines opted for a product that feels on brand, with warm colors, and a functional design that even allows for a double suite in the center seats. Meanwhile in business class, the airline chose a staggered product that looks solid, but I just can’t get over the cabin finishes… maybe it’s just me.

What do you make of Singapore Airlines’ new long haul cabins?