Photo: Ravish Maqsood / Pexels
Singapore Airlines on Friday unveiled new cabins across all four travel classes, a more than S$2 billion ($1.6 billion) overhaul of its long-haul fleet.
In first class, center seats convert into double beds, while business-class seats get sliding privacy doors for the first time on the airline, alongside fully flat beds.
The new cabins are due from the second half of 2027. Boeing 777-9 jets will receive all four new cabin products. Retrofitted Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range aircraft will get new business-class seats, with first class added to the ultra-long-range aircraft for the first time.
The program covers 72 aircraft, a mix of A350-900s being retrofitted and Boeing 777-9 jets on order that together will comprise the majority of the carrier’s long-haul fleet.
The S$2 billion-plus investment includes a S$1.1 billion A350 refurbishment plan announced in 2024 and is funded from the airline’s cash balance, which stood at S$9.1 billion at the end of June. Chief Commercial Officer Lee Lik Hsin said most of the investment goes to premium cabins because business- and first-class seats cost far more per unit than economy seats, with no spending ceiling set.
“Our competitive advantage doesn’t derive from aircraft cabin product alone,” he said. “It is the hard product, the soft service, the operational excellence. And it is our people.”
The launch comes as carriers including Air France, British Airways and United Airlines pour billions into premium travel despite industry-wide production and certification delays for new seats. Premium demand has stayed relatively resilient while higher fuel costs squeeze margins and deter some cost-conscious economy passengers.
The airline’s new first-class seats also offer 32-inch screens with 4K resolution, while business-class seats have 22-inch 4K screens, wireless charging and Bluetooth audio connectivity.
JBizNews Desk | Singapore
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