Singapore Airlines is claiming a new industry standard for premium in-flight experiences as the carrier announces an ambitious retrofit programme worth $1.27 billion.
Over the next few years, Singapore’s flag carrier will install reimagined long-haul cabin products across 41 Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range aircraft. This will touch each cabin across these aircrafts, although the retrofit primarily focuses on pointy-end travellers with brand new Business and First Class seats.
Mirroring the seat design that’ll feature on the carrier’s incoming Boeing 777-9 aircraft, the new Business and First Class products represent a significant milestone for the multi-award-winning airline as they set sights on improving the onboard experience on some of the world’s longest routes.
A reimagined First Class experience
The pinnacle offering will, of course, be the luxurious First Class cabin on seven of the airline’s existing A350-900ULR jets, which are rated to fly more than 20 hours non-stop. According to the airline, the First Class seats will be designed with a spacious layout and thoughtful ergonomic designs, purposed towards providing greater levels of privacy, comfort and convenience.
Although it was announced this week, the Singapore Airlines retrofit programme is in its early stages. As such, the photos released so far don’t really show us what to expect from the new hard products. So far, the airline has only released several dimly lit photos and a video showing shutters slowly opening and illuminating a spacious cabin and adding a bit of mystery to the annoucement.
“The new First Class and Business Class seat designs will incorporate thoughtful elements that push the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity, allowing our customers to relax or work effortlessly on board,” said Mr Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer for Singapore Airlines.
“Over the past six years, we have extensively engaged our customers and stakeholders in the design of our next-generation long-haul cabin products, anticipating their evolving preferences and expectations down to the finest detail.”
Business Class gets some big changes too
Singapore Airline’s already has one of the most popular Business Class products in the industry so them looking to elevate the experience even further should come as exciting news for frequent flyers as well as keen cruisers engaging the many ships that sail from Singapore.
All 41 aircraft included in the retrofit programme will benefit from this new approach to Business Class. All are to be designed from the ground-up, giving the carrier complete control over guided the new onboard experience.
Will there be changes to Economy as well?
Singapore Airlines’ Economy and Premium Economy cabins will reportedly also benefit from a refresh, although the carrier is tight-lipped about what passengers can expect from the two more accessible classes. We do know that a new version of the KrisWorld in-flight entertainment systems will come with the refreshes.
First Class and Business Class seats will get new in-flight entertainment screens as well, but the size and display has not yet been confirmed.
When will these changes be made?
The retrofit programme will be led by SIA Engineering Company with the first beneficiary being an A350-900 long-haul aircraft expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2026. The first A350-900ULR will follow just under a year after, flying from the first quarter of 2027.
Singapore Airlines says that the entire programme will be completed by the end of 2030, setting the airline up for a competitive ultra-long-haul race that includes Qantas’ Project Sunrise flights, which were only recently pushed back from a 2025 launch date to sometime in 2026.
Once all is said, done and installed, Singapore Airlines will have the following:
- 34 A350-900 long-haul aircraft with 42 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy Class seats and 192 Economy Class seats.
- 7 A350-900 ultra-long-haul aircraft with four First Class seats, 70 Business Class seats, and 58 Premium Economy seats.
SIA’s billion-dollar secret is vague and generalised right now but Cruise Passenger will be keeping you up to date with more details as the programme begins to roll out.
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