Singapore Airlines has announced it will install new long-haul cabin products across 41 Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range (ULR) aircraft. This will include adding a First-Class product to its seven A350-900ULR aircraft,
The upgrade appears to have been brought on by delays in the delivery of the 777-9 aircraft. As a result, Singapore Airlines is embarking on a S$1.1 billion program to fill the gap that has been left.
The good news is that the refresh extends throughout the aircraft. As a result, Economy and Premium Economy passengers will also get an updated experience.
Following the refit there will be changes in the seating numbers in the various cabins. The 34 A350-900 long-haul aircraft will have 42 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy Class seats, and 192 Economy Class seats.
The seven A350-900ULR variants will feature four First Class seats, 70 Business Class seats, and 58 Premium Economy Class seats. This represents a small increase in the number of Business Class seats. To make room for all this, Premium Economy takes a hit, dropping from 94 seats down to 58.
New A350 First Class
The A350-900ULR aircraft is going to get First Class for the first time, with the installation of four First Class seats. These are the aircraft Singapore Airlines use on the Singapore-New York and Singapore-Los Angeles routes.
With four seats, it is likely that this will be single row in a 1-2-1 configuration.
These seats are the same as those planned for the future 777-9 aircraft. However, there are no plans to retrofit beyond the A350-900ULR aircraft, so don’t expect to see them on the current 777 fleet.
New A350 Business Class
All 41 of Singapore Airlines A350 aircraft will get new Business Class seats. This new Business Class product will also see sliding doors fitted, ensuring greater privacy.
These new seat design match the Business Class seats planned for the upcoming 777-9. By all accounts, there seats are an improvement on the existing seats. For one thing, they will allow passengers to rest straight, rather than diagonally as at present.
Premium Economy and Economy Class
According to Singapore Airlines, both the Premium Economy Class and Economy Class cabins will also have a refresh. That said, there is not a lot of detail about what this will entail.
In-Flight Entertainment
In addition to the revamped seats, Singapore Airlines says there will be a new version of KrisWorld, its in-flight entertainment system. The next version is said to “offer greater personalisation and an extensive range of lifestyle options across all cabin classes”.
Timeline
As with project of this nature, it is a time-consuming process. Singapore Airlines says that first of the upgraded long-range A350-900s will enter service in 2026. The first upgraded A350-900ULR will follow in the first quarter of 2027. The expect to have completed the upgrade program by the end of 2030.