Singapore Airlines is spending more than S$2 billion (US$1.6 billion) to upgrade its long-haul seats and offer larger double-bed suites, as rivals pour money into high-end cabins.
The airline on Friday unveiled new cabins in all four travel classes in the biggest overhaul in its history, with the new seats due from the second half of 2027. In first class, centre seats convert into what the airline calls the largest double bed in commercial aviation, while business class gets sliding privacy doors for the first time, along with a fully flat bed.
The programme covers 72 aircraft, a mix of Airbus A350-900s being refitted and Boeing 777-9 jets on order, which together will make up most of its long-haul fleet. The cabins were originally designed for the 777-9, but delays to the jet’s entry into service led the carrier to extend the programme to its A350s.
Chief commercial officer Lee Lik Hsin said the investment included a S$1.1 billion A350 refurbishment plan announced in 2024 and was funded from the airline’s cash balance, which stood at S$9.1 billion at the end of June. Most of the money will go to premium cabins, as business and first-class seats cost far more per unit than economy seats, he said.
Airlines such as Air France, British Airways and United Airlines are also spending billions on premium travel despite industry-wide delays in the production and certification of new seats. Boeing’s 777-9 deliveries, first targeted around 2020, have been pushed back to 2027.