Singapore Airlines’ $1.26b upgrade

Singapore Airlines will spend $1.26 billion to build all new long-haul cabins into 41 Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range (ULR) aircraft.

The multi-year program is a massive milestone for the company.

+ Business Class travellers will get new seats in all 41 aircraft, with more privacy and comfort.

+ Premium Economy Class and Economy Class cabins will be refreshed.

+ And a luxurious First Class cabin will be in seven ULRs on the world’s longest flights.

A Singapore Airlines spokesperson says: “The A350-900 First Class and Business Class products are designed from the ground up, with a spacious layout and ergonomic elements that cater to every customer’s needs. These are the same seat designs that will feature on SIA’s upcoming Boeing 777-9 aircraft.”

The next version of SIA’s KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system in included in the program, with greater personalisation and an extensive range of lifestyle options across all cabin classes. First Class and Business Class will get new in-flight entertainment screens.

The aircraft will be retrofitted by SIA Engineering Company in Singapore, with the first retrofitted A350-900 long-haul aircraft expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2026.

Singapore Airlines chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong says: “Over the past six years, we have extensively engaged 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.”