Singapore Airlines has confirmed that its upcoming cabin redesign will include a first class product on the world’s longest scheduled commercial flights. The carrier operates three routes to New York, with two nonstop services currently holding the title for the longest flights in the world. The new configuration will be installed on the Airbus A350-900 Ultra Long Range (ULR) aircraft.
New First Class Configuration on A350 ULR
During a press event at the Singapore Airlines Training Center, company leadership detailed the layout for the new cabins. The first class section will feature four suites located at the very front of the aircraft. These suites will follow a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access.
The design includes floor-to-ceiling curved walls and doors to provide maximum privacy. A key feature of the central two suites is a removable full-height wall. This allows couples to combine their spaces into a single larger suite. The movable ottoman in the center suite can also accommodate up to four people for dining together.
The cabin layout represents a significant shift in seat density. The total number of seats on the A350-900 ULR will drop by 18 percent, falling from 161 to 132 seats. The first class section will take up four of these seats. Business class will see a slight increase of three seats, bringing the total to 70. Premium economy will shrink considerably from 91 seats to 58. The ULR version does not include an economy cabin, a decision made to reduce weight and extend range for the long journey.
Delivery Delays Push Timeline to Late 2027
Passengers will not be able to book these new suites immediately. The first retrofitted A350 is scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2027. This date marks a delay from the original plan to launch in the first half of 2027. Supply chain issues have pushed back the production and installation timeline. The airline aims to complete the full retrofit of its A350 fleet by the end of the decade.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong stated that the launch is a step in the continuous pursuit to earn and retain customer trust. The new business class seats, which accompany the first class addition, will also feature doors and lie-flat beds. Passengers will be able to sleep forward-facing for the first time on these routes. Select middle seats in business class can also convert into double beds.
Impact on Other Routes and Future Aircraft
The new cabin product will not immediately appear on all of the airline’s long-haul routes. The fifth freedom route between New York and Frankfurt has historically seen limited use of the A350. Current A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on this route will not receive the new cabin. The only way the new product might appear on this specific route is if the incoming Boeing 777-9s are assigned to it.
The Boeing 777-9 fleet will also feature the new cabin design. Singapore Airlines confirmed that these aircraft will carry 300 seats in total. The layout includes six first class seats, 54 business class seats, 36 premium economy seats, and 204 economy seats. The long-haul A350-900s that are not ULR versions will keep their economy cabins while receiving the new first and business class products.
Source: Simple Flying
