First look: Singapore Airlines shows off its fancy new first and business class
Editor's Note
It has been two years since Singapore Airlines began teasing all-new business- and first-class cabins, and nearly 10 years since the last time the airline unveiled a new generation of flagship products.
But after much anticipation and a flurry of recent announcements — about upgrades and refreshes on everything from the airline's dining program, inflight meals and serviceware to its KrisWorld entertainment system and amenity kits — we finally got to see what the new Singapore Airlines business- and first-class seats are like. We also got a preview of the new economy and premium economy seats coming to its Boeing 777-9s.
TPG joined a slew of international media for two days of announcements and executive interviews culminating in the big reveal at Marina Bay Sands. The presentation even included a newly composed theme song titled "Made of every world you can dream of," performed by flight crew.
"Today Singapore Airlines unveils the next chapter in our end-to-end travel experience," began Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong in his remarks to the crowd. "This is an important milestone and it is also part of our continuous journey to…invest in a product we know our customer will love."
The new products represent a multi-year investment of over 2 billion Singaporean dollars ($1.56 billion) in addition to the S$130 million ($102 million) the airline has spent renovating its SilverKris lounges around the world.
"This is our biggest investment in improving the customer travel experience because we're not just talking about seat development," Siva Govindasamy, divisional vice president of public affairs, said. "We're talking about improvements in the customer service journey from end to end."
The airline surveyed over 5,000 frequent flyers, incorporating their feedback on what they were looking for from the travel experience, what elements of Singapore Airlines' current seats and service they liked, and what needed to evolve.
"Our development process has been shaped by extensive research and feedback to help us understand how our customers work, dine, relax, sleep and use technology in their journeys," Lee Lik Hsin, Singapore Airlines' chief commercial officer, explained to a small media gathering ahead of the event. "This launch represents a significant milestone, but not an end point," he continued.
Based on what we saw of the new seats and service elements, here are all the fancy, industry-leading features the airline has in store.
Related: Singapore KrisFlyer: Ultimate guide to earning, redeeming and elite status
Singapore Airlines' new first class: Double beds and high-end finishes
Perhaps the most exciting announcement of the bunch was the unveiling of Singapore Airlines' new long-haul first-class seats.
Designed by PriestmanGoode and manufactured by Collins Aerospace, these fixtures were initially slated for the airline's upcoming order of Boeing 777-9s. But given the delays on those aircraft deliveries, Singapore is also installing them on its ultra-long-range subfleet of seven Airbus A350-900ULRs starting in the second half of 2027. This will be the first time the airline's A350s have sported a first-class cabin.
The A350s will have just four of these seats on board in a 1-2-1 configuration at the very front of the plane. The 777-9s will eventually have six of them on board — two running down either side of the cabin and two in the center. They have 89 1/2 inches of pitch, giving them a fairly large footprint (though not as big as the Suites aboard the airline's Airbus A380s). Singapore Airlines has no plans to update the first-class cabins on its Boeing 777-300s or A380s.
While the new side seats are cocoons unto themselves, the center seats were conceived as a shared experience for travel companions, who can lower the privacy divider and armrests to create a sort of sofa. It can then transform into what the airline is dubbing "the largest double bed in the sky," measuring 80 inches long and 60 inches wide.
In one of the lighter moments during the pre-reveal press conferences, a journalist asked Singapore's Hsin how flight crew would address couples who might use the space inappropriately. "We will address it," Hsin replied without missing a beat, prompting chuckles around the room. "We want every passenger to be able to enjoy the comfort that we have provided without disturbing the comfort and experience for any other customer."
Back to the seat, though: It incorporates a cocktail tray for inflight aperitifs and wardrobe areas in the aisles where passengers can stow their clothes (after slipping into the airline's new pajamas, of course ... more on that below). Those with a keen eye will also notice a subtle batik motif on the soft wall panels hearkening to the airline's famous uniforms and branding.
The chairs are upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather, are 23 inches wide (30 with the armrests lowered) and recline to 80-inch lie-flat beds that flight attendants will make up with 100% cotton linens, a duvet and a selection of pillows, as well as a breathable new mattress topper from German luxury brand Paradies.
Passengers can adjust the various components of the seat including the arm and legrests, the ottoman and lumbar support. They can also change the lighting using the inflight entertainment system controls and create a profile so that their settings carry over to their next flight.
The palette includes a mix of taupes, browns, silvers and warm terracotta-tinged accents meant to telegraph a feeling of luxury, harmony, privacy and warmth according to PriestmanGoode director Ben Rowan.
Passengers can dine face-to-face thanks to large, sturdy tray tables. They will also find a wireless charging pad, USB-C ports and a universal AC power port to keep their devices charged. The 777-9 seats will have a USB-A port as well.
The storage areas include a slim personal wardrobe, a leather-lined vanity drawer and a small compartment for a cabin bag beneath the ottoman.
The inflight entertainment system is a 32-inch 4K touchscreen loaded with the airline's KrisWorld content system. It will include an integrated touch panel display for flight information, destination weather, inflight Wi-Fi connectivity status and lavatory availability.
Passengers will receive Bang & Olufsen wireless headphones to use, but they can also connect to the entertainment system with their own Bluetooth headsets.
Overall, the new first-class seats are a big step forward from the first-class cabins you'll find aboard the airline's Boeing 777-300s; they sit somewhere between those and the A380 Suites. Their look feels like an evolution of the Suites' palette and finishes, with welcome technology updates that should keep travelers happy and connected.
Related: The ultimate guide to Singapore Suites
Singapore Airlines' new business class: Closing doors and memory settings
Lest you think first class is the biggest news, the airline also unveiled its all-new business-class seats, designed from the ground up in conjunction with seat manufacturer Recaro and BMW's DesignWorks.
These seats will appear on the Boeing 777-9 and both the A350-900ULR and the long-haul A350-900; they will not appear on the airline's medium-haul A350s. If you're losing track, don't worry, we have tables below that lay out the details. We also got a few exclusive shots from a mock-up cabin at Singapore Airlines' headquarters the day before the official unveiling, which you can see below. (Just note that they don't have all the finishes and other details the final seats on board will have.)
In line with current airline industry trends, the airline has decided on suite-style pods with closing doors for privacy. The doors are decorated with a stylized "satellite" stencil, and you'll see this pattern in the stitching on the leather seats as well.
"We wanted to bring an automotive-inspired seat and our knowledge from experiential design into the cabin," explained BMW DesignWorks CEO Julia de Bono. Thus, the seats feel like a mix between seats in a luxury sedan and a racecar with mineral gray-toned leather and bright yellow trim, meant to convey balance and stability on the one hand and energy and creativity on the other, according to De Bono.
The seats are laid out in a front-facing 1-2-1 pattern — this was a direct result of customer feedback, with frequent flyers telling airline executives that they wanted to move past an angled orientation, which could feel constraining at times.
The seats have 50 inches of pitch and are up to 24 inches wide. They recline into 79-inch lie-flat beds — a departure from the current A350 lie-flats, which flight attendants have to flip over to get them into bed mode. Some center seats can be configured as double beds when the privacy dividers are lowered, which should be exciting for folks who tend to travel with a companion.
Passengers will also receive new padded seat covers with memory foam for cushioning and support.
The tray table placement and stowage — which pops out from under the entertainment screen and is flexible to maneuver — also gives the seat a larger ottoman, alleviating a common complaint about the airline's current business-class seats.
Like the new first-class seats, these will allow passengers to create a profile via the inflight entertainment system, so their preferred seat and lighting settings are saved from flight to flight.
They have 22-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems (20 inches on the 777-9) with Bluetooth pairing capability. Among the storage spaces are a small cubby that slides out from the chair-side seatback and a little cupboard next to the entertainment screen. Passengers will also find wireless charging pads, USB-C ports and universal power plugs.
Related: Which Singapore Airlines business class is better? A380 vs A350
New premium economy and economy: Just for the 777-9
Singapore Airlines worked with FactoryDesign and Collins Aerospace to create updated versions of its economy and premium economy seats specifically for the Boeing 777-9. There are currently no plans to install these aboard the airline's other jets.
The new premium economy seats have a swanky, contoured look with dark gray leather upholstery and vibrant orange accents. They will see their seat pitch increase from the 38 inches previous versions offer to 40 inches, and they will get an extra inch of recline, rounding it up to 9 instead of 8. They will be 19 inches wide and have adjustable leg and footrests plus adjustable headsets.
Their entertainment screens will be 16 inches wide with 4K resolution and Bluetooth pairing capability. The seats will also feature universal power plugs, USB-C ports and USB-A ports on some aircraft.
As for economy seating, these look a lot like current versions and are squeezed into a tight 3-4-3 layout, with just 17.6 inches of width per seat. Their screens get an upgrade to 13 inches and 4K resolution, with Bluetooth pairing available. They will also have USB-C ports (and A versions on some aircraft) plus universal power plugs.
Related: Worth the upcharge? Flying Singapore Airlines premium economy
Singapore Airlines fleet retrofit plans
So how exactly are all these new seats going to get onto planes? And when will passengers start seeing them? Here's the plan.
Singapore Airlines currently has 58 Airbus A350s. Seventeen of those are configured for medium-haul and regional routes.
Of the remaining 41, 34 are long-range A350-900s with business class, premium economy and economy on board. These will be kitted out with new business-class seats, with the following adjusted seat counts in each class. The process is expected to start in the second half of 2027 and to last through 2030.
A350-900
| Number of seats (old) | Number of seats (new) | Seat dimensions (old) | Seat dimensions (new) | Entertainment screen (old) | Entertainment screen (new) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Business class | 42 | 42 | 28 inches wide by 78 inches long | 22 inches wide by 79 inches long | 18 inches | 22 inches |
Premium economy (same seats) | 24 | 24 | 19 inches wide by 38 inches of pitch | 19 inches wide by 38 inches of pitch (no change) | 13.3 inches | 13.3 inches (no change) |
Economy (same seats) | 187 | 192 | 18 inches wide by 32 inches of pitch | 18 inches wide by 32 inches of pitch (no change) | 11.1 inches | 11.1 inches (no change) |
The other seven A350s are the airline's A350-900ULRs (which stands for ultra-long-range) and are deployed on the airline's longest routes from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). These ULR jets will receive a full overhaul, including new first- and business-class seats. The changes will reduce the plane's overall seating capacity to 132, down from 161.
A350-900ULR
| Number of seats (old) | Number of seats (new) | Seat dimensions (old) | Seat dimensions (new) | Entertainment screen (old) | Entertainment screen (new) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First class | N/A | 4 | N/A | 23 inches wide by 80 inches long | N/A | 32 inches |
Business class | 67 | 70 | 28 inches wide by 78 inches long | 22 inches wide by 79 inches long | 18 inches | 22 inches |
Premium economy (same seats) | 94 | 58 | 18 inches wide by 38 inches of pitch | 18 inches wide by 38 inches of pitch (no change) | 13.3 inches | 13.3 inches (no change) |
Boeing 777-9
All the seats on this jet will be new, but here's how it breaks down.
| Number of seats | Configuration | Dimensions | Screen size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First class | 6 | 1-2-1 | 23 inches wide by 80 inches long | 32 inches |
Business class | 54 | 1-2-1 | 24 inches wide by 79 inches long | 20 inches |
Premium economy | 36 | 2-4-2 | 19 inches wide by 40 inches of pitch, 9 inches recline | 16 inches |
Economy | 204 | 3-4-3 | 17.6 inches wide by 31-32 inches of pitch, 6 inches recline | 13 inches |
The good news is that the majority of Singapore Airlines' long-haul fleet will have new first- and business-class seats on them once this retrofit is complete and the 777-9s are in service. The bad news is that we don't know exactly how long that will take, and we don't know which routes will see the new seats first.
In the meantime, here are some of the other fun things the airline has cooking up — quite literally.
Related: A review of Singapore Suites first class from Frankfurt to New York
Dining enhancements
As if new seats weren't enough, Singapore Airlines is making major updates to its meal service as well.
The airline is already well-known for offering a "Book the Cook" meal preorder service with dozens of dishes available to flyers in Suites, first, business and premium economy. And there are about to be a lot more options.
The airline is touting over 100 new and refreshed dishes, including appetizers, mains and desserts. They will be introduced across all four classes of service under a new category titled "SIA Chefs' Selection" developed by the airline's partner guest chefs, including Monica Galetti, Nandu Jubany, Sanjeev Kapoor, Sid Sahrawat, Yoshihiro Murata and Zhu Jun.
Among the new dishes you might spot are poached Maine lobster with Champagne sauce in Suites and first class; Japanese-inspired prawn cocktail in business class; beef short rib in coconut-based sambal percik with nasi kerabu rice in business class; tandoor-roasted paneer in tangy pasanda gravy in all classes; and Irish lamb stew with buttered cabbage and caraway seeds in premium economy.
And take a closer look at what those dishes will be served on in business and first. The airline is introducing an all-new line of chinaware from French luxury brand Christofle, making it the first airline to partner with the long-standing luxury house.
The patterns are inspired by Christofle's Malmaison Imperiale collection and incorporate an interpretation of Singapore Airline's floral batik patterns. There will also be new custom-designed Christofle glassware, including tulip-shaped champagne flutes and long-stemmed wine glasses for greater utility.
A new selection of spirits across the board and new wines for business- and first-class passengers is coming, too. First-class and Suites passengers will be treated to an expanded selection of champagnes including Krug Grande Cuvee, Louis Roederer Cristal, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires and Bollinger La Grande Année. Those in business class will find Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV and Piper-Heidsieck Vintage.
Among the new spirits to be carried on board, there will be a blended whisky from Japan's Komoro Distillery created exclusively for Singapore Airlines first class; a Bowmore 19 Year Old pinot noir Cask Finish single-malt Scotch whisky and Roku Botanical Kasane Edition gin in business class; and Whyte & Mackay blended Scotch whisky in premium economy and economy.
Amenity kits galore ... and pajamas
For a carrier with such a premium reputation, one thing that surprises some business-class passengers is that Singapore Airlines has not traditionally provided amenities in business class. (First-class passengers do get them, though.) That's all about to change, starting this week.
In fact, Singapore Airlines is introducing all-new amenity kits available on flights over six hours. Here's what's in store for passengers.
Sisley first-class amenity kits
When Singapore Airlines launched its second-generation A380 first-class Suites in 2017, it also formed a partnership with French luxury house Lalique to create onboard amenities including pajamas, linens and amenity kits with fragrances and skincare products.
Now, with the introduction of its third-generation suites, the airline is turning to French cosmetics brand Sisley to create all-new men's and women's kits for first-class passengers featuring anti-aging Sisleya (for women) and Sisleyum (for men) products.
The female kit will include:
- Sisleya L'Integral anti-age cream
- Sisleya L'Integral eye and lip contour cream
- Sisleya essential skincare lotion
- L'Eau Revee D'Eliya fragrance
- A black rose cream face mask
- Restorative hand cream
The male kit will include:
- Sisleyum anti-aging mattifying gel cream
- L'Eau Revee d'Alma fragrance
- Ecological compound
- All-day, all-year essential anti-aging protection
- Nutritive lip balm
- Restorative hand cream
Passengers will also find Sisley's Eau de Campagne fragrance, moisturizing body lotion and floral spray mist along with dental kits in the first-class lavatories.
As for pajamas, customers will receive all-new sleeper suits in dark gray cotton with a subtle imprint of the airline's batik pattern on the plackets and side seams, along with new, better-padded slippers. They will be available in four sizes.
In Singapore Airlines' fancy The Private Room lounge and the First Class SilverKris Lounge at Changi terminals 2 and 3, passengers will also find Hair Rituel by Sisley fortifying densifying shampoo and restructuring conditioner in the shower suites, along with Sisley's Eau de Campagne bath and shower gel, fragrance and moisturizing body lotion.
Byredo business-class amenity kits
Singapore Airlines is also introducing new amenity kits and, for the first time, pajamas for business-class passengers.
The sleeping apparel will be navy blue poly-cotton with a subtle batik print on the tops' inner collars and the lining of the trousers' pockets. They will be available in two sizes.
Business-class passengers will also receive new amenity kits from Swedish brand Byredo that include:
- A fragrance spray
- Hand cream from the Blanche line
- Blanche lip balm
- Eye shades
- Socks
- A dental kit
The business-class lavatories will have Blanche body lotion and vitamin E and chamomile facial toner.
Premium economy amenity kits
Don't worry, the airline hasn't forgotten about premium economy passengers, who pay a pretty penny for that extra legroom. They will now receive new zip pouches made from recycled materials and decorated with the airline's recognizable batik motif.
The pouches will contain Australian personal care brand Ink & Water's white tea-scented lip balm as well as eye masks, socks and dental kits.
Related: Singapore Airlines premium economy review
Economy amenity kits
Even the folks in economy will receive drawstring pouches with a batik motif containing eye masks, socks and a dental kit.
Kids' amenities
Long flights are tough on kids, so for travelers 12 years and under on flights that are over five hours long, the airline will offer collectible Beary soft toys — essentially airline-branded teddy bears. On all flights, the airline also offers Pixar's "Toy Story"-themed amenities, which include things like infant bibs, activity pads for kids and drawstring bags.
Related: I make my own amenity kit for long-haul flights: Here's what's inside
Entertainment and Starlink Wi-Fi
Singapore Airlines will also update the KrisWorld inflight entertainment systems on its A350s and offer new systems on its forthcoming 777-9s.
The new systems will have 4K resolution and Bluetooth pairing capability, with interface improvements including better search functions, content shortcuts, a mini-player (so passengers can browse content while watching something), better personalization and wellness programming.
First-class passengers will receive Bang & Olufsen noise-canceling Bluetooth headsets for inflight use, while business-class and premium economy flyers will receive active noise-cancellation headsets. Economy passengers will receive wired headphones, but they will be able to pair their own Bluetooth devices with the new systems.
The airline will also progressively roll out new Starlink Wi-Fi service starting in 2027 aboard its Airbus A380s, A350-900 long-haul fleet and its A350-900ULRs. Like the airline's current Wi-Fi offerings, Starlink service will be free for business- and first-class passengers and passengers in all cabins who are members of KrisFlyer or PPS Club.
"For our customers, every touchpoint — from seats, meals, inflight entertainment, connectivity and amenities, to our lounges and other ground experiences — is part of one similar Singapore Airlines journey," Phong said in his speech at the unveiling event. "By continuing to invest and elevate this end-to-end customer experience, we offer greater comfort and convenience while reinforcing our commitment to earning their trust and loyalty at every single phase of their journey."
Bottom line
New airline seats represent huge investments of time, money and research, not to mention the costs of updating onboard services and amenities. That makes Singapore Airlines' current slate of announcements all the more exciting.
Flyers have a lot to look forward to on board the airline's long-haul A350s and forthcoming 777-9s. While the first-class seats are not as large as the Suites on board the airline's A380s, they are still roomy with high-end finishes and up-to-date tech that passengers should welcome.
The business-class seats represent the largest departure for the airline, with a new front-facing configuration and what feels like a totally new color palette that might surprise some longtime flyers. Thoughtful ergonomic features in terms of stowage and the tray table and closing privacy doors are real pluses, though.
As for premium economy and economy, hopefully the airline will consider bringing its latest seats to the A350 as well in an attempt to standardize the experience across the fleet. Still, for 777-9 passengers, these updates will be a win.
If you're curious to see some of these unveiled elements for yourself, there should be a special display at The Jewel at Changi in the coming weeks, followed by one in the transit area of the airport's Terminal 3 in early 2027.
What do you think of Singapore Airlines' new seats? Leave a comment with your impressions below!