Singapore Airlines’ all-new A350 first, business class suites
Travellers on the 18+ hour trek between Singapore and New York will have something special to look forward to...
By David Flynn, November 4 2024
Facing further delays in the arrival of its next-gen Boeing 777-9 fleet, Singapore Airlines will now launch the 777X first and business class suites on its A350s in a sweeping SGD$1.1bn upgrade program.
Singapore Airlines' A350s are set for a suite makeover.
And, to nobody’s surprise, both will be private suites where travellers can close a door to create a cosy cocoon above the clouds, according to a teaser shared by the Star Alliance member.
A teaser of Singapore Airlines' new A350 business class suite.
The ultra-long range A350ULR – which flies marathon routes such as non-stop from Singapore to New York – will also gain four exclusive first class seats added in a single row at the front of the plane.
Another teaser image hints at high-end finishes such as slat shutter doors finished in copper colouring...
A teaser of Singapore Airlines' new A350 first class suite.
... behind which will be a spacious suite long enough for three A350 windows with electronic blinds to filter out the light, and what we can see is a very large video screen.
A teaser of Singapore Airlines' new A350 first class suite.
Not to be left behind, the long-range A350-900s will adopt the same business class as the A350-900ULRs.
Both of these A350s today have business class seats based on a design from the early 2010s which debuted in 2013, and which retains two less-traveller friends traits:
- the seat must be manually flipped over to become a bed, rather than gradually reclining through several positions
- small spaces into which passengers have to carefully tuck their feet (while also sleeping at an angle)
Singapore Airlines' current A350 ultra-long range business class.
Singapore Airlines says the new A350-900 first and business class products are “designed from the ground up, with a spacious layout and ergonomic elements that cater to every customer’s needs.”
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong says the new first and business class seats have been developed over the past six years, and saw the airline “extensively engaged (with) 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.”
“The new first class and business class seat designs will incorporate thoughtful elements that push the boundaries of comfort, luxury, and modernity, allowing our customers to relax or work effortlessly on board.”
The first of the upgraded long-range A350-900s is expected to take wing in the second quarter of 2026, with the A350-900ULR following in the first quarter of 2027. The entire program is targeted for completion by the end of 2030.
The medium-range A350s will retain their current business class, which is identical to that of SQ’s Boeing 787-10s.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1004
I wonder if the middle two First Class seats turn into a larger single area for couples like the SQ Suite does? We did Singapore to Newark this year and it was amazing woke up so refreshed in New York, I did use the program Time Shifter but the SQ flight was amazing.
09 May 2020
Total posts 571
I don’t pretend to know the airline industry but pretty surprised that SIA splashing out that kind of money to retrofit existing metal over 6 years.
I suspect that the delays in getting 777-9 is worse than reported (2027), the Boeing strike not helping, as well as the fact that they would need to hang on to these A350 for longer to justify that spend; given the average age of the SIA A350 is just under 6 years, the entire SIA fleet under 8, the natural expectation is that they will use these long range A350 for at least 10 years or longer.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 189
Exactly! Reading between the lines, this is as much about SQ's doubting Boeing's ability to timely deliver the 777-9, as it is about a cabin refresh. As the saying goes - actions speak louder than words. So SQ's move to seriously invest a massive amount of dollars into an 'older' (relatively speaking) fleet this soon is, among other things, a sign of no confidence in Boeing.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Dec 2012
Total posts 25
Another reason to stick with SQ over QF.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Sep 2012
Total posts 231
The screen and catalogue shelfing shown on the Business Class teaser looks very similar to the Safran Unity setup. I could be wrong though!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
03 Jun 2014
Total posts 19
Would be nice to see an SQ A350 Long range on the route to SIN-DXB and also SYD- SIN to add the first class on those routes. Im sure DXB would justify having F class with a small cabin they have planned
26 Sep 2023
Total posts 32
I know I'm in the minority but I really don't mind having to manually convert the bed on the 350s, its hardly a Herculean task. I did treat it much like a sofa- after the meal, convert and lounge (multiple pillows seem to be do-able on SQ in a way they aren't on QF). And there are always crew happy to do it. As a side sleeper, the foot nook didn't really bother me. I also like how the bed was higher off the ground, QF I always feel like I'm sleeping on the floor. Agree with the earlier comments though, this is hardly a ringing endorsement of Boeing's ever-revised delivery schedules.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 474
For me it's not as much about the seat being difficult to convert to a bed, and yes the crew are always happy to do this. I usually his the 'call' button and ask them to set the bed up, then I head into the washroom, clean my teeth, change into my PJs etc, and by the time I get back to the seat it's a bed! The thing is, though, on a lot of long flights I tend to put the seat into a halfway reclined position for a while, or sometimes just decide to sleep 'now' and then later decide to 'get up', and not only does the SQ seat not really give you a good 'halfway' reclined mode, it's so much easier to 'switch' between sitting up and lying down if you can just hit a button.
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