Taking a leaf out of Etihad’s book, Singapore Airlines has launched a breathtaking brand new vision for their A380s including new First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy products, showcasing how for SIA, the A380 is certainly still an important part of the carrier’s future.
Riding on the theme of “Space made personal, experience the difference”, the new cabin offerings provide more space and privacy in all classes, featuring intimate and bespoke elements designed especially for the Singapore Airlines customer. The new products will enter service next month on the first of five new A380 aircraft entering the fleet. Retrofit work will also take place on 14 existing aircraft, to ensure product consistency across the Airline’s entire A380 fleet.
“The significant investment that we are making with the introduction of new cabin products demonstrates our commitment to continued investment in products and services, our long-term approach to ensure we retain our leadership position, and our confidence in the future of premium full-service air travel,” said SIA CEO Mr Goh Choon Phong.
“The new cabin products are the culmination of four years of work, involving extensive customer research and close partnerships with our designers and suppliers. We are confident that the results will genuinely ‘wow’ our customers, and ensure that we continue to provide them an unparalleled travel experience.”
Spearheading the new look aircraft, is Singapore Airlines’ Signature Suites. The new Singapore Airlines A380 will be configured with 471 seats in four classes, featuring six of these reimagined Suites and 78 Business Class seats on the upper deck, as well as 44 Premium Economy Class seats and 343 Economy Class seats on the main deck.
The Suites
Following plenty of design cues from rival luxury airline Etihad, Singapore Airlines has moved their First Class Suites upstairs, taking advantage of a single aisle, to provide even more space for their passengers. Behind an artistically-designed sliding door is a suite featuring a separate full-flat bed with adjustable recline and plush leather chair, enabling customers to lounge comfortably in the chair or rest in bed without the need to convert the bed from a sitting position.
For couples travelling together, the beds in the first two Suites of each aisle can be converted to form a double bed. When not in use, the bed can be stowed completely, creating even more personal space within each Suite. This is an added upgrade to Etihad’s comparable suites, which only partly connect and don’t completely stow, only creating a small bench instead.
Each seat is upholstered by world-renowned Poltrona Frau in fine leather, and is fully adjustable using an electronic control side panel which can accommodate a variety of sitting and lounging positions. The swivel capability of the chair (between 135 and 270 degrees) with recline up to 45 degrees provides added flexibility for dining and relaxation.
Each Suite, designed by Pierrejean Design Studio and manufactured by Zodiac Seats UK, also has a 32-inch full HD monitor that can swivel for the different viewing angles in seat and bed modes, a full-sized personal wardrobe, customised handbag stowage compartment, amenity box lined with soft leather, specially designed carpet and a feature wall with mood lighting – all exquisitely crafted to give a touch of luxury and intimacy.
The exclusivity of the Suites cabin is further accentuated by its two stylishly-furnished lavatories, one of which has a sit-down vanity counter.
Business Class
Designed by JPA Design and manufactured for Singapore Airlines by JAMCO Corporation of Japan, the interior of the Business Class cabin reflects the current 777-300ER business class product, also designed by the UK design studio. This version however features a selection of “soothing and classy” leather and fabrics, in addition to lightweight carbon composite materials giving it a much more futuristic look. It’s the main real competitor to Qatar’s new QSuite, and whilst not offering full privacy, the addition of real double beds will be the real attraction for the premium business class market.
Measuring 25 inches in width, the Business Class seat, which has two side wings for better back support, reclines directly into a comfortable full-flat bed (78 inches). Customers may also stretch out fully in a ‘sun-deck’ position to watch movies on the 18-inch high definition touch-screen monitor. The Business Class seat is upholstered by Poltrona Frau as well.
A larger back shell on every seat creates a cocoon-like feel for more privacy while the centre divider can be fully lowered to form double beds, making the two centre seats an ideal choice for customers such as families travelling together.
A unique feature of the new Business Class seat is that it has a carbon fibre composite shell structure, as compared to conventional aircraft seats which use metal as the primary support structure. This thinner base structure allows for better optimisation of the seat and creates more under-seat stowage space to accommodate a full-sized cabin bag and laptop bag or handbag.
Seats in the Business Class cabin are arranged in a forward-facing, four-abreast (1-2-1) configuration that offers all customers direct access to the aisle.
Other features include a business panel equipped with USB ports and in-seat power, reading lights with adjustable brightness level, mood lighting, enlarged dining table designed for flexibility in dining positions, as well as stowage space for personal amenities with a thoughtful design that puts everything within easy reach.
Premium Economy
Premium Economy Class is practically the same product currently found on the 777, both designed by JPA Design and manufactured by ZIM Flugsitz GmbH. Each seat is 19.5 inches wide, with eight-inch recline and seat pitch of 38 inches. “Customers will be treated to an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience with the provision of active noise-cancelling headphones and a sleek 13.3-inch full HD monitor,” states the press release.
Other features include a full leather finishing, calf-rest and foot-bar for every seat, individual in-seat power supply, two USB ports, personal in-seat reading light, cocktail table, and more stowage space for personal items.
Economy Class
The Economy Class seat, designed and built by RECARO, offers more space and greater comfort through an improved design. Leveraging on advanced technology and ergonomics, seats offer more legroom and back support, with a six-way adjustable headrest with foldable wings. The Economy Class seat also features a more contemporary fabric seat cover design.
An 11.1-inch touch-screen monitor eliminates the need for handsets and offers more convenience to customers who wish to catch the latest movies on KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ award-winning in-flight entertainment system.
Other features include a patented non-intrusive reading light installed underneath the seatback screen, personal storage space for small personal items, a coat hook, in-seat power supply and ergonomically designed footrest with adjustable positions.
TheDesignAir 
Any idea where the armrests are on the new J class seat? Also the seats are forward facing do you know if sleeping is going to be at an angle like the previous J class seat? The current J class seats are not my favourite as they have significantly narrowed the seat as well as the pitch, reducing the amount of personal room quite significantly. Also disappointing to see that they haven’t made any updates to the PY seats. I have flown on it several times and they have no lower back support and aren’t really any wider than the Y seats. Very hard for me to get comfortable in them. Wished they had learn something from the improvements that CX made on their already very good PY seat.