Today saw Singapore Airlines officially launch its highly-anticipated new 737 cabin products, which will be rolled out on its Boeing 737-8 fleet in the coming weeks. Since the airline merged SilkAir back in to Singapore Airlines, there’s been a lot of anticipation on how the airline can match its impressive long-haul product with a short haul airframe.
However the results – while not necessarily new to the market (like previous Singapore Airlines launches) – certainly elevate the customer experience on board the airline’s narrow-body aircraft fleet to a level similar to its wide-body aircraft. The goal has always been to offer a consistent and premium travel journey across the entire Singapore Airlines network.
Over the period of a few years, all of SIA’s 737-8 aircraft will eventually have 154 seats in two classes, 10 in Business Class and 144 in Economy Class, with new cabin products featuring bespoke elements that have been designed especially for the premium passenger.
The lie-flat Business Class seats have been designed by London-based Factorydesign, and manufactured for Singapore Airlines by Thompson Aero Seating arranged in a forward-facing staggered 2-2, 1-1, 2-2 abreast configuration.
Measuring up to 22 inches in width, the Business Class seat is perfectly comfortable for short-to-medium haul legs as it reclines directly into a comfortable full-flat bed (76 inches). These seats have been refreshed for SIA with premium materials with bespoke embroidery in custom patterns and textures. The seat cushions and covers use the same soft furnishings as those found on our medium-haul aircraft, providing a higher level of comfort for short-haul flights.
A divider between the adjacent seats provides a new stowage area for personal items, as well as the bi-fold meal table. Other features include USB charging ports and in-seat power supply, a reading light with adjustable brightness, mood lighting, and a pocket under the monitor that provides easy stowage during taxi, take-off and landing.
However, passengers might be fighting over the two standalone Business Class ‘Throne’ seats (seats 12B and 12J) which have additional table-top and stowage spaces, and a side stowage compartment equipped with a mirror and LED light.
In contrast the Economy Class cabin will feature the latest generation sleek and slim-line seats, which have been built by Collins Aerospace. The 737-8 cabin has been designed with a special focus on ergonomics, helping to ensure that everything is within easy reach for customers.
When it comes to entertainment, the aircraft features Panasonic’s X-Series seat-back in-flight entertainment, allowing all customers to enjoy the latest KrisWorld entertainment content. The fleet is also fitted with Panasonic’s in-flight Wi-Fi service, as well as mobile data connectivity services.
Singapore Airlines has invested around S$230 million on the development, design, and installation of the new industry-leading cabin products, which elevate the standard for short- and medium-haul travel on board narrowbody aircraft.
Mr Lee Lik Hsin, Executive Vice President Commercial, Singapore Airlines said: “This is the culmination of three years of innovation and hard work, involving extensive customer research and close partnerships with designers and suppliers. As a result, we can now offer customers a premium travel experience across our entire full-service network, no matter how long or short their journey.
“This significant investment demonstrates Singapore Airlines’ commitment to maintaining our leadership position in the airline industry. As air travel recovers, our customers can continue to enjoy world-class products and award-winning service across our fleets.”
SIA’s 737-8 aircraft will progressively enter into service on short- to medium-haul flights across the Airline’s network in the coming weeks. This includes services to points in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, and Thailand, subject to regulatory approvals. Further details on these flights will be announced in due time.
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