SIA to Retrofit A350 Long Haul Fleet with New Cabin Products (Press Rel: 4 Nov 2024)

[yflyer]

MileLion is now reporting that the new seats are delayed until 1Q 2027. How disappointing!

https://milelion.com/2026/05/05/conf...layed-to-2027/

[SQ777]

We’re now entering Q2 2026 - according to the Nov 2024 press release, the first retrofitted A350LH should be rolling out this quarter.

However, almost all of them are actively flying, with the exception of SMT that has been away since March… but I highly doubt SMT will be the first to get retrofitted. The earlier frames (SMA…) are more than 10 years old now, surely those will be retrofitted first.
and if so, then.. I wonder whether they’re on schedule to do these long long overdue refits.

the competition has caught up and in some sense gone ahead. I personally feel the only reason SQ still ranks near the top is because of its brand value. But if they don’t evolve.. and quickly roll out these refreshed products…they won’t remain up there longer.

Sure things are taking longer. But the current seats are not shit and hold up well. Business class evolution has reached a limit anyway where any marginal benefit can be argued as being gimmicky (eg doors, wireless charging). SQ are still leading in terms of service, miles better than the hodgepodge of Arab airlines.

The new SQ seats will come soon and won’t be too surprising (as business class innovation has plateaued, particular if an airline chooses to offer a dedicated F class).

More interesting will be the soft enhancements in J class (not talking about offering a dollop of Chinese caviar for appearances sake, like some other airlines).

[yflyer]

We’re now entering Q2 2026 - according to the Nov 2024 press release, the first retrofitted A350LH should be rolling out this quarter.

However, almost all of them are actively flying, with the exception of SMT that has been away since March… but I highly doubt SMT will be the first to get retrofitted. The earlier frames (SMA…) are more than 10 years old now, surely those will be retrofitted first.
and if so, then.. I wonder whether they’re on schedule to do these long long overdue refits.

the competition has caught up and in some sense gone ahead. I personally feel the only reason SQ still ranks near the top is because of its brand value. But if they don’t evolve.. and quickly roll out these refreshed products…they won’t remain up there longer.

Good points raised, ell3. It has been ages since SQ rolled out a new cabin product. We are seeing a lot of innovation by other carriers, especially in the J and PEY cabins, not to mention the the new SkyNest economy bunk beds on Air New Zealand.

[ell3]

We’re now entering Q2 2026 - according to the Nov 2024 press release, the first retrofitted A350LH should be rolling out this quarter.

However, almost all of them are actively flying, with the exception of SMT that has been away since March… but I highly doubt SMT will be the first to get retrofitted. The earlier frames (SMA…) are more than 10 years old now, surely those will be retrofitted first.
and if so, then.. I wonder whether they’re on schedule to do these long long overdue refits.

the competition has caught up and in some sense gone ahead. I personally feel the only reason SQ still ranks near the top is because of its brand value. But if they don’t evolve.. and quickly roll out these refreshed products…they won’t remain up there longer.

[Spaniard]

Has any SQ A350 started on the retrofit yet?

SMI flew to Subang on the 8th of Feb - could this be the first one to undergo the retrofit?

Hoping for an announcement with more details soon!

[hikouki]

I wonder if SQ will retire the 'suites' concept as the A380s are pulled off service?

Also, I keep wondering if SQ will introduce any innovation in First and Business with these retrofits. It seems that business class seat innovation has plateaued.

[SQ777]

Obviously Singapore Airlines is now a follower, not a leader in the industry. The new seats are nothing new compared to the competitors, just following the trend for example, sliding doors in Business Class. The airlines that created sliding doors in Business Class, onboard bars, showers, fully enclosed First Class Suites, the world's only 3-room suite in the sky etc...are now the leaders in the industry.

I would hardly blame them on this! There is an upper limit to what you can do in biz class if you offer First. I would fly SQ F, even on 777 any day over QR F, for example, where the difference on the soft product from J to F is marginal.

And tbh I do not want 1-1-1 in F. I much rather have more first class capacity, like the old SQ A380s of yore. EK is smart to keep more seats in the cabin.

LH is just crazy with their 3.5 layout so hardly the bench mark and as nice as JAL is no use if you want more opportunities to book first whether on revenue or redemption.

There is a lot more to the flight than the hard product. No shower or bar is gonna make up for crappy service in the air. I rarely see this on SQ vs encountering this more than I like in middle eastern carriers.

[fablee]

Has any SQ A350 started on the retrofit yet?

[jul247]

Obviously Singapore Airlines is now a follower, not a leader in the industry. The new seats are nothing new compared to the competitors, just following the trend for example, sliding doors in Business Class. The airlines that created sliding doors in Business Class, onboard bars, showers, fully enclosed First Class Suites etc...are now the leaders in the industry.

The irony, MH launched its new Business Class with sliding doors earlier than SQ! OMG! The world gone mad!

[scooby5]

Obviously Singapore Airlines is now a follower, not a leader in the industry. The new seats are nothing new compared to the competitors, just following the trend for example, sliding doors in Business Class. The airlines that created sliding doors in Business Class, onboard bars, showers, fully enclosed First Class Suites etc...are now the leaders in the industry.

Once final installation of these upgrades are complete, they could already be out of date again.

[vsepr]

Obviously Singapore Airlines is now a follower, not a leader in the industry. The new seats are nothing new compared to the competitors, just following the trend for example, sliding doors in Business Class. The airlines that created sliding doors in Business Class, onboard bars, showers, fully enclosed First Class Suites, the world's only 3-room suite in the sky etc...are now the leaders in the industry.

[Stratoliner777]

This is fantastic and way overdue! Of course it is largely Boeing's fault for failing to deliver the 777-9 on time. Those photos even show 777-9 windows and so on, it's clearly the 777-9 product.

Ironically, one recalls that SQ launched their 2006-era Business Class on the 777-300ER instead of the A380 because of Airbus delivery delays, but the Boeing delays this time around are unprecedented (6+ years!).

To add, OneMileataTime has blueprints of the supposed new SQ F cabin: https://onemileatatime.com/news/sing...a350-retrofit/

Not sure just how revolutionary the F cabin will be, considering all the amazing things that have been done by the likes of EK, AF, and (if the rumors are to be believed), soon by CX.

[SQfanatic]

Hot off the press! SIA will be retrofitting its A350 Long Haul (including ULR) fleet with new Business, Premium Economy and Economy seats. The A350 ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft will also be equipped with First Class cabins, which they never had before.

It's about time they did this, as their current A350 long haul business class seat is showing its age. Also very glad they are updating their PEY seats, as I have always felt that the current A350 PEY seat was quite mediocre.

Straits Times Article: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...n-1-1b-upgrade

SQ Press Release: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/u.../ne1124-241104

SQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DB8l4azIBCO/

This isn't a surprise with the ongoing Boeing 777-9 delays as SQ was eager to show off their products sooner. However, on another note, at least like the 77W, the A350's are getting a facelift on all classes.

The fact the ULR are getting First Class too is also further good news for the 7 ULR's. SFO has not had First Class service since the HKG flights were temporarily reinstated in November 2021 for only 1 month with F. However, with this also happening, I would also imagine the 77W on the Fifth Freedom (LAX/NRT, JFK/FRA) routes would probably within a few years be replaced with the A350's (IAH/MAN are getting freed up next year) even without F before the 779's actually take over. Even LAX can be converted to a nonstop completely if needed.

[yflyer]

Hot off the press! SIA will be retrofitting its A350 Long Haul (including ULR) fleet with new Business, Premium Economy and Economy seats. The A350 ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft will also be equipped with First Class cabins, which they never had before.

It's about time they did this, as their current A350 long haul business class seat is showing its age. Also very glad they are updating their PEY seats, as I have always felt that the current A350 PEY seat was quite mediocre.

Straits Times Article: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...n-1-1b-upgrade

SQ Press Release: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/u.../ne1124-241104

SQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DB8l4azIBCO/