Singapore Airlines will invest $US350 million to fit next-generation regional cabin products on its new Boeing 787-10 aircraft in a move it says will redefine medium-haul travel.
Singapore is the launch customer for the B787-10 and its first aircraft arrived in Singapore Wednesday sporting its flagship regional business class seat.
It has ordered 49 of the biggest B787s and the $350 million investment will cover the first 20. The investment is in addition to $US850 million the airline is spending on refurbishing its Airbus A380 fleet.
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The two-class aircraft, which offers 36 business class seats and 301 in economy, will be used on medium-haul routes of eight hours or less..
The new business class seats, manufactured by Stelia Aerospace, are arranged in a forward-facing 1-2-1 configuration that offers all passengers direct aisle access.
The 26-inch wide seats (with the retractable arm rests lowered) recline into a 76-inch fully flat beds and come with an 18-inch high definition touch screen powered by Panasonic’s eX3 system.
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Adjustable dividers allow passengers to customize their privacy and there is space for laptops and other belongings.
The 301 RECARO economy seats feature an ergonomically designed backrest and a six-way adjustable headrest.
There’s an 11.6-inch HD touch screen as well as storage for small personal items, a coat hook, USB port and in-seat power.
The new planes come with the latest version of the airline’s Krisworld in-flight entertainment system and will feature in-flight WiFi.
“The introduction of the new cabin products on our Boeing 787-10 fleet reinforces our unwavering commitment to product leadership, one of the key pillars of our brand promise,” SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong said.
“The new products were the result of a series of consultations with customers, and from working closely with our seat designers and manufacturers.
“We are confident that the new regional cabin products, with full-flat beds in Business Class and the many new features in Economy Class, will offer our customers a more comfortable in-flight experience even on the shortest flights.”
Osaka and Perth will be the first scheduled destinations to be served by the new planes from May.
Prior to the launch of these regular services, the aircraft will be operated on selected flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur for crew training purposes.
