Awell-appointed hotel suite in the sky
Singapore Airlines rolls out new luxury cabin products for its entire A380 fleet, underscoring ‘space made personal’ and bespoke elements
SINGAPORE— Singapore Airlines (SIA) just redefined a life of luxury at 39,000 feet.
After all, it’s not just about sipping Dom Pérignon or about the reclinable chair that unfolds into a full-flat bed. Flying is now about “space made personal,” bespoke elements and exceptional service.
Investing $850 million in research, design, development, and installation, SIA introduces its new stunning cabin products for Suites, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy for its entire A380 fleet, with all 19 aircraft targeted for completion in 2020.
The new configuration can carry 471 passengers in four classes—six Suites, 78 Business Class seats, 44 Premium Economy and 343 Economy Class.
“We are understanding our customers’ evolving expectations… It’s about how innovation can achieve greater comfort and convenience for our customers,” said Goh Choon Phong, SIA chief executive officer.
A sense of exclusivity and privacy, for example, now comes with new Suites, tucked away in the front cabin of the upper deck. Like a well-appointed hotel in the sky, each Suite is furnished with a separate fullflat bed with adjustable recline, eliminating the need to convert a seat into a bed.
It features plush mattress bedding, two pillows and a fluffy cotton duvet with embroidery crafted by the French luxury brand Lalique.
There is a separate plush leather seat, furnished by renowned Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau in fine leather, which is fully adjustable to accommodate a variety of sitting and lounging positions. A first in the industry, this chair swivels, too, between 135 to 270 degrees, and reclines up to 45 degrees.
A double bed can be formed for couples traveling together, those seated in the first two Suites of each aisle. And, when not in use, the beds can be stowed completely, creating more space in the Suite.
32-inch full HD monitor
Each Suite is also equipped with a 32-inch full HD monitor that swivels for different viewing angles, a full-sized personal wardrobe, customized handbag stowage compartment, amenity box lined with soft leather, and mood lighting (KrisFlyer members can save their lighting preferences for future flights).
One of its two furnished lavatories even has a sit-down vanity corner.
“We offer a room. We have to think differently of space— your own chair, your own table, and you have your own bed,” said Suites designer Jacques Pierrejean from the Paris-based French firm Pierrejean Design Studios. Pierrejean is known for designing luxury yachts and interiors for private and commercial aircraft.
Privacy
The Business Class seat—measuring 25 inches wide and also upholstered by Poltrona Frau—reclines into a comfortable 78-inch full-flat bed. The cocoon-like large back shell ensures privacy. With its center divider completely lowered, it can also form a double bed.
The seat has a carbon fiber composite shell structure, a material used in F1 race cars, said Phong, allowing for a thinner base structure and better optimization of the seat. There’s more underseat stowage space to accommodate full-sized cabin bag and laptop bag.
All Business Class seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration, forward-facing, so that all passengers have direct access to the aisle. It has an 18-inch HD touch screen monitor, a business panel equipped with USB ports and in-seat power, reading lights, mood lighting and enlarged dining table.
Over at Premium Economy, seats measure at 19.5 inches wide with an eight-inch incline. Noise-canceling headphones are provided for the 13.3-inch full HD monitor. It has fullleather finishing, calf-rest and foot-bar, individual in-seat power supply, two USB ports, personal in-seat reading light, a mirror built in the cocktail table and more stowage space.
Economy Class is more comfortable than the usual, offering more legroom and back support with a six-way adjustable headrest with foldable wings. It has an 11-inch touch screen monitor (no need for handsets), a reading light, personal storage space for small items, a coat hook, inseat power supply and ergonomically designed footrest.
High-speed internet, similar to the experienced while on the ground, is also offered via the world’s first GX-enabled A380 aircraft.
KrisFlyer members traveling across all classes can also preselect their choice of a playlist from the SIA mobile app prior to flight, and transfer their selections to the onboard system while aboard. They will have access to additional entertain- ment content.
“We are confident that the results will genuinely wow our customers, and together with our legendary cabin crew, we will continue to provide our customers an unparalleled travel experience,” Phong said.
The first of the A380s with the new products will operate daily from Dec. 18 on its Singapore to Sydney flight. Additional destinations will be announced soon.
SIA A380 currently serves Auckland, Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Mumbai, New Delhi, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Sydney and Zurich.