SIA's S$1.1 billion A350 retrofit: New First and Business Class, improved comfort across all cabins

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is commiting S$1.1 billion into a massive cabin retrofit programme for all its Airbus A350 aircraft, its main workhorse fleet. A project that many of its longtime customers will feel is a long time coming (the airline’s last retrofit in 2017 was limited to its A380 fleet), the retrofitting will stretch over several years, updating First and Business Class seats on 41 A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range (ULR) planes, promising a fresh touch of luxury and comfort for travellers.

A key highlight of this investment is the introduction of a brand-new First Class cabin on seven of the A350-900ULR aircraft, which fly some of the world's longest routes such as Los Angeles and New York directly from Singapore. These new First Class seats are designed with comfort and spaciousness in mind, giving passengers an upgraded in-flight experience. Business Class travellers across all 41 A350 aircraft will also see a change, with newly redesigned seats that offer more privacy, better comfort, and improved convenience.

The retrofit doesn’t just stop at First and Business Class – Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins are also getting a refresh. The new cabin products will also be seen on SIA's upcoming Boeing 777-9 aircraft.

“Over the past six years, we’ve worked closely with our customers and stakeholders to design our next-generation cabin products, considering their evolving preferences in every detail," Goh Choon Phong, SIA's chief executive officer, said.

The updated cabins will also include an improved KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system, which aims to provide more personalised content and a wider variety of options for everyone. First and Business Class seats will come with larger entertainment screens too, of course.

The retrofit project is set to kick off with the first A350-900 long-haul aircraft entering service around the second quarter of 2026. The A350-900ULR variant will follow in early 2027. SIA expects the entire project to wrap up by the end of 2030, with all the modifications being carried out by SIA Engineering Company in Singapore.

Once the retrofit is complete, the 34 A350-900 long-haul aircraft will feature 42 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, and 192 Economy seats. The seven A350-900ULR variants, meanwhile, will come with four First Class suites, 70 Business Class seats, and 58 Premium Economy seats.

This major investment reinforces SIA’s commitment to staying at the forefront of premium air travel, blending cutting-edge cabin upgrades with the airline's well-regarded service. As Mr Goh put it, “The S$1.1 billion investment in retrofitting our 41 A350 aircraft reaffirms Singapore Airlines' dedication to delivering an exceptional travel experience.” Full details of the updated cabin features will be shared closer to the introduction of the first Boeing 777-9 and the revamped A350-900 aircraft.

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