Singapore Airlines Will Install New Business Class on Airbus A350s, Add First Class

Singapore Airlines will install a new business class on most of its Airbus A350s and add first class to those that serve the longest nonstop flights in the world.

It is investing $830 million to install new cabins on 41 Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range aircraft. The airline said the new cabins will “deliver an unparalleled in-flight experience.”

This is an exciting development since Singapore Airlines consistently offers some of the best premium-class products in the world, but it won’t happen soon: the first airplanes with the new cabins will enter service in 2026.

Let’s look at what this means for passengers.

What Is Changing Aboard Singapore Airlines A350s

The news is relevant for U.S. flyers since Singapore Airlines A350s serve all of the airline’s U.S. destinations.

In particular, Singapore Airlines is putting first class on the A350-900ULR aircraft that serve the nonstop routes from Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), and Los Angeles (LAX). The ULR or Ultra Long Range version of the A350 is specially designed for those flights, which can surpass 18 hours, and only has business and premium economy class in the Singapore Airlines configuration.

The airline currently does not offer a first class cabin on those flights, but some of its competitors between the U.S. and Asia (such as Japan Airlines and ANA) do have a top-notch first class. Singapore Airlines seems to have decided to directly counter their offerings, introducing new cabins “designed with increasingly discerning travellers in mind,” it said in a statement about the upcoming refit.

According to fleet-tracking site Planespotters, Singapore Airlines currently has 64 A350-900s in its fleet. These aircraft feature 3 different cabin configurations, for regional, long-haul, and ultra-long-haul flights, respectively.

The regional layout has 40 business and 263 economy seats, and will not be modified. Aircraft with this cabin mostly serve destinations within Asia.

The long-haul layout has 42 business, 24 premium economy, and 187 economy seats. After the retrofit, the 34 A350-900 long-haul aircraft will have the same number of seats in business and premium economy, but 5 more seats in economy. A350s with this cabin serve destinations around the world, including in the U.S.

The special A350-900ULR used for the nonstops to New York, Newark, and Los Angeles has 67 business and 94 premium economy seats, with no coach class. After the retrofit, it will feature 4 first class seats, 70 business class seats, and 58 premium economy seats. Overall the seat count will decrease from 161 to 132, with a greater share of more expensive first and business seats.

For comparison, consider that most operators of the A350-900 configure it with around 300 seats for long-haul flights.

What Will Singapore Airlines’ New Cabins Look Like?

Singapore Airlines said that the new seat designs for first and business class will be the same as those on its future Boeing 777-9.

The airline distributed 2 preview images, both showing suites with doors. The new business class is decorated with an airplane motif.

First class follows the same concept, on a larger scale.

Premium economy and economy class will also be refreshed, although the airline didn’t say how.

First and business class seats will also feature new inflight entertainment screens, showing a new version of the KrisWorld inflight entertainment system. Singapore Airlines said this new iteration “will offer greater personalization and an extensive range of lifestyle options across all cabin classes.”

The airline said full details on the retrofit “will be revealed closer to the entry into service” of the first modified aircraft.

Where the Singapore Airlines A350s Fly in the U.S.

A350-900s fly to every destination Singapore Airlines serves in the U.S.

In addition to the flights to New York, Newark, and Los Angeles using the ULR version without coach class, Singapore Airlines flies the Airbus twin-aisle jet to Seattle (SEA) and San Francisco (SFO), as well as Houston (IAH) via Manchester, U.K. (MAN) — but the latter flight is ending in 2025. All of those flights are operated in the standard long-haul configuration, as is 1 of the 2 daily flights to Los Angeles.

All of those destinations will get the new cabins.

Note that Singapore Airlines also flies a daily New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Singapore (SIN) flight using a Boeing 777-300 that does have a first class cabin.

When Will the New Singapore Airlines Cabins Arrive?

If you are thinking of redeeming points to fly Singapore Airlines’ famously luxurious business and first class seats, don’t hold off waiting for the new cabins.

The first retrofitted A350-900 long-haul aircraft is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2026, while the first A350-900ULR variant will follow in the first quarter of 2027. The modifications will be done at the airline’s own facilities in Singapore and will be completed by the end of 2030.

This timeline means that we may see the new seats on the A350-900 before the debut of the airplane originally meant to introduce them, the Boeing 777-9. That’s because the latest version of the 777 has been repeatedly delayed by technical issues, and won’t enter commercial service before 2026, according to Boeing.

With other airlines ahead of it in the delivery queue, it appears likely that Singapore won’t have the 777-9 in service before 2027.

Final Thoughts

The race for increasing luxury aboard long-haul jets shows no signs of relenting.

Singapore Airlines is rolling out a new business and first class product, one that’s especially interesting because it will be used aboard the airplanes serving its flagship services to the U.S.

While we do not have many details yet, Singapore Airlines has a history of introducing top-notch premium classes with each iteration of its onboard product. We can expect the new first and business class aboard its Airbus A350s to follow that tradition.