SIA launches new cabin products worth US$850m in investment

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) has launched new cabin products for its Airbus A380 fleet - including a first refresh of its Suites - worth about US$850 million in investment - amid intensifying competition from its rivals.

On Thursday, SIA unveiled its new A380, which is now configured with 471 seats in four classes, comprising six Singapore Airlines Suites and 78 Business Class seats on the upper deck, as well as 44 Premium Economy class seats and 343 Economy class seats on the lower deck.

Each Suite will come with a 21-inch-wide swivel chair that can recline up to 135 degrees, a separate 76-inch full-flat bed with an adjustable recline and leather chair, a 32-inch full HD (high-definition) monitor and a full-sized personal wardrobe.

This is SIA's first refresh of its Suites, which was launched 10 years ago when SIA took delivery of the first A380 jumbo jet as the launch customer.

SIA has five new A380s on order, the first of which will arrive in December and will enter into commercial service on Dec 18 on the Singapore-Sydney route. SIA's existing A380s will eventually be retrofitted with the new products.

This comes as the airline's rivals have been introducing swanky new premium products, such as Qatar Airways' Business Class QSuites and Etihad Airways' The Residence. Emirates is due to launch a new First Class suite for its Boeing 777 aircraft this month.