Singapore Airlines pushes back new first, business class seats on A350s to second half of 2027

SIA said industry-wide supply constraints and a delay in certifying the new seats had pushed back the upgrades, according to the Singapore daily. — AsiaOne pic

First Published: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 1:44 PM MYT

SINGAPORE, Nov 6 — Singapore Airlines (SIA) will start installing its next-generation first- and business-class seats on its Airbus A350-900 fleet from the second half of 2027, slightly later than its earlier target of the first quarter of 2027, The Straits Times reported.

SIA said industry-wide supply constraints and a delay in certifying the new seats had pushed back the upgrades, according to the Singapore daily.

The first A350-900 long-haul aircraft with the new seats was originally expected to carry passengers in the second quarter of 2026, with the ultra-long-range version of the A350-900 to follow in 2027.

The new economy and premium economy seats will be fitted only on SIA’s new Boeing 777-9 aircraft, the report said.

The Straits Times reported that the seat upgrades for the entire A350 fleet are part of a S$2 billion revamp across all cabin classes and are scheduled to be completed by 2030.

Covering 72 aircraft in total, it is the airline’s biggest investment in cabin products to date.

The wider refresh also includes updated dining menus and enhanced in-flight entertainment systems.

SIA last overhauled the business-class seats on its Airbus A380s in 2017, when it also redesigned its Suites, the A380’s equivalent of a first-class cabin. — AFP