Singapore Airlines to spend about S$2bn on cabin upgrade with double beds

Singapore Airlines is carrying out a cabin upgrade costing about S$2bn. The Guardian gives the figure as S$2bn (£1.2bn). Reuters reports more than S$2bn ($1.6bn).

The upgrade includes double-bed accommodation in the airline's premium cabins. It comes as rival airlines invest heavily in high-end cabins.

According to Reuters, the upgrade covers long-haul seats and is intended to help the airline compete with rivals.

The Guardian reports that the double bed will be in first-class premium cabins. It spans two adjoining seats for two people travelling together and measures 203cm (80in) long by 152cm (60in) wide. According to the same report, it will include a mattress topper from German luxury bedding company Paradies, a duvet and a choice of pillows.

The airline said some business-class seats would also be able to convert into a double bed, The Guardian reported. The newspaper also listed curved sliding doors for more privacy and ultra-high-definition 4K touchscreens.

The airline said economy passengers would gain more leg space and a new storage layout for personal items, according to The Guardian. It also said all passengers would get in-flight entertainment upgrades and an expanded meal selection. Onboard internet connectivity would be provided via Starlink. The airline said the new cabins would be introduced from the second half of 2027.

The Guardian reports that Singapore Airlines has lost market share to rivals that have invested heavily in cabin upgrades. It also says Skytrax ranked the carrier the world's best overall airline this year.

According to The Guardian, Emirates launched a fleet-wide $5bn retrofit programme in 2022. Air France introduced a redesigned first-class cabin, la Première, this year. British Airways is working on a new first-class cabin for its A380 planes. The newspaper says a one-way luxury ticket can cost upwards of £10,000.

The Guardian also reports that fuel prices rose this year, which it attributes to the war in the Middle East, pushing up air fares. It says Singapore Airlines has benefited from more passengers routing flights between Asia and Europe rather than taking connecting flights through the Gulf.

What each side says

Singapore Airlines says it will offer the "largest double bed in the sky", which it describes as "the largest double bed in commercial aviation", according to The Guardian. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include independent verification of this claim or the dimensions of competing products.

Air France says la Première is akin to a private jet experience, according to The Guardian.

What is not known

The reports do not include the number of aircraft, aircraft types, routes, fares or a completion date. They do not describe how the spending would be divided between cabins. They also do not include figures for the market-share loss or the shift in passengers away from Gulf routes.

Only a summary of the Reuters report was reviewed. The Guardian attributes key details to the airline and the Reuters summary names no basis, so both reports may draw on the same company announcement.

Analysis

The upgrade shows how competition among full-service carriers is playing out in the cabin. If the new cabins attract premium travellers, Singapore Airlines could recover some of the market share The Guardian says it has lost. That outcome is uncertain. Rivals are also spending, and the new cabins are not due until the second half of 2027. Fuel costs, fares and any further change in travel patterns between Asia and Europe could also affect demand. Without fares, aircraft numbers or a completion date, the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not allow an assessment of the likely return on the investment.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.