Singapore Airlines to Fit Double Beds in a S$2bn Cabin Refresh
Singapore Airlines is spending S$2bn on new cabins from the second half of 2027. A first-class double bed leads the package.
Singapore Airlines has put S$2bn (£1.2bn) behind a cabin overhaul, and the headline item is a first-class bed for two. The carrier calls it the largest double bed in commercial aviation.
Where the airline stands
Skytrax named Singapore Airlines the best overall airline this year. Even so, it has lost market share to competitors that put heavy money into upgrading their cabins.
Top-end travel is expensive: a one-way ticket can run past £10,000. Fuel prices have climbed this year because of the war in the Middle East, and fares have gone up with them. The airline has still picked up some business. More passengers now fly between Asia and Europe directly instead of changing planes in the Gulf.
What the rivals have done
Emirates started a $5bn retrofit of its whole fleet in 2022. A retrofit refits planes already in service, and this one gave its first-class suites more space and newer technology.
Air France brought in la Première this year, a redesigned first-class cabin. The airline compares it to flying on a private jet. British Airways is working on a new first-class cabin for its A380 aircraft.
The double bed and the rest of the package
The bed is meant for two people travelling together and stretches across a pair of neighbouring seats. At 203cm (80in) by 152cm (60in), it is larger than a standard UK double mattress, which is 190cm by 135cm. Paradies, a German luxury bedding company, supplies the topper. A duvet and a choice of pillows complete it.
The airline also said some business-class seats will be able to turn into a double bed. Curved sliding doors will add privacy, and screens will be ultra-high-definition 4K touchscreens.
Back in economy, passengers get extra leg space and a new way to store their belongings. All cabins will see a better entertainment service and more meal options. Starlink, the satellite company run by Elon Musk, will provide internet access onboard. The first new cabins are due in the second half of 2027.
Source: The Guardian