Singapore Airlines aims to attract high-spending passengers to longest flights

Singapore Airlines is planning to add a four-seat first class to the Airbus aircraft it uses for its longest routes, a bet to attract high-spending travelers to flights that can top 17 hours.

The carrier will add the new seats to seven Airbus A350-900 URLs, or ultra-long-range aircraft that it uses for lengthy trips, including its longest, between New York and Singapore.

It will also revamp its cabins on long-haul Airbus planes with new business-class seats that will likely include a suite with a sliding door, a popular design carriers are increasingly adopting to sell privacy as an onboard perk.

Singapore Airlines said the fresh first- and business-class seats will have new in-flight entertainment. Its retrofit plans also include new cabins for 34 long-range Airbus A350s, part of a SGD1.1 billion (about $835 million).

Those will still have 42 business-class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 192 in standard economy, up from the 187 economy seats it currently lists as the aircraft’s configuration. The carrier plans to begin operating these aircraft from mid-2026.

The ultra-long-range airplanes now have only business class and premium economy cabins. After the new cabin design with first class is installed, total business-class seats will go up to 70 from 67 and the airline will offer 58 premium economy seats, from the 94 it currently offers, according to the carrier’s website.