Singapore Airlines Affirms Plans to Invest in Premium Economy

Singapore Airlines announced that it will soon introduce Premium Economy Cabins on few of its popular routes. The airline will invest $US325 million and will upgrade its entire Boeing 777-300ER fleet to offer this latest generation of cabin products. These new seats will first appear from the second half of 2015.

The all new premium class seats will offer the most advanced in-flight entertainment system in the world. SIA will not just introduce this new class but will offer new seats across all its travel classes. After retrofitting Boeing 777-300ERs, the airline plans to redo all its Airbus A380s and its upcoming A350s. Dabbled with premium economy under the label of Executive Economy, SIA offered this class only on a small fleet of Airbus A340-500s operating ultra long-haul flights to New York and Los Angeles. As per a SIA spokeswoman Executive Economy offered a seat pitch of 37 inches, which was less by an inch as per the industry standards. However this is history, as the airline will offer more legroom in its all new Premium Economy Cabins.

Adding new cabin class on its 777s implies that the airline will launch this product first on its routes to London and Manchester. This will bring SIA at par with its competitors like Qantas, Cathay Pacific and British Airways.

In September 2013 after taking the delivery of the first of eight additional B777-300ERs, SIA had announced the launch of its new cabin class. Mak Swee Wah, Executive Vice President Commercial said, we have received extremely positive feedback for our next generation cabin products. Our loyal customers have been asking us to replicate the same across all our fleet. Hence we have decided to make significant investments and improve our products and services. Our new premium economy product will not just offer additional space but will offer enhanced amenities and conveniences.