Singapore Airlines to launch next-gen business class suites
Here’s everything we know about the Singaporean carrier’s first private business class suites with sliding doors.
By David Flynn, May 28 2025
Singapore Airlines is set to rip out thousands of old business class seats across its long-range fleet and replace them with new ‘business suites’ framed by high walls and fitted with a sliding door for full privacy.
The Star Alliance member has confirmed plans to launch its new business class in the first half of 2026, promising suites which will “push the boundaries of comfort, luxury, and modernity for an unparalleled onboard experience.”
To feature across the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-9 fleet, SQ’s new business class will replace the current seats which debuted in 2013, and help bring the Singapore flag-carrier in line with other world-leading airlines which have also rolled out doored business suites.
Here’s what we know so far about Singapore Airline’s 2026 business class, which will launch alongside an all-new first class suite concept detailed here.
Coming soon: Singapore Airlines' 2026 business class suite.
Singapore Airline’s new business class suites will first appear on the long-range Airbus A350LR fleet starting from mid-2026, followed by a rollout to the ultra-long range A350ULR jets in early 2027 – and, eventually, the much-delayed Boeing 777-9, which will replace SQ’s workhorse Boeing 777s.
However, they won’t be fitted to the medium-range A350s, which today fly a very different ‘regional business class’ seat, and we’re similarly unlikely to see the Airbus A380 superjumbos upgraded to business class suites.
As for the A350LR and A350ULRs, these jets today feature a business class seat based on a design from the early 2010s.
Singapore Airlines' current A350LR and A350ULR business class.
This seat is certainly not without its shortcomings, with the two biggest annoyances for travellers being:
- the seat must be manually flipped over to become a bed, rather than gradually reclining through several positions
- small spaces into which passengers have to carefully tuck their feet (while also sleeping at an angle)
And it looks like both of those drawbacks will be eliminated in Singapore Airlines’ new 2026 business class suites, based on this teaser image shared by the carrier.
A sneak peek inside Singapore Airlines' new business class suite.
It shows the passenger will be seated facing forward, with a footwell directly in front – no more sleeping diagonally.
In addition, it’s almost impossible to imagine SQ will retain the dated ‘flip the seat to sleep’ design.
Directly behind the business suite in this photo, you can see what appears to be the armrest of the next seat.
As the video screen of the first suite is offset to the right, and passengers face the video screen, this indicates this passenger is seated at the window while the passenger behind is seated at the aisle.
This accords with the conventions of a forward-facing staggered layout – so we also know Singapore Airlines isn’t going for the alternating forwards/backwards layout of Qatar Airways’ Qsuites, for example.
The new business class suite also retains the familiar SQ layout of a large monitor adjacent to some storage nooks, which has largely been a hallmark of Singapore Airlines business class since at least the first-gen A380.
Singapore Airlines' original A380 business class.
The new business suite’s screen will no doubt be a very big and very bright OLED panel with Bluetooth audio streaming, and we’d also expect wireless device charging and high-power USB-C sockets to join the tech-friendly mix.
Singapore Airlines has been entertaining a shift to business class suites for many years; as far back as 2014, British firm DCA Design International created these concepts for the airline.
DCA Design International's 2014 business class suite concept for Singapore Airlines.
The firm was clearly ahead of the curve, given that doored business class suites didn’t arrive until the 2017 in the form of Delta Air Lines’ Delta One and Qatar Airways’ Qsuite.
DCA Design International's 2014 business class suite concept for Singapore Airlines.
The new Singapore Airlines business class suites which we’ll see launch in the first half of 2026 have been in development since 2018, and took shape as the airline “extensively engaged (with) customers and stakeholders in the design of our next-generation long-haul cabin products.”
However, those business and first class suites were initially designed for the Boeing 777-9 jet, which was to be the launchpad for what CEO Goh Choon Phong previously described to Executive Traveller as a “quantum leap” from today's Boeing 777 premium cabins.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong.
In May 2024, Singapore Airlines boss Goh said he expected to pick up the keys to the first SQ 777-9 in late 2025 – already a significant delay to the original ETA of FY21/22 – but Boeing now says the first delivery of the 777X won’t take place before 2026.
And with a trio of launch airlines believed to be Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways at the front of the queue, this could now mean Singapore Airlines won’t see its first 777-9 unit 2027-2028.
Approached for comment by Executive Traveller, a Singapore Airlines spokesperson said the airline was “working closely with Boeing to finalise the delivery timeline for its 777-9 aircraft.”
Singapore Airlines now faces an even longer wait for The Boeing 777-9.
Speaking with Executive Traveller in November 2021, Singapore Airlines executive Betty Wong, who heads Inflight Services and Design, confirmed the carrier had at the time “signed off on the basic design” of the product.
Wong flew to Seattle in mid-2021 to meet with Boeing “and see some real products that we’ve designed (so it’s) finally coming together.”
Even then, Wong said delays to Singapore Airlines’ own 777-9 delivery timeline meant “we bought some time to review some designs, re-look at and double-check some things like technologies (and) to look at different materials before the final selection.”
"But basically, we’re on track,” she said, adding she remained excited about how the new suites “give us the possibility of lifting the next travel experience.”
Singapore Airlines' Boeing 777-300ER first (left) and business (right) are now more than a decade old.
“There is always that little bit of a change when you come up to a critical design phase and you look at something and it's not fitting or not right, so there’s always opportunity to make that little tweak.”
Wong also told Executive Traveller the 777-9 will boast new premium economy and economy class seats. “Everything is new,” she confirmed.
In fact, from tip to tail, Singapore Airlines has decided upon “the number of seats, the configuration of the seats, and how they look like in terms of footprint,” Wong said of the 777.
Also read: Here are Singapore Airlines’ best (and worst) business class seats
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 136
I'm one of the few who like the current seat, mainly because I sleep better in a cradle position than fully flat. The width and privacy of the seat are what do it for me. I do hope they get rid of the regional business class for flights from the Australian East cost. I don't mind it but it's a bit too narrow for a 7-8 hour flight.
02 May 2013
Total posts 9
Used SQ biz lots in the past 10 years and if these new seats means my legs can go directly forward instead of needing to contort myself diagonally to sleep, I'll be pleased (and so will my back!)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Mar 2013
Total posts 175
It's good to see. I was a PPS for many years and still, where possible, fly SQ through Asia.
But, I hate to say it, SQ are behind the 8 ball on seating. I won't fly the A380 in Bus because the product is just way behind the standard today. It would be nice to see SQ back as the cream of the crop.
20 Sep 2018
Total posts 3
Regular flights to Singapore and always book the SI A380 upper deck when available. The 45 degree flat bed was generally tolerable but not a good design. I switched to booking Singapore 777-300 dreamliner boasting its business class straight lie bed position as soon as it became an option and have never considered the 380 since. The difference has been noticeable.
21 Jul 2014
Total posts 21
This is a much needed fix on an old problem. The quicker the better as I fly monthly to and from Syd/Sing. if it wasn't for the PPS I would have dumped them for other more up to date airlines.
20 Sep 2018
Total posts 3
I stopped flying on the A380 because of the diagonal sleeping position. Have since made sure I always book an SQ Dreamliner which allows mee a straight sleeping position. The diagonal sleeping seats are a very poor design no matter how much Singapore Airlines try constructively to defend it. Everything else about SQ is wonderful.
24 Mar 2020
Total posts 4
Just flown to Singapore in one of the old business class seats and they are absolutely showing their age both in comfort and style,,..I am surprised Singapore is so slow in upgrading as all the Long haul carriers of note have better seating and technology
07 Mar 2022
Total posts 74
Because Platinum Plus and Beyond members of Virgin can't access the First Class lounge anymore, those members are telling me they will start flying other carriers, interesting because that was one of the key benefits to SQ over the other carriers. Australians have loved SQ for a very "lounge" time and reinstating the First Class lounge would be beneficial to revenue.
10 Dec 2024
Total posts 34
Spot On, I'm looking at Turkish Airline, ANA and a few other options after the The First Class Lounge was closed to Beyond and Platinum Plus members, surely SQ could allow SQ Business Travellers who are Platinum Plus or Beyond access to the quieter First Lounge.
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