Singapore Airlines delays new first, business class to 2027

Singapore Airlines will reveal its new Airbus A350 first and business class suites at the end of this year, but they won’t be flying until 2027.

And that’s just for business class on the long-range A350 fleet.

The ultra-long range A350s used for non-stop routes to New York, which will see the debut of an all-new first class, remain in TBA territory.

Here’s the official update from Singapore Airlines, which confirmed reports first shared on Singapore blog The Mile Lion, on the SGD$1.1 billion A350 refit program.

“Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) first retrofitted Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft is expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.”

“The revised timeline reflects industry-wide supply chain constraints, as well as a delay in the certification of one of the new seats.”

“We will provide an update on the entry-into-service of SIA’s retrofitted A350-900 ultra-long-range (ULR) aircraft at the appropriate time.”

In May 2025, the airline said the first upgraded long-range A350 “was expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2026, while the first retrofitted A350-900ULR aircraft in the first quarter of 2027.”

In addition to those new business class suites, SQ is promising “an elevated dining experience” which may include a caviar service, and there remains the possibility of pyjamas.

Sleepwear is currently exclusive to SQ’s first class flyers, with a soft set of charcoal-coloured pyjamas from French luxury brand Lalique.

SQ’s first class pyjamas, supplied by French luxury brand Lalique.

However, many airlines – including Qantas, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Virgin Atlantic and United Airlines – extend the PJs perk to business class.

From tip to tail, the A350s will sport free Starlink Wi-Fi and a “next-generation KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system.”

And while SQ has in the past spoken of a refresh for premium economy, the airline referred to the late-2026 launch as including an “all-new long-haul premium economy cabin product” – so there’s a chance we could see a replacement for the recliners which debuted back in 2015.

Will Singapore Airlines also roll out a second-gen premium economy for the A350?

Singapore Airlines’ new A350 business class

Framed by high walls and fitted with a sliding door for full privacy, the new A350 business suites will “push the boundaries of comfort, luxury, and modernity for an unparalleled onboard experience.”

Coming soon: Singapore Airlines' 2027 business class suite.

They’ll 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.

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)

Both of those drawbacks will be eliminated in Singapore Airlines’ new A350 business class suites, which will also follow the convention of a forward-facing staggered layout rather than adopt the alternating forwards/backwards layout of Qatar Airways’ Qsuites, for example.

The new business suite’s screen will no doubt be a very big and very bright OLED panel with Bluetooth audio streaming, wireless device charging and high-power USB-C sockets.

Singapore Airlines’ new A350 first class

The A350ULR fleet will be crowned by four plush fully-private suites.

A leaked design patent shows something akin to the original A380 Suites, where a wide, comfortable armchair converts to a long fully-flat bed.

The paired middle suites can be opened up to form a double suite and a double bed – although there’s a partition to keep them as two separate suites for solo flyers.

Part of Singapore Airlines' patent application for its new 777-9 first class cabin.

The same suites are destined for the long-delayed Boeing 777-9, which will have four individual suites by the windows and two suites in the middle.

A series of teaser images shared by the Star Alliance member show the new A350 first class will be a spacious suite long enough to take in three windows.

A teaser of Singapore Airlines' new A350 first class suite.

There are electronic blinds to filter out the light, which will come in handy when watching movies or TV shows and a large video screen.

A teaser of Singapore Airlines' new A350 first class suite.

Another teaser image hints at high-end finishes such as shutter doors finished in copper colouring and using horizontal slats in a nod to Singaporean and Peranakan design.

Also read: The ultimate Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold status fast-track