No premium economy on Singapore Airlines' regional Airbus A350s
By David Flynn, December 13 2017
Singapore Airlines won't install premium economy seats onto the regional version of its Airbus A350 jets, leaving travellers with a simple choice between business class and economy.
Unlike its standard long-range A350 fleet which sports a three-class configuration, the regional A350 variants will be intended for medium-range flights of around eight hours – a scope which includes Australia and the Asia-Pacific circle.
Swee Wah Mak, Executive Vice President of Commercial at Singapore Airlines, confirmed the two-class layout to Australian Business Traveller, adding that "regional aircraft (are) generally two-class."
The first regional A350s are expected to join the Star Alliance carrier's fleet in 2018, alongside new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners which will also be geared towards regional routes spearing out from Singapore.
Both jets will carry an all-new regional business class seat with a curved pod-like design, direct aisle access and a lie-flat bed.
The Opal business class seat
Franck Socha / Stelia
Franck Socha / Stelia
Read more: Here is Singapore Airlines' new 2018 regional business class seat
"The Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-900 mid-haul aircraft will replace the longer serving aircraft currently in our fleet, including the A330 and 777-200 aircraft," a spokesman for Singapore Airlines told Australian Business Traveller. Deployment plans for these aircraft are still being finalised and destinations will be announced in due course."
Australia is highly likely to see the regional aircraft on some routes, although the airlines' flagship Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER will remain in the mix for major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
Australian Business Traveller travelled to Toulouse as a guest of Singapore Airlines, and will be on board the delivery flight of the airlines’ new Airbus A380 from Toulouse to Singapore on Wednesday December 13, 2017.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
07 Jan 2016
Total posts 35
"...the regional A350 variants will be intended for medium-range flights of around eight hours – a scope which includes Australia". From this statement can we assume that Singapore Airlines will be withdrawing it's Premium Economy product for it's A350 services currently serving BNE and MEL ?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2549
Too soon to make any such assumptions... when it happens it happens, until then why worry?
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 196
SQ have said, that P/E will available on flights SIN/AKL and SIN/CHC of the A350 because NZ is offering P/E on the AKL/SIN/AKL route operated by the B789's.
SQ have confirmed, that there will a cabin product upgrade next year on the SIN/CBR/WLG route due to current older style of cabin product not meeting customer expectations. Will P/E be included, is not sure. I would suspect the P/E would be included.
30 Aug 2017
Total posts 35
Are SQ going to introduce A350 into SIN/AKL route? Currently SQ fly 77W and A380 (seasonal). Both have their F product.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 196
At this stage, SQ B773's will have the new all classes cabin product. A350 are planned for SIN/AKL/SIN services but SQ hasn't given a date. I suspect it will probably late 2018 or 2019 as CX is already flying A350's on their HKK/AKL/HKK services.
30 Aug 2017
Total posts 35
Does it mean SIN/AKL route is going to lose F product with A350 introduction? That's a big call.
NZ
13 Aug 2016
Total posts 68
AKL has just changed to make it 3x daily with an mix of NZ/SQ services.
30 Aug 2017
Total posts 35
SQ 388 and 77W aircraft have F. I used to travel AKL-SIN route many times a year when I was based in Auckland. I remember F was at least half full most of the time specially on 77W. I am surprised to hear they are going introduce A350 with no F product.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 329
@nige00160 - I doubt that SQ will fully remove Y+ / PE from BNE & MEL.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 595
well MEL still has 77Ws with PE regardless of what they decide with the A350
08 Mar 2012
Total posts 27
Would love to see it on flights to/from Perth!
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 178
I can see the reason for dropping premium economy on the shorter A350 flights from Singapore around Asia but most Australian cities are a long enough flight away to deserve premium economy, and especially given most of them have overnight SQ flights.
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 91
And.... You'll likely be connecting to another flight into Asia or Europe, so dropping PE on the AU - SIN leg removes the ability to fly PE from beginning to end. That's got to help Qantas.
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 622
@Bob Burgess:
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 134
I'd be happy to see no premium Y on flights from SYD as it makes upgrading from Y to J easier. If there is premium on the plane, you can't upgrade to business.
20 May 2015
Total posts 583
Given how SQ's PE in the A350s is only 18.5" wide and thus a somewhat marginal upgrade relative to business class, I would've thought they'd keep the PE on regional A350s... strange.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 595
This is old news since I remember reading about this more than a year ago so no surprises here
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