Singapore Airlines' first Boeing 787-10 to fly early 2018

When will SQ disclose how they are configuring Y class on their 78Js? Will they follow other airlines and cram in 9 abreast or go with the much more comfortable 8 abreast that Boeing originally planned for 787s but only Japan Airlines adopted?

This article doesn't disclose much given that the great bulk of passengers (including many corporate travellers) have to put up with cattle class.

I don't like being squeezed in nine-across when as reeves35 pointed out above, the design should be eight-across in economy class.

Never understood the point of SQ ordering this product when they have so many A359s on order and could simply fly the A35-10 instead. The 8-abreast cattle class is too wide and the 9-abreast will be too narrow on the 787; they'll need to re-customise it (for more cost) to compensate for the cabin width. It'd be the same issue on their business class. The added cost of operating two aircraft types with similar ranges and capacities, and having to modify their cabin products for the different cabin widths, doesn't make sense from an economic or customer standpoint.

Having flown Etihad's 787 in Y from BNE it was comfortable enough. If these planes are destined for legs up to 8 hours it would be tough for SQ to overlook 9 abreast. It is interesting when looking on seat guru there is only 0.3 of an inch width that separates EY 787 (17.2), QF 747 (17.5) and JAL 787 with 8 abreast (17.5). Is there a disrepancy to how they measure pitch, or do the other configurations just have more space between the seats?

I can see QF going to the 78-10 to replace the A333 (from ~2022) for its great economics for the Asia regions where most flight are under 10 hours (Beijing being the exception).

aussiflyer, you are confusing 'pitch' and 'width.'

Having flown a 9 abreast 787 on a flight of about 10 hours, I don't understand the handwringing about SQ using them on flights of 8 hours or less.

I guess its too much to ask for SIA to fly the 787 out of ADL

Luckily for those in economy the SQ inflight service is consistently amazing across all classes and not just up front like most of their compeditosv

All B787 operators except for ANA has gone for the 9 abreast option including Qantas. ANA went for 8 abreast. The same applied for the B777's when they where first introduced with the 9 abreast but now B777 operators are opting for 10 abreast. Its to do with making $$$. It is nothing to do with the aircraft. Boeing had hoped that B787 operators would have chosen 8 abreast seating option.

plad, what are the yields like into and out of ADL? It must have a lot of VFR traffic (visiting friends and relatives), and one might think a declining number of businessmen (in part due to the long overdue shutdown of the heavily government subsidised car industry) and not many conferences or exhibitions, or major sporting events either.

twkgill, the BITRE statistics measure patronage, not 'yield', the latter being the amount paid per available seat kilometre (a measure which includes occupied and vacant seats.)

Great, David. An airline's need to promote itself given competition is understandable, and some bookings (perhaps more so for leisure than business travel) are made months ahead so they're trying to influence potential passengers, and yes transport-related websites are also competing and need stories, but overall I prefer substance to spin.