Singapore Airlines Embarks On A350 Retrofit Using 777X Cabin Products

HONG KONG—Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced a S$1.1 billion ($835 million) cabin retrofit program for its 41 Airbus A350-900 assigned for long-haul and ultra-long-haul services.

The flag carrier's seven A350-900ULRs will get the new first-class cabin product that had been reserved for when SIA unveiled the Boeing 777-9. Uncertainty remains over the delivery date for SIA's initial 777-9, which has been pushed back again, now to 2026.

SIA uses the ultra-long-range A350ULR on the world's longest route—connecting Singapore with New York—as well as on Singapore-Los Angeles service.

Business class, premium economy and economy seating across the long-haul A350-900 and A350-900ULR fleet will be refreshed with cabin products that were also set to debut on the 777-9.

“Plans for the A350-900 retrofit program began several years ago and were finalized this year,” an SIA spokesperson tells Aviation Week. “This is independent of the Boeing 777-9 delivery schedule.”

Post-retrofit, the A350-900 will feature 42 business, 24 premium economy and 192 economy seats. This represents an increase of five economy seats compared to the older aircraft.

The A350ULR will be reconfigured with four first-class seats, 70 in business and 58 premium economy seats. This is an increase of three business-class seats and a decrease of 36 in premium economy to make space for the first-class cabin.

The first A350-900 with the refreshed cabin will enter service from the second quarter of 2026, while the first A350-900ULR with the first-class cabin will be operational from the 2027 first quarter. SIA expects all aircraft to be retrofitted by the end 2030.

The retrofit accounts for 64% of SIA’s A350 fleet, which totals 64 aircraft. There are 24 A350-900s configured in the high-density two-class configuration, without premium economy. 

The program will be carried out by SIA Engineering Company in Singapore. 

The 777-9 and other aircraft delivery delays have pushed airlines in Asia and beyond to introduce new products on retrofitted aircraft—most recently Cathay Pacific, which unveiled its Aria business-class seats on its older 777-300ERs.