Singapore Airlines’ regional subsidiary Silkair has taken delivery of its first B737 Max 8 single-aisle aircraft, part of a wider plan by the airline to expand its network to new destinations.

Silkair has a total of 37 Max 8s on order and the first new destination the aircraft will fly to will be Hiroshima starting October 30. Hiroshima will be Silkair’s first destination in Japan (no other carriers currently connect the city with Singapore directly), which the carrier will serve three times a week.

“The new Max 8 enables us to offer customers access to new and exciting destinations and paves the way for a new phase of growth,” said Foo Chai Woo, the airline’s chief executive. “With the aircraft entering into service soon, we look forward to inviting customers onboard to enjoy the quality experience that the Max 8 offers.”

This will include both business and economy class seat options – a total of 12 will be available in business and 144 in economy. Seat pitch (the distance between seats) and recline will both be improved upon compared to existing offerings, with 49 inches of pitch and 12 inches of recline being offered. A USB and three-pin charging port will be available in each seat, and passengers will have access to Illycaffe gourmet coffee onboard.

Meanwhile economy class passengers will be able to make use of the seat-back tablet and phone holders for using their own electronic devices. USB Charging ports are available at each seat. Silkair’s own in-flight entertainment (IFE) offering, Silkair Studio, will also be available.

Silkair will be receiving two more Max 8s before the end of 2017. All 37 of the aircraft will eventually serve longer-haul destinations such as Cairns and Darwin in Australia, Kathmandu in Nepal and Hyderabad and Bangalore in India.

silkair.com