SIA will reveal details of its Airbus A380's seating at an event in Singapore on October 17. The announcement will cover the super jumbo's business and economy class seating (first class will be disclosed at a later date). But it will also cover the carrier's economy, business and first class seating for SIA's new fleet of six long-range B777-300s.
The product unveiling is significant because it will indicate the sort of seating passengers can expect to find in the years ahead. For example, SIA currently provides lie-flat style seating in business class. And one wonders if the carrier will now install the sort of fully flat bed seating just announced by regional rival Cathay Pacific (see Online news, September 28).
SIA won't disclose further information regarding its first and business class products. But it is prepared to say that its new economy class seat, manufactured by US-firm Weber, will be ergonomically designed with smart features offering greater comfort to all travellers.
Says Yap Kim Wah, SIA's senior VP for products and services, "While we were developing the economy class cabin, our biggest challenge was to design a seat that offers our customers greater comfort within the confines of the cabin.With the clever use of cutting-edge technology our new seats will provide a more comfortable personal space for each traveller."
The A380s' service entry is delayed until well into 2007. But SIA's B777-300ERs will begin flying before the end of the year and it's expected they will appear on the Singapore-Paris CDG route in December.
However, it's unlikely the B777-300ERs will appear on its flagship London route. That's because SIA can fill every seat on this route but aeropolitics prevent it from adding extra flights. So the London service is expected to remain with the existing B747s (because these can carry more passengers) until the arrival of the A380 at a later date.
For more information go to singaporeair.co.uk.
Report by Alex McWhirter
