Singapore Airlines is introducing premium economy on its 10 weekly Dubai-Singapore flights from January 12 next year.
The Asian carrier is offering a 2-4-2 configuration on B777-300ER aircraft with eight-inch recline and 18.5-19.5-inch width seats. Alongside a 13.3-inch touchscreen with video-on-demand is in-seat power supply, USB ports and noise-cancelling headsets.
Premium economy passengers have priority check-in counters, a 35kg baggage allowance and can earn KrisFlyer miiles at 110 per cent of actual miles flown. The flight's daily schedule (SQ494/495) is supplemented by three additional flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (SQ490/491). SQ491 will also fly every Sunday between December 6 and March 20.
The aircraft features the airline’s next-generation first class (four 82-inch pitch seats in 1-2-1 configuration, plus a 24-inch IFE screen) and business class (48 seats with 78-inch pitch, 1-2-1 configuration and 18-inch screen). Economy is nine across with 32-inch pitch.
Premium economy passengers can choose from three courses plus bread in the “book the cook” service and enjoy champagne, plus red and white wines.
Erwin Widjaja, general manager, Gulf, for SIA, said the airline is primarily targeting economy passengers trading up, believing there is a “niche” of travellers wanting more privacy and better seats. “It’s a lot more comfortable than economy,” he said.
With no Gulf carriers offering premium economy, it should also enjoy a novelty factor on the route, although Qantas also offers the cabin on its A380s between Dubai and Australia.
The new B777-300ERs are flying on Singapore-Sydney/Hong Kong and will be deployed on Frankfurt, New York, London, Paris, Zurich, Delhi, Mumbai, Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing and San Francisco.
singaporeair.com
Dominic Ellis
