Singapore Airlines pulled the cover off its long-rumoured Airbus A350-1000 business class at a private hangar event in Toulouse on April 11, and the product is more aggressive than the carrier’s usual incrementalism would suggest. The new cabin features 32 fully-enclosed suites laid out in a 1-2-1 herringbone, a 200 cm flat bed, and a 23-inch 4K OLED screen — the largest seatback display fitted to any commercial aircraft to date.
CEO Goh Choon Phong, speaking on stage alongside Airbus chief commercial officer Benoit de Saint-Exupery, confirmed an order for 25 A350-1000s with 25 options, valued at SGD 7.4 billion at list prices. “This is the most material product step we have taken since the A380 refurbishment in 2017,” Goh said.
What’s actually new
The seat itself is built by Stelia Aerospace, the same supplier behind Qatar Airways’ Qsuite, but Singapore has specified a wider suite shell — 26 inches at shoulder height versus Qsuite’s 21.5 — at the cost of one row in cabin density. The hard product is closer to ANA’s The Room than to anything currently flying with a Star Alliance carrier.
Each suite includes:
- A sliding privacy door that closes flush to the ceiling, eliminating the gap that Qsuite reviewers consistently flag.
- A 200 cm fully flat bed, which is 5 cm longer than the carrier’s existing A380 business class.
- Twin USB-C ports rated at 100 watts, plus a wireless charging pad embedded in the side console.
- A “do not disturb” mood-light system tied directly to crew tablets, allowing passengers to opt out of the meal service via a single tap.
The 4K screen is paired with Bluetooth 5.3 audio pairing, ending the dongle requirement that has frustrated premium passengers on every other carrier. Seven Sony WH-1000XM6 units will be available on board for passengers who don’t bring their own.
Where it will fly
Singapore plans to deploy the A350-1000 first on the Singapore-London route in November 2026, then onto Singapore-New York (the world’s longest commercial flight at 9,537 miles) in February 2027. Sydney, San Francisco, and Frankfurt follow in the second quarter. Goh confirmed that the existing A350-900ULR fleet running Singapore-Newark will retain its premium economy and business class layout for now, with no plans to retrofit.
The carrier will also fit a refreshed first class on the new aircraft — six suites in a 1-1 layout, replacing the current four-suite A380 product — but full details and pricing remain embargoed until October.
How it stacks up
On dimensions alone, Singapore’s new business class beats every direct competitor. The closest analogues:
| Carrier | Seat width | Bed length | Door |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore A350-1000 (2026) | 26 in | 200 cm | Yes |
| Qatar Qsuite | 21.5 in | 199 cm | Partial |
| Emirates 777 (2026) | 22.5 in | 198 cm | Yes |
| ANA The Room | 25 in | 198 cm | Yes |
| Cathay Aria | 23 in | 197 cm | Yes |
Daniel Kerrison, an aviation analyst at IBA Group, told Business Class Journal that Singapore’s specification “effectively pushes the marker on what ‘best business class’ means — Qatar will need to respond inside 18 months or cede the category.” Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer has not yet commented publicly.
Pricing and availability
Bookings open on KrisFlyer for inaugural Singapore-London services on August 7, 2026. Cash fares for the route are expected to land in the SGD 6,800-9,400 range one-way; KrisFlyer Saver awards will price at 110,000 miles plus taxes for the same sector, an 8% increase over the current A380 product. The carrier’s Spontaneous Escape program will not initially apply to the new cabin.
The first delivery is scheduled for September 18, 2026 from the Toulouse final assembly line.