Singapore Airlines is turning its A380 aircrafts into luxury hotels

Facing with competition from Arab Gulf countries and China, Singapore Airlines decided to get the upper hand in reconsidering the interior design of its A380 aircrafts

This city-state's airline company is going to invest 850 million dollars over 4 years in the renovation of its 19 Airbus A380.

There will be private staterooms with a real separate bed in first-class and sofas that convert into double beds in business class. In both premium and economy class, new seats will be installed as well as a video system providing more than 1000 varied programs and a broadband connexion. 

Singapore Airlines

In 2007, Singapore Airlines was the first company to put into operation the Airbus A380 - the world’s largest passenger jet - and the first airline in Asia to operate the Concorde in 1980.

Nowadays, the company is facing high competition from the Middle East such as Dubai’s Emirates Airline , Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways on high-end services and with Chinese companies which are competing on prices.

Long regarded as the most profitable airline company, Singapore Airlines’ profits declined by 50% last year. For the first time since its launch, the company generated  a serious loss in the first quarter of 2017.

Thus, Singapore Airlines is moving upmarket for its Premium clientele who represent about half of its sales revenue and plans to redesign its entire fleet of A380s.

"Singapore Airlines is clearly attempting to reestablish its leadership position at the front of the aircraft," said Greg Waldron, managing editor of aviation industry website FlightGlobal.

The  company aims to remain “at the top of innovation”. 

Singapore Airlines’ luxury suites unveiled at a media launch

On 2 November 2017, in the Suntec congress center in Singapore, Singapore Airlines unveiled the all-new cabins that will be installed on its fleet of Airbus A380.

The new A380s will have six first-class seats compared with 12 on the older ones, in order to provide a sense of “exclusivity and intimate privacy”.

The new design includes six luxury suites reserved for the passengers travelling in first-class and will be located in the front cabin of the upper deck.

In their private staterooms, the passengers will be able to change in personal wardrobes and to clean up in one of the two lavatories, one of which has its own sit-down vanity counter. In their suite, each passenger will be able to have a rest in comfortable leather recliners.

The newly renovated first-class was conceived by the French designer Pierrejean, specialized in aircraft interior design. Singapore Airlines is widely relying on French luxury brands such as Lalique for toilet items. As for gastronomy, the company has appealed to the French chef Georges Blanc. Champagnes dispensed on board will be Dom Pérignon and Krug. In first-class only.

The spacious suites on the Singapore Airlines A380 will rival those of Middle Eastern rivals Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways although unlike those airlines, the company has chosen not to install in-flight showers.

The new cabin products on the A380 fleet reinforce Singapore Airlines' premium position and enable the airline to continue offering among the best premium products in the aircraft industry. 

Singapore Airlines' suites are like flying in a luxury hotel

 

More than just the “suites”

The company is also unveiling new business and economy seats.

The planes with the new configuration will feature 78 business class seats, 44 seats in premium economy and 343 economy seats.

 
The new business class seats will look like cocooned seats inside privacy shells and the passengers travelling together will be able to relax in a double bed in the center column.

Premium and economy seats will remain almost the same as the current offering but are being refreshed.

Singapore Airlines said it is launching the first of five new A380s in December 18 for a flight linking Singapore and Sydney, Australia.

If you want to fly in the new Singapore Airlines’ luxury suites, you will have to spend the modest price of 4,000 euros for the Singapore-Sydney round-trip. 

Morgane B.