Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
australian aviation logo

SIA premium economy makes debut

written by australianaviation.com.au | August 10, 2015

Singapore Airlines' new premium economy seat. (SIA)
Singapore Airlines’ new premium economy seat. (SIA)

Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) first premium economy service touched down in Sydney on Monday morning, marking the start of a 19-city rollout of the cabin between business and economy over the next six months.

The first flight to feature SIA’s new premium economy, SQ221 operated by 9V-SKJ, took off from Changi Airport a little past 2100 local time on Sunday night, lading in Sydney six and a half hours later at about 0540 Monday morning. The reciprocal SQ222, departed Mascot at 1130.

Just as it did with the Airbus A380 about seven years ago, SIA chose Sydney to debut a new product offering.

The NSW capital will be followed by Hong Kong and London later in August, with flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Manchester, Munich, Frankfurt and Paris slated to have premium economy in September.

The rollout will extend to New Delhi, Mumbai and Auckland in October, while Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York and Zurich services will be operated by aircraft featuring premium economy from December.

==
==

Finally, San Francisco and Seoul will have premium economy operated services from early January, SIA said.

SIA’s fleet of 19 777-300ER and 19 A380 aircraft were due to be reconfigured with premium economy by the end of 2016. The airline is also adding the cabin between economy and business on the first 20 A350s the airline has on order. The first A350 is due to be delivered in early 2016.

The total cost of the fit out was about US$80 million, SIA said in May.

SIA executive vice president for commercial Mak Swee Wah said in May there was a clear market segment segment that wanted an option between business and economy and SIA would offer a competitive product in that segment.

“Certainly we will hope that through optimal pricing we will be yield accretive,” Mak told media and analysts during SIA’s fiscal 2015 full year results briefing on May 15.

“It’ll be sold at the price that hopefully our customers will find hard to refuse. And we will make sure that, you know, we make it a success.”

SIA’s first Boeing 777-300ER premium economy flight was scheduled for August 12, with the SQ231 from Singapore to Sydney and the reciprocal SQ232 back to Changi the next day.

The airline’s premium economy will have 38-inch seat pitch and seat width of 18.5 or 19.5 inches (depending on aircraft type), with passengers able to access a “Book the Cook” menu, checkin via a dedicated line and offered champagne on board. Inflight entertainment is provided through a 13.3-inch HD monitor.

The seats were manufactured by ZIM Flugsitz GmbH (A380 and 777-300ER) and Zodiac Seats US (A350).

You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member today!

Comments (6)

  • Kim

    says:

    Excellent news,I’ll be flying SIA Premium Economy next year. No more Emirates Economy for me -just hope that Adelaide is included but looks doubtful if 777’s, 350’s and 380’s are the only ones to be fitted out.

  • Myles Dobinson

    says:

    it would be nice if they changed their service to Brisbane to include this as well as I believe Brisbane is the second largest airport in Australia for SIA’

  • Qing Gü

    says:

    @Myles Dobinson
    Nope Australias largest cities for SIA are as follows:

    1. Sydney
    2. Melbourne
    3. Perth
    4. Brisbane
    5. Adelaide

  • aussie0000

    says:

    I have used SIA ‘ 777 and 747 aircraft ex Adelaide for years , and B777 Malasian . Both excellent services.

  • Mark

    says:

    A great airline indeed. If only Qantas had partnered with SIA instead of Emirates.

  • I will be interested to know if SQ’s Premium Economy cabin has toilets dedicated to that cabin? My wife & I recently flew JNB/LHR & LHR/SYD Premium Economy in a B777-300ER & the required 03.00 visit to the only toilets available at the back on economy was not a pleasant experience!

Comments are closed.

You don't have credit card details available. You will be redirected to update payment method page. Click OK to continue.