World’s Longest Flight Set for Premium Upgrade

Singapore Airlines is investing $835 million on new cabin products for its Airbus A350 fleet. The airline will roll out brand new First Class and Business Class products across its fleet. The renewal will start with A350-900 aircraft, with the first refurbished jet expected in the second quarter of 2026, continuing into 2030.

A total of 41 A350s will be refurbished with the new products, which will be the same designs as seats on the future Boeing 777-9s. All four cabins will see new features, together with a new version of the in-flight entertainment system.

Singapore Airlines’ first Airbus A350-900ULR upon delivery in Singapore (Photo: Singapore Airlines)

Longest Flight in the World Gets First Class

The airline’s famous A350-900ULRs (Ultra Long Range), which are used for the world’s longest flights between Singapore and New York, will have a First Class cabin for the first time. The airline previously configured the seven A350s with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy seats. Already the most premium A350 with the least seats in the world, the total seat count will go down even further to just 132 seats in total, including four in First, 70 in Business, and 58 in Premium Economy.

These Ultra Long Range jets operate Singapore Airlines’ longest routes to two New York City airports: JFK and Newark. The airline currently operates one daily flight to each airport exclusively deploying A350-900ULRs. Beyond the U.S. East Coast, these aircraft are also used on some flights to the West Coast, including to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900XWB departing from San Francisco. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Parker Davis)

Meeting Industry Standard

The business class will feature a closing door, which is slowly becoming the industry standard. Products such as Delta One, or the recently revealed Aria Suite by Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines’ regional rival, all include a closing door in Business Class.

The new Business Class seat will feature sliding doors for privacy. (Photo: Singapore Airlines)

More First Class Seats

As part of the renewal program, Singapore Airlines is introducing a new First Class product on its fleet of A350-900ULRs. The new seat is set to feature new in-flight entertainment screens, sliding doors, and will “set [an] industry benchmark.” The video teaser released by Singapore Airlines also shows electric blinds for the First Class cabin, similar to those on British Airways.

Singapore Airlines’ new First Class cabin (Photo: Singapore Airlines)

With the introduction of First Class seats on the A350-900ULRs, the airline is adding 28 First Class seats to its fleet, representing an 18% increase in the airline’s First Class capacity. The carrier currently has First Class cabins on its fleet of A380s and 777s.

First Class has fallen out of fashion for the world’s major carriers, with most airlines either reducing the number of seats or ditching the cabin altogether, as Business Class seats become increasingly premium and differentiation between cabins proves difficult.

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Anthony Bang An

Anthony is an aviation enthusiast who grew up around the world from St. Louis to Singapore, and now lives in Amsterdam. He loves long-haul flying and finds peace in the sound of engine cruising. He aspires to share his passion for the sky though writing and providing another angle on the stories.

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