SIA To Pioneer All New Business Class To Newark, Los Angeles

[Singapore_Air]

According to Peter Pae, who seems a reliable source from reading his various articles over the years, Singapore Airlines Limited will announce all New Business Class flights from Singapore to Los Angeles and Newark.

The New Business Class embodies Singapore Airlines' wish to revive the Romance of Travel with the industry's largest Business Class seat and bed at between 30" and 34" wide.

Apparently EWR will be first in May 2008 followed by Los Angeles in September 2008.

There has been no announcement thus far today so one presumes the announcement is being made by Singapore Airlines USA.

With this refurbishment, passengers will enjoy Travel In A New Light for over 16 hours.

Peter Pae's Los Angeles Time article can be found here.

[simong]

What a shock this is, totally out of left field!

I just wish we would get some good insider knowledge in this forum

[SQflyergirl]

That's the first I've heard of this.

[Singapore_Air]

ALL-BUSINESS CLASS LONG HAUL TO FLY BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND USA

Singapore Airlines will convert its five Airbus A340-500 ultra-long-range aircraft into an all-Business Class configuration, for daily flights between Singapore and New York, and Singapore and Los Angeles.

The current 2-class, 181 seat, arrangement will be replaced with 100 of the Airline’s new award-winning Business Class seats, in a 4-abreast, 1-2-1, layout. Each seat is upholstered in leather, and is 30 inches (76 cm) wide.

This new configuration will position Singapore Airlines as the first to operate an all-Business Class service on the Transpacific route.

Every seat will have direct access to the aisle, and will convert to a fully-flat bed. The new Business Class seats are the same design as those fitted on the Airline’s A380 and B777-300ER fleet.

Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Marketing and Regions, Mr Huang Cheng Eng, said the change recognises the popularity from business travellers for the award-winning Business Class products introduced on other aircraft type.

“The new Business Class is being very well-received by our customers on long-range flights. The new product is the perfect fit for the ultra-long-haul services between Singapore and the USA.

“The peak demand for the non-stop flights is from our Business Class customers, and this change will expand Business Class capacity from 64 to 100 seats on each flight,” Mr Huang said.

The implementation will be phased in gradually from mid May, 2008, on the Singapore-New York route, with daily services in the new all-Business Class arrangement to New York by end June, and Los Angeles by late September, 2008. The program will require each of the five A340-500 aircraft to be retrofitted in turn.

Singapore Airlines flies 46 times weekly between Singapore and the USA, with multiple daily flights serving Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. The daily non-stop flights to Los Angeles and New York are complemented by other one-stop flights to each destination daily. And in March, Singapore Airlines will add Houston to its route network with a four-times-weekly flight from Singapore, via Moscow.


Source: Singapore Airlines Limited

[787]

What a shock this is, totally out of left field!

I just wish we would get some good insider knowledge in this forum

If you refer to this much earlier thread, extensive discussions have been made about this possible conversion.

http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2683

this forum does have good insider knowledge

[EWR]

Yeah... the American folks have for a long time known this is gonna become a reality soon... Surprised that it's not announced in - or to - Singapore.

[MegatopLover]

The rollout seems like it's going to take a long time. Rumors in this forum indicated that one aircraft is already in for re-fitting. If correct, the initial appearance of all-J in mid-May seems pretty far away. And the duration of the rollout seems long: mid-May to end-September is more than four months.

Now, let me be the first to ask, will my SQ 37/38 have the new seats?

[SQflyergirl]

If you refer to this much earlier thread, extensive discussions have been made about this possible conversion.

http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2683

this forum does have good insider knowledge

I think one might have missed the sarcasm in simong's post

[kkjay77]

My guess is that Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun will be new C from May to end of June for SQ21 while Tue and Wed will be SpaceBed by looking at the award inventory.

[simong]

I think one might have missed the sarcasm in simong's post

Surely not?

[787]

I think one might have missed the sarcasm in simong's post

heheheh, guess i have.

[golf1411]

What will happen to to the short flights to Jakarta CGK?
They were operated with the A345 to have the minimum amount take off/landing requirements for the pilots.
With total bussiness class, I think it's not possible anymore?

[SuperJonJon]

What will happen to to the short flights to Jakarta CGK?
They were operated with the A345 to have the minimum amount take off/landing requirements for the pilots.
With total bussiness class, I think it's not possible anymore?

This would be interesting to see as the pilots will still need to meet that requirements.
Will there be a business class surcharge for a flight to CGK?

[9V-JKL]

IMHO, I think there's sufficient supply of individuals/families/companies paying for C from CGK to keep the plane on that route.

[MegatopLover]

My guess is that Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun will be new C from May to end of June for SQ21 while Tue and Wed will be SpaceBed by looking at the award inventory.

Lots of rumors and analysis on TOF of when the reconfigured aircraft will operate. I know it's early, and the info may yet be loading into the system, but any solid info would be appreciated. I'm particularly interested in the LAX nonstops in late August/early September.

Thanks in advance.