SIA to Launch Premium Economy Class in August

Singapore Airlines has opened sales of seats in its new Premium Economy Class cabins.

The airline will introduce its Premium Economy Class on August 9, when passengers traveling on select flights from Singapore to Sydney will be able to sit in Singapore Airlines’ new cabin class.

Singapore Airlines has a total of 19 Airbus A380 superjumbos in service, plus orders for five more

Singapore Airlines will subsequently be made available to other destinations served by the carrier’s fleets of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER widebodies, in addition to SIA’s future fleet of Airbus A350-900s.

Conceptualization for the new Premium Economy Class seats started in November 2013, SIA working with seat manufacturers ZIM Flugsitz GmbH (for the A380 and Boeing 777-300ER) and Zodiac Seats U.S. (for the A350-900), as well as design firm JPA Design.

SIA estimates that its total investment for the new cabin class, which it will initially introduce on 19 A380s, 19 777-300ERs and its first 20 A350-900s, at US$80 million.

The airline will introduce Premium Economy Class progressively on other routes from Singapore, including those to Beijing, Delhi, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, London, Mumbai, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo and Zurich in the latter part of 2015 and early 2016.

Singapore Airlines has a total of 27 Boeing 777-300ERs in service and on order

Customers may visit www.singaporeair.com for the most updated flight schedules and fare details for the new cabin class.

“We have been heartened by the highly positive public reaction to our new Premium Economy Class since our plans were announced last year,” says Goh Choon Phong, Singapore Airlines’ CEO.

Adds Goh: “Many of our customers’ suggestions have been incorporated into the new product, and we are confident it will be well received by travelers who are looking for more features – in the seat design, in-flight offerings and exclusive privileges – all underpinned by the exceptional service that SIA is well known for, both on the ground and in the air.”

Each SIA Premium Economy seat will be from 18.5 wide 19.5 inches and will offer an eight-inch recline. Each seat will have a 13.3-inch-diagonal full HD monitor, which SIA claims will be the largest in its class.

Singapore Airlines decided to install its new Premium Economy Class cabins initially in its Airbus A380s, Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A350-900s

Active noise-canceling headphones will be offered to each Premium Economy passenger to enhance the in-flight audio experience.

Every Premium Economy seat will have full leather finishing and a calf-rest and foot-bar. Each seat will also offer an individual in-seat power supply, two USB ports, a personal in-seat reading light, a cocktail table, and additional stowage space for personal items such as a water bottle, mobile phone and laptop.

To emphasize the difference between the new class and Economy Class, seat amenities such as the headrest cover, cushion and blanket will come in specially selected, matching colors.

Customers in Premium Economy Class will be able to choose from a more extensive range of food and beverage offerings than in Economy.

Each seat in Singapore Airlines’ Premium Economy Class is from 18.5 to 19.5 inches wide and offers eight inches of recline

Besides being able to select from a standard menu with three meal choices, customers may, from April, also select from the Premium Economy ‘Book the Cook’ service featuring popular dishes.

Champagne will be offered, in addition to a selection of selected wines, throughout the flight.

Premium Economy Class passengers will also be offered priority check-in and baggage handling, and will have a checked-baggage allowance of approximately 35kg.

Members of SIA’s KrisFlyer frequent-flyer program will receive 10 per cent more mileage points when they fly in Premium Economy Class than when traveling in Economy.