Singapore Airlines (SIA) has appointed two design firms to update its cabins.
The carrier has signed up DesignworksUSA, a subsidiary of BMW, and James Park Associates (JPA) to revamp its seats and aircraft interiors. The new designs will initially be rolled out on SIA’s Boeing 777-300ERs in the second half of next year followed by its new Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s when they enter service. SIA operates more than 100 wide-body aircraft, with firm orders for a further 60.
“Singapore Airlines is always looking towards the future and we have many major investments lined up for the years ahead to help us retain our leadership position. In this business if you are staying still you are moving backwards, as your competitors can catch up quickly. It is therefore important to always be planning for the future,” said Tan Pee Teck, SIA’s Senior Vice President Product & Services.
“DesignworksUSA and JPA are working with us to develop our newest generation of cabin products and the collaboration has been extremely positive to date. Working with our own teams in our dedicated Product Innovation Department, and taking into account customer feedback, we are all genuinely excited about the in-flight products that will be introduced from next year, which will improve upon our existing award-winning cabin offerings,” he added.
DesignworksUSA, which has offices in Los Angeles, Singapore, Shanghai and Munich, is working on the first class cabin for the B777-300ERs, with the revamped interiors expected to enter service from the second half of 2013. While specific details are yet to be announced, SIA did say the work would include a “revamped seat… [with] more privacy and personal stowage space and improved seating comfort”.
JPA, which has worked with SIA on earlier seat programmes, will develop the new business class, which SIA said will “offer improved comfort in both seating and sleeping positions and more stowage space”. SIA’s economy class meanwhile, will feature a new seat, headrest comfort and more personal space.
