Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner: Singapore Airlines unveils new cabin interiors

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Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner: Singapore Airlines unveils new cabin interiors

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Singapore Airlines, known for its luxurious high-end service, has unveiled its newest cabin interior.

The refreshed cabin - including a new "regional" business class seat - were shown to the public for the first time on the company's brand-new Boeing 787-10 aircraft that arrived to Singapore after a 24-hour journey from Charleston, South Carolina, US.

Singapore's new interior for the 337-seat plane includes 36 lie-flat seats in business-class and 301 in economy.

The "dash 10" is Boeing's largest variant yet of its new-age "Dreamliner." The 787-10 is stretched 16 feet longer than the 787-9 , giving capacity for about 30 additional passengers in a typical layout. The plane that arrived to Singapore on Wednesday is the first of 49 that Singapore Airlines has ordered from Boeing.

The plane was delivered to Singapore Airlines in South Carolina on Sunday before leaving for the carrier's headquarters. It is the first 787-10 to be delivered.

In taking the new plane, Singapore designed a new cabin interior that will be installed on all of its 787-10s. The dash 10s will fly "regional" routes for the carrier, but that doesn't mean the short hops that North American travellers might think of. For a long haul-focused airline like Singapore Airlines, "regional" means flights of up to eight hours on twin-aisle widebody planes.

Singapore is frequently cited as one of the world's most luxurious airlines and its cabin overhaul for the 787-10 was meant to maintain that high-end feel that the company is known for.

The first routes that Singapore has earmarked for its 787-10s are from its hub in Singapore to Osaka, Japan, and Perth, Australia. The aircraft could take over service on those routes by May. Initially, however, the plane will be deployed on shorter flights to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok so crews can become familiar with the new aircraft type.

See also: Why overseas flights from Australia are cheaper than ever

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Business cabins

The business-class seats on Singapore Airlines' 787-10s convert into 76-inch long full-flat beds. The width of the seats comes in at 26 inches, though they're about six inches narrower until the moveable arm rests are lowered to free up more space.

Seats are staggered in a 1-2-1 configuration that ensures each customer has direct access to the aisle. Each is forward-facing and includes 18-inch full high-definition touchscreen monitors, in-seat power options and compartments for stowing items like wallets, cellphones and chargers.

About half of the seats in the centre row - the "2" in the 1-2-1 layout - have an adjustable divider that can be raised for privacy or lowered for passengers travelling together.

Singapore Airlines says the business-class seats have been padded with "Alcantara," which the carrier describes as "the same material used to fit the interiors of luxury sports cars and yachts."

Economy

The economy cabin also has been refreshed on Singapore's new "regional" Dreamliners.

There's no premium economy section in the carrier's 787-10 configuration. The seats are arranged in a typical 3-3-3 layout, each with power options for customers' devices.

Seatback entertainment screens for Singapore's economy customers measure 11.6 inches and are full high-definition with touchscreen control. The updated 787-10 economy cabin has been done in a blue and gray colour scheme.

See also: World's best airline for 2018 named by Airline Ratings

Singapore Airlines fleet: A380s, 787s

Singapore's new "regional" business-class product will be welcome for its customers on its shorter routes, where it will be an upgrade from some of the carrier's more-dated options that feature a 2-2-2 layout and seats that don't recline into a full-flat position.

But the new regional product does not come close to the opulence of the new seats and "suites" unveiled in an overhaul of the cabins on its fleet of A380 double-deckers.

Singapore Airlines unveiled those seats in November. For first class on those planes, suites include a plush swivel chair, upholstered in fine leather; a 32-inch high-definition TV screen; a separate bed area and a personal wardrobe and room to entertain.

Two of the suites can be combined, allowing passengers travelling together to lower a divider that essentially creates a two-person suite with a double bed.

While the "Suites" cabin was the show-stopper in Singapore Airlines' overhaul of its A380 cabins, the carrier also unveiled new business- and economy-class seats.

Another recent upgrade for Singapore Airlines came in 2015, when it rolled out new international-style premium economy seats.

Those seats boast about six inches of extra legroom and are up to 1.5 inches wider than standard coach seats. Premium economy customers are provided with noise-canceling headphones for the flight, which they can use to enjoy the programming on a 13.3-inch high-definition screen.They also receive amenity kits, bonus miles and other perks typically reserved for first- and business-class passengers.

USA Today

See also: Airline review: Singapore Airlines A380-800 business class

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