Singapore Airlines is hoping to redefine long-haul air travel with the launch of its new all-Business Class service to New York (Newark).SQ 22 departed Singapore today at 1100hrs and is expected to arrive in New York at 1750hrs. The return flight, SQ 21, will depart New York at 2300hrs the same day, and arrive in Singapore at 0550hrs on 17 May (all times local).
The newly reconfigured Airbus A340-500 is fitted with 100 of the Airline’s new award-winning Business Class seats. With this new configuration, Singapore Airlines is the first to operate an all-Business Class service on the transpacific.
Each leather-upholstered Business Class seat measures 30 inches (76 cm) in width; almost 50 percent wider than most products in this class. Providing customers with more personal space and privacy, the seats are arranged in a 4-abreast, 1-2-1, layout, with every seat having direct access to the aisle. When it is time to sleep, the new Business Class seat converts into a fully-flat bed.
Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice-President Marketing and the Regions, Huang Cheng Eng, says the all-Business Class service is in response to demand from corporate travellers.

“Our direct flights to the US have always been well-received. With this newly reconfigured aircraft, we will be increasing our Business Class capacity, and offering our customers travelling to the US, the opportunity to experience our award-winning new Business Class seat.”
The conversion of all five of the Airline’s A340-500s to an all-Business Class seating is being carried out in phases. For now, the all-Business Class A340-500 operates three times weekly (see Annex 1), with daily services to New York by end June. By late September 2008, Singapore Airlines will also fly the all-Business Class service to Los Angeles daily.
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