19-Hours: Singapore Airlines Is Finally Adding First Class To The World’s Longest Flight

Credit: Simple Flying Published Nov 9, 2026, 12:00 PM EST Holding a degree in Aerospace Technology, Tom is a certified pilot and a passionate specialist in European aviation. As Content Manager of Simple Flying, he leads the content team overseeing all aspects of Simple Flying's daily output. Tom works closely with airlines around the world to provide topical content and has provided commentary for other outlets, including the BBC. Based in Frankfurt, Germany. Sign in to your Simple Flying account As part of its new cabin launch, Singapore Airlines last week confirmed that first class would be coming to the world's longest flight. Singapore Airlines operates three routes to New York. The two nonstop routes currently clock in as the world's longest flights. 19 hours may sound like an awfully long time to be on-board an aircraft. Singapore Airlines will be giving just over half of its passengers on these flights full privacy with the launch of the Airbus A350 retrofit cabins. The airline's first retrofitted A350 is expected to enter service in the second half of 2027. Supply chain delays mean that this was pushed back from the original date in H1 2027. The full A350 retrofit should be completed by the end of the decade. First Class Coming To The A350-900ULR Credit: Tom Boon | Simple Flying During a press event held at the Singapore Airlines Training Center on Thursday and attended by Simple Flying, the airline's leadership confirmed that first class will be coming to the ULR versions of the A350-900 operated by Singapore Airlines. Four first-class suites will be placed at the front of the aircraft. The four first-class suites will, naturally, be organised in a 1-2-1 configuration and will feature floor-to-ceiling curved walls and doors. The two central suites can be combined by removing a full-height wall in the center, allowing a couple to travel in comfort. Meanwhile, up to four people are able to dine together in this central suite thanks to the movable ottoman. Commenting on the launch of the new cabins, Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong remarked, "This launch is not an endpoint, but another step in our continuous pursuit to earn and retain the trust and loyalty of our customers, and reinforce our leadership in the airline industry." Business Class Is Also Getting Doors Credit: Singapore Airlines Whatever your opinion on the color scheme of the new business class seats coming to Singapore Airlines, one thing is for sure. They represent a huge increase in comfort for passengers traveling on the world's longest flight. Firstly, these passengers will finally have access to a door, giving them even more privacy when flying nonstop between New York and Singapore. The seats will slide into a lie-flat bed, meaning no more folding down of the backrest. Passengers will also be able to sleep forward-facing for the first time. For those traveling together, select rows of middle seats will even convert into double beds, removing the traditional vertical separation between couples. Interestingly, it may take a while to make it onto the airline's fifth freedom route between New York and Frankfurt. Historically, that route has only been operated 11 times by the A350, and the current A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs won't be fitted with the new cabin, meaning the only chance will be if the incoming Boeing 777-9s are placed on the route. Adding First Class Will Cut 29 Seats From The A350-900ULR Credit: Kevin Hackert / Shutterstock.com When Singapore Airlines retrofits the A350-900ULR, the cabin will shrink by 18% from 161 seats (67 business class, 94 premium economy) to just 132 seats. This will start with the four first-class seats at the front of the aircraft. Business class will grow by three seats to 70 seats. Meanwhile, premium economy will shrink significantly from 91 seats to 58 seats. Of course, that change is only for the ULR version of the Airbus A350. The ULR version has no economy cabin to account for passenger comfort on the long flight and to reduce weight, allowing more range. The airline's long-haul A350-900s will receive the new products and keep the economy cabin. The airline's Boeing 777-9s will all be equipped with the new cabins. Last week, the airline confirmed that the 777-9 will be delivered with 300 seats, consisting of six in first class (1-2-1), 54 in business class (1-2-1), 36 in premium economy (2-4-2), and 204 in economy (3-4-3).