It’s a milestone that’s been years in the making, and a few years behind schedule, but Singapore Airlines has finally achieved what few airlines in the world can claim: every single flight, on every aircraft type, now features fully flat-bed seats in Business Class.

As of today, 25th October 2025, SIA has officially retired its last Boeing 737-800 from service – with the final departure from Changi having already gone wheels-up earlier this evening, removing those pesky ex-SilkAir jets that were the last holdout against a fleet-wide flat-bed revolution.

This isn’t just a minor fleet shuffle; it’s the realisation of SIA’s original vision from 2018 to deliver lie-flat luxury in Business Class across its entire network by the time of the SilkAir merger.

Delays from the Boeing 737 MAX groundings forced SIA to inherit the regional carrier’s 737-800s, equipped with outdated recliner seats in Business Class, while plans for the MAX (with flat-beds) – along with low-cost carrier Scoot absorbing the 737-800s – fell apart.

But now, with the 737-800s gone, SIA joins an elite global club. More on that – plus some ripple benefits for Economy passengers – below.

Buckle up (or rather, lie back): here’s everything you need to know about SIA’s all-flat-bed era.

The road to fleet-wide flat-beds: A brief history

Singapore Airlines debuted its first fully flat-bed Business Class seat in December 2006 on the Boeing 777-300ER, later extending it to the Airbus A380. Flat beds weren’t set to be fleet-wide back then, however. Shorter routes were later fitted with angle-flat seats – the 2009 RJ product – first on the Airbus A330s and then on regional 777s, reclining to 172° – almost flat but not quite – in a 2-2-2 layout.

The shift toward an all-flat-bed fleet began with the 2018 Regional Business Class and continued with the Boeing 737-8 MAX, signalling SIA’s intent for consistency across all flights.

But SilkAir’s Boeing 737-800s proved a stumbling block. Originally destined for Scoot, these jets instead pivoted to SIA when the MAX was grounded in 2019, forcing the airline to deploy them on regional routes, complete with recliner-style seats in Business Class that fell short of the airline’s intended standard.

Fast-forward to October 2025: the 737-800s have exited the fleet, finally completing SIA’s transition to 100% flat-bed Business Class – from one-hour hops to Kuala Lumpur to 19-hour ultra-long-hauls to New York.

SIA joins the world’s flat-bed elite

SIA is now one of only a few airlines globally offering flat-beds in Business Class regardless of aircraft type or route length. Here’s a (short) list:

• Starlux Airlines: The Taiwanese carrier offers flat-beds on both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft.
• Virgin Atlantic: Focused on long-haul wide-bodies, with 100% flat-bed products in Business.
• JetBlue: Known for its ‘Mint’ Class, featuring lie-flat seats even on transcontinental US routes (though not all its flights include Business Class – where they do they are flat).
• La Compagnie: An all-Business Class boutique airline with flat-beds on transatlantic flights.
• Air Tahiti Nui: Another all-wide-body operator, with flat-bed Business Class on its four Boeing 787s.
• BeOnd: A premium all-Business Class carrier with flat-beds on narrow-body jets between the Maldives and Europe.

Even within the Asia-Pacific region, this development sets SIA apart.

Most major carriers, including regional rival Cathay Pacific, still rely on recliner seats for shorter routes – even on some wide-body aircraft.

SIA’s commitment to flat beds elevates the passenger experience, especially on regional hops when connecting from a long-haul journey, where achieving some rest on your onward flight can make all the difference.

Bonus perks: IFE and Wi-Fi for everyone

Ditching the 737-800s isn’t just a Business Class win. Those jets lacked seat-back IFE screens and Wi-Fi connectivity – now, every SIA flight offers:

• 10 to 32-inch HD seat-back IFE, depending on the aircraft type and cabin class, with over 1,000 on-demand entertainment choices.
• Free Wi-Fi tip-to-tail, with an all-you-can-eat allowance for everyone (free KrisFlyer membership is required in Economy and Premium Economy).

Economy passengers get a big upgrade here: no more staring at tray tables on short regional hops, or even five-hour Kathmandu flights!

Which Business Class seat types are now operating?

SIA’s flat-bed Business Class lineup now spans four distinct products, based on aircraft type and in some cases route length.

Singapore Airlines Business Class seat types
Regional
MAX RJ Boeing 737-8 MAX (7M8)	2018 RJ Airbus A350 Medium Haul (359 MH) Boeing 787-10 (787)
Long-Haul
2013 J Airbus A350 Long Haul (359 LH) Airbus A350 ULR (359 ULR) Boeing 777-300ER (77W)	2017 J Airbus A380 (388)

Let’s take a closer look at these seats one by one, so you know what to expect on your next flight in Business Class with SIA.

MAX RJ: The Boeing 737-8 MAX Regional Business Class

Introduced in 2021 with the arrival of SIA’s Boeing 737-8 MAX fleet, this product aims to bring long-haul comfort to regional routes on the narrow-body fleet.

Styled by factorydesign, the Thompson Aero Vantage single-aisle product is a customised version for the airline, designed for single-aisle efficiency.

Optimised for 1 to 5 hour regional flights, it has 10 seats in an alternating 2-2 / 1-1 / 2-2 layout, and of course it now goes without saying – these seats go fully flat!

One downside of this slightly awkward configuration is that there is no direct aisle access for two-thirds of window passengers (those in 11A/K or 14A/K must disturb their neighbours to reach the aisle).

The two solo seats (12B and 12J) are the clear exceptions, offering excellent space and privacy – but with only two available per flight, and the pair now reserved for advance selection only by PPS Club members, good luck securing them at 96 hours before departure as a lowly KrisFlyer Elite Gold (or below)!

	MAX RJ
Basics
Introduced	23rd November 2021
Aircraft	Boeing 737-8 MAX
Longest Route	Busan
Shortest Route	Kuala Lumpur
The Seat
Model	Thompson Vantage
Config	Alternating 2-2 1-1 2-2
Width	19″ – 22″
Bed Length	76″
Recline	180o
IFE
Screen Size	16″ HD
Power Sockets	1 UNI + 2 USB-A
Wi-Fi	Panasonic Ku-band

There are a number of routes on the network that feature this seat exclusively in Business Class with Singapore Airlines, since they are only operated by the Boeing 737-8 MAX, including Busan, Cebu, Da Nang, Phuket and Siem Reap.

However, you’ll also find the seat on selected flights between the likes of Singapore and Bali, Kathmandu and Kuala Lumpur. Click the list below to expand for full details.

The seat converts to a bed with a simple button press: the backrest reclines fully flat while the footrest extends, creating a flat sleeping surface that extends to 76 inches long.

There’s also a reasonable fixed privacy divider between the couple middle seats.

While not as spacious or private as wide-body options, it’s a game-changer for regional travel – think fully flat rest on a quick hop to Bali!

While it’s not feasible to recline to bed mode on shorter hope like Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Medan, these seats still provide improved privacy and technology compared to the retired ex-SilkAir recliners, for a much-enhanced overall experience.

You can read our overview article from the launch event of this new cabin here.

2018 Regional Business Class

Debuting in 2018 on the Boeing 787-10 and later on Airbus A350 Medium Haul aircraft, this Stelia Aerospace product emphasises space efficiency without sacrificing too much comfort.

It’s laid out in an alternating 1-2-1 configuration and has become a staple across much of SIA’s Asian network over recent years, plus secondary Australian routes.

Some complain about its narrower seats, but this product is actually used as a long-haul Business Class by Turkish Airlines on its Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, on flights of up to 13 hours, so by global standards SIA is ahead of the game by using it predominantly on regional routes.

	2018 RJ
Basics
Introduced	3rd April 2018
Aircraft	Airbus A350 MH Boeing 787-10
Longest Route	Brisbane
Shortest Route	Kuala Lumpur
The Seat
Model	Stelia Symphony
Config	1-2-1
Width	20″ (armrests raised) 26″ (armrests lowered)
Bed Length	76″
Recline	180o
IFE
Screen Size	18″ HD
Power Sockets	1 UNI + 2 USB-A
Wi-Fi	787: Panasonic Ku-band A350 MH: GX Ka-band

You’ll find many routes that only offer the 2018 RJ seats in Business Class with SIA, including Adelaide, Bangkok, Brisbane, Osaka, Perth, Seoul and Taipei.

This winter you’ll also see it on selected flights to Delhi, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Shanghai and Tokyo, among others. Click the list below to expand for full details.

We flew on this product’s inaugural passenger flights back in 2018, to and from Bangkok, and you can read our review of the window seats here and the middle couple pair here.

2017 Business Class

Launched in 2017 as part of the Airbus A380 cabin refresh, this Jamco seat is exclusive to SIA’s superjumbos, and forms the carrier’s largest Business Class cabin spanning 78 seats on the upper deck.

It’s designed as a premium long-haul product, with the 1-2-1 layout providing options for solo travellers or couples, especially in some coveted middle seat pairs where a double bed – of sorts – is possible.

Transformation to bed mode was a big change in this seat compared to the older 2013 long-haul Business Class, now simply involving reclining the backrest to fully flat position, rather than flipping the seat back over to reveal the mattress.

	2017 J
Basics
Introduced	18th December 2017
Aircraft	Airbus A380
Longest Route	London
Shortest Route	Shanghai
The Seat
Model	Jamco Business
Config	1-2-1
Width	25″
Bed Length	78″
Recline	180o
IFE
Screen Size	18″ HD
Power Sockets	1 UNI + 2 USB-A
Wi-Fi	GX Ka-band

Since the Airbus A380 is not exclusively operated on any Singapore Airlines route, with other aircraft types in the mix, there are no routes that guarantee you’ll get this product in Business Class.

However, if you pick your flight correctly you’ll get it on Auckland, Delhi, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Mumbai, Shanghai and Sydney flights this winter, subject to specific date ranges in some cases. Click the list below to expand for full details.

Check out our full review of the 2017 Business Class on a Singapore – Sydney flight.

2013 Business Class

The oldest in the lineup, but still highly regarded by many SIA regulars, this product debuted in 2013 on the Boeing 777-300ER and later the Airbus A350 Long Haul and ULR variants, and now represents half of all Business Class seats installed fleet-wide.

It’s laid out in a staggered 1-2-1 setup that’s aged gracefully, despite lacking some of the modern ‘bells and whistles’ other carriers now offer in Business Class.

To go flat, the seat back flips over into bed mode, revealing a padded surface – a little tricky and far from intuitive for a first timer (luckily, the cabin crew will happily assist!).

Its significant width keeps it popular, though the requirement to sleep at an angle with your feet in the side cubby hole at most seats is a matter that sparks some debate.

	2013 J
Basics
Introduced	27th September 2013
Aircraft	Airbus A350 LH Airbus A350 ULR Boeing 777-300ER
Longest Route	New York
Shortest Route	Kuala Lumpur
The Seat
Model	Jamco Business
Config	1-2-1
Width	28″
Bed Length	78″
Recline	180o
IFE
Screen Size	18″ HD
Power Sockets	1 UNI + 2 USB-A
Wi-Fi	Panasonic Ku-band Some 777s: GX Ka-band

These seats are exclusive in Business Class on a swathe of SIA’s European and US routes like Amsterdam, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Manchester, Paris, Rome and Zurich.

You’ll also find them as options on other routes if you pick the right flight, even including short hops to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. Click the list below to expand for full details.

Check out our full review of the 2013 Business Class on a Singapore – Cape Town flight.

Which Business Class seat types are operating on each route by flight number?

For the most detailed planning, we provide a comprehensive guide with a route-by-route, flight-by-flight breakdown of SIA’s Business Class seat types on the network – currently updated through to late March 2026.

It includes updates for seasonal changes, such as Auckland’s upgrade to the Airbus A380 from mid-January and Chengdu’s shift to all-narrow-body products from late December.

You can access it here, and remember to keep it bookmarked because it does get regularly updated as tweaks are made during the season.

What’s next for SIA Business Class?

This new flat-bed era is just the appetiser.

Enter “2026 J” – SIA’s next-gen Business Class suites debuting in the first half of 2026 on retrofitted Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft, followed by Airbus A350 ULR retrofits from 2027 and new Boeing 777-9 aircraft, eventually.

This new design promises to elevate the experience further on longer flights, with sliding privacy doors creating a suite-like enclave – a first for Singapore Airlines Business Class.

Other details remain under wraps until a launch event planned for the first half of 2026, but we’re expecting other key upgrades including:

• Modern touches like USB-C charging ports, wireless charging pads and bluetooth headphone connectivity.
• Alternating window-aligned and aisle-aligned seats at each row, in common with the airline’s 2018 Regional Business Class layout, allowing the opportunity for ‘honeymoon’ options at alternate rows in the middle section – potentially meaning double beds for couples.
• Larger IFE screens, along with the general industry trend, and faster Wi-Fi, potentially upgrading to low-earth orbit (LEO) technology like Starlink.

Singapore Airlines has also confirmed that an elevated dining experience and amenities will be rolled out across all classes, alongside an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience, with an all-new KrisWorld system.

This upgrade will eventually see the 2013 J seats retired from the Airbus A350s, leaving them exclusive to the Boeing 777-300ERs until those older jets are eventually phased out of the fleet in the years ahead.

Whether you’re jetting regionally on a Boeing 737 MAX or crossing continents on an Airbus A380, you can rest assured: a proper flat-bed seat now awaits in Business Class on Singapore Airlines.

While the various seat types differ slightly, no SIA flight should feel like a significant “downgrade” anymore if you’re flying in this cabin – with not even a recliner seat in sight.

SIA’s all-flat-bed fleet era isn’t just a win for Business Class travellers either – it’s a boon for every passenger, thanks to fleet-wide Wi-Fi connectivity and seat-back IFE, even on narrow-body flights in Economy Class.

Despite the milestone, SIA isn’t resting on its laurels. The carrier is set to unveil its next-generation “2026 J” product in the first half of 2026, starting with refits to Airbus A350 Long Haul jets, which will bring closed-door suite-style privacy to this cabin in the not too distant future.

(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)