For most of us, a 12-hour flight results in a stiff neck, a new-found appreciation for earplugs and a pang of longing for the bed back home.
But if a hefty price tag is no obstacle, Singapore Airlines has just the £10,000 ticket: a first-class double even larger than a UK king-size mattress.
Claimed to be ‘the largest in the sky’, the 5ft-wide beds are part of a £1.2billion cabin redesign to keep hold of super-rich passengers as rival airlines step up the competition.
It is marginally bigger than the UK’s most popular king-size mattress, according to Which?, which measures 200cm by 150cm.
The redesigned cabins are due to enter service in late 2027 and will span all four travel classes, with Business class also receiving upgrades such as privacy doors and fully flat beds.
The interior overhaul is the largest and most comprehensive in the airline’s history, as travel carriers compete for the clientele of the super-rich – who are willing to pay more than £10,000 for a one-way ticket.
Singapore Airlines has unveiled a first-class double bed so large it is bigger than a standard UK king-size mattress – and it is all part of a £1.2billion cabin redesign across the carrier’s fleet
The five-star carrier has been named the ‘world’s best airline’ six times by Skytrax
While Singapore Airlines has been ranked the world’s best airline by researcher Skytrax six times – including this year – it has lost market share to rivals who have invested heavily in cabin renovations.
In 2022, Emirates launched a $5billion programme to refurbish 219 aircraft, upgrading its fleet’s seating, interior design and technology.
Meanwhile, Air France introduced la Premiere, a revamped first-class cabin the airline likens to a private jet experience, earlier this year.
A multi-million-pound makeover of British Airways’ premium cabins is also already underway – which includes the world’s largest business class cabin, the airline claims.
The race to offer an elevated, more expensive, travel experience has extended even to budget airlines, with Jet2 announcing the launch of its first business-class-only aircraft for chartered flights last week.
Measuring 80 inches long and 60 inches wide (203cm x 152cm), the double bed is claimed by the airline to be ‘the largest in commercial aviation’
The airline industry has been hit by rising fuel prices this year, triggered by the war in the Middle East.
Despite this pushing up aviation fares, Singapore Airlines has also benefitted from passengers choosing to travel between Asia and Europe rather than taking connecting flights through the Gulf.
The five-star airline’s upcoming renovation will also include 4K high-definition displays, Bluetooth audio passengers can connect their personal headphones to, and more than 2,500 entertainment options available during the flight.
