Singapore Airlines’ A380 seats on display in national museum

15 years ago today, the Singapore Airlines (SIA) Airbus A380 first took to the skies, featuring their specially designed Business Class seats and Singapore Airlines Suites. The seats were part of an innovative cabin design that offered greater in-flight comfort and space by giving passengers the freedom to move about, which was what the A380 was renowned for.

The first-generation Business Class seats featured on the A380 were designed by JPA Design of the United Kingdom, and manufactured by Koito of Japan. The seat can be transformed into a comfortable full-flat bed with a fixed back shell that can be extended to the sides for greater privacy. Photo credit: Singapore Airlines Limited.

The National Museum of Singapore has received the donation of a first-generation A380 Business Class seat, and a first-generation A380 Suites seat, which premiered in that maiden flight in 2007.

These seats represented many ‘firsts’ for SIA in 2007 – besides being the first in the world to fly the A380 when Airbus launched it that year, SIA was also the first to introduce the Suites concept on board the A380 aircraft, which offered an unprecedented level of luxury and privacy with a full-sized bed, sliding doors and window blinds, among other features, built kind at the time, and could be transformed into a comfortable full-flat bed for a good night’s sleep. These seats are part of our national carrier’s rich history as an iconic brand and symbol of national pride for Singapore.

Designed by leading French luxury yacht designer Jean-Jacques Coste of Coste Design, the first-generation SIA Suites seat sets a new standard in premium air travel. Marrying classic style, ergonomics and technology, each handcrafted seat offers unrivalled exclusivity and privacy, developed for SIA’s most valued and distinguished customers in mind. Photo credit: Singapore Airlines Limited

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “The seats are a valuable addition to the museum’s collection of travel artefacts, revealing the unique innovations and successes of our national carrier Singapore Airlines in commercial aviation. Collecting, preserving and presenting aspects of contemporary Singapore is an important part of the National Museum’s collection strategy. Objects like these iconic seats from SIA enrich our documentation and telling of Singapore’s progress and development through the years.”

“SIA was the first airline to fly the A380, and the introduction of these seats on the aircraft marked a milestone in aviation history as they offered an unprecedented level of comfort for our customers. We are grateful that the National Museum is preserving an important aspect of our history, and hope that visitors are reminded of their flights with us when they view the showcase. We remain committed to service excellence and product innovation, so that our customers can continue to enjoy world-class products and award-winning service across our fleets,” says Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President Customer Experience of Singapore Airlines.

Visitors may view the seats in an upcoming exhibition at the National Museum next year.