Singapore Airlines (SIA) has just unveiled a slew of cabin upgrades for long-haul flights, but it appears they have not won everyone over.
The national carrier’s new Business Class seats, in particular, have drawn mixed reactions online — with some people taking issue with the cabin’s grey-and-yellow colour palette.
Among those who have voiced dissatisfaction is former SIA cabin crew member and content creator Darshen Kuna.
While he showed appreciation for some of the refreshed features such as the sliding privacy doors, the 33-year-old wasn’t a fan of cabin’s new colours.
“When I sit on that new Business Class seat, instantly I will think I’m seeing my dentist, which is not usually a good experience,” he said in a TikTok video on Nov 6.
In response to AsiaOne’s queries, SIA said on Wednesday (Nov 11) that the colours, materials, and finishes of the new cabin were carefully selected to create a “fresh, contemporary, and refined ambience, complemented by adjustable in-flight LED lighting”.
“As with all our products, we will continue to closely monitor feedback and draw on operational insights to refine and enhance elements of the customer experience,” the national carrier added.
The MileLion founder Aaron Wong also had mixed feelings about the new Business Class seats’ colour scheme, commenting that it made the cabin feel “cold”, especially set against the aircraft’s blue carpet.
Using a deeper shade of grey for the upholstery would’ve have “looked more sophisticated and premium”, the aviation blogger suggested. While he understood that the splashes of yellow were meant to “inject some personality”, he found the use of colour “out of place”.
That said, Aaron praised some of the cabin’s upgraded functions such as the new sliding privacy doors and automated seat recline.
Others, however, voiced approval for the new Business Class cabin.
One of them is former radio DJ Rosalyn Lee, who said that she understood expectations were “sky-high” for the national carrier. But she pointed out that getting worked up over a colour scheme “is just wild”.
“If you think millions of dollars in customised ergonomic engineering, next-generation privacy doors, and premium finishes look ‘cheap’ just because of a colour accent, you’re missing the forest for the trees,” she added.
SIA told AsiaOne that frequent flyers who attended the launch praised its “privacy, spaciousness, comfort, and thoughtful convenience features, including the larger display screen, enhanced charging options, intuitive physical seat controls, and companion-bed configuration.”
The new Business Class cabin, unveiled on Nov 6, is part of the airlines’ $2 billion enhancement of its long-haul travel experience.
SIA rolled out upgrades across all four cabin classes, which include improved in-flight entertainment systems, meals and amenity kits.
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carol.ong@asiaone.com
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