SilkAir planes to get cabin upgrades as carrier merges with Singapore Airlines
SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines (SIA), will get a “significant” investment to upgrade its cabin products as it begins the process of merging with its parent airline.
According to SIA in a statement on Friday (18 May), the investment of more than S$100 million will go towards installing lie-flat seats in SilkAir planes’ Business Class sections, as well as to seat-back in-flight entertainment systems in Business and Economy classes.
The upgrading works are expected to start in 2020, SIA said, adding that specific details would be announced in due course.
In addition to the cabin upgrades, the merger of the airlines means that there will also be transfers of routes and aircraft between them. SilkAir’s fleet comprises 11 Airbus A320 planes and 22 Boeing 737s serving 49 destinations in 16 countries. The airline was launched as Tradewinds in 1989 before being renamed SilkAir in 1992.
Singapore Airlines is a year into its three-year Transformation Programme, and on Thursday reported a 148-per-cent rise in full-year net profit to reach the highest level since 2011.
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