Singapore Airlines' (SIA) first SpaceBed equipped aircraft, a B747 Megatop, will enter service on the Singapore-London route tomorrow, on 1 June 2002.
Announced in August 2001, the new Raffles Class lie-flat seat, the SpaceBed, is designed to afford more space and comfort for our business travellers. Besides a wider and longer sleeping surface, the SpaceBed's unique cushioning system conforms more effectively to the body's contours, allowing our passengers to rest even more comfortably in their preferred sleeping positions.
Speaking at a launch event in London, SIA's Senior Executive Vice President (Commercial) Michael Tan said, "We are on the threshold of another major development in the long-haul travel experience. SIA's Raffles Class is about to get bigger and better, attaining a quantum leap in spaciousness, comfort and privacy."
Each SpaceBed comes equipped with KrisWorld, SIA's new-generation inflight entertainment system based on Matsushita Avionic's latest MAS 3000 system. It offers unrivalled high quality digital sound and pictures on demand on a 10.4 inch high-resolution monitor. SIA is the first airline to offer this on-demand system.
"Our passengers won't be sleeping all the time, which is why the SpaceBed is a top-class seat, offering multi-recline positions. It is perfect for enjoying KrisWorld. Our inflight entertainment innovators worked hard with Matsushita to offer another first in the sky - multi-player electronic games such as chess or mahjong on top of a wide range of interactive games," said Mr Tan.
Installed at a cost of US$100 million, SpaceBeds will be retrofitted over the next year on 45 B747 Megatops and B777-200ER (extended range) aircraft serving long and medium haul destinations. |
