Singapore Airlines to upgrade Bangalore to Boeing 777-300

In its Summer 2009 time-table, effective March 29, Singapore Airlines will revert back to servicing Bangalore Singapore with the Boeing 777-300, an upgrade from the existing Boeing 777-200.

The slowdown in the global economy caused significant impact in the Information Technology sector, which constitutes a bulk of Bangalore’s international traffic. In response Singapore Airlines had downgraded services from a daily Boeing 777-300 to a Boeing 777-200, and suspended its 3 times a week morning flights.

It appears, the airline is re-testing the waters progressively, by first re-introducing the higher capacity aircraft on a daily night service and may consider re-introducing the morning flight if market conditions significantly improve.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 seat map
Unfortunately, these aircraft will not be the 777-300ERs featuring Singapore Airline’s super spacious new Business class nor the upgraded First class, in the 1-2-1 configuration, and will not feature the lie-flat seats in either of the premium classes. The Business Class is in a 2-3-2 configuration and the First is in a 2-2-2.

The Bangalore Singapore flight is identical to the classic “red-eye” west coast flights in the US. Leaving Bangalore close to midnight and arriving at daybreak in Singapore. Since it is just under four hours in duration, sleep is at a premium. Most premium class passengers put their seats back and try grab some sleep as soon as the flight is airborne.

The regular seating on these 777-300s is geared for day flights, and just does not provide for desperately needed sleep. I hope some of Singapore Airline’s senior management read this post and decide to put in aircraft with lie-flat seats.

It will be a hit, especially considering that Malaysia Airlines will be downgrading the Bangalore-Kuala Lumpur service to a Boeing 737-800 by June, and Thai Airways will continue with its old Airbus A300-600.

Update 1 – January 22
As per the latest update Singapore Airlines will revert back to a Boeing 777-200 from May 18th. What a pity.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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