Singapore Airlines to Deploy A350 with New Business Class to This City

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SINGAPORE- Flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SQ) will introduce the Airbus A350 Long Haul on its flagship London Heathrow (LHR) route from July 2026, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER (77W) on flight SQ306/305.

The move reduces total capacity and removes First Class seats on a route that is one of the airline’s most profitable, but it also points to something bigger: the possible debut of Singapore Airlines’ brand-new Business Class cabin at London Heathrow.

Photo: Robin HARDY

Singapore Airlines A350 to London Heathrow

Singapore Airlines’ summer 2026 schedule for London Heathrow includes two daily Airbus A380s (SQ308/319 and SQ322/317), one Boeing 777-300ER (SQ318/321), and now one Airbus A350 Long Haul (SQ306/305) from 1 July 2026.

Singapore (SIN) to London Heathrow (LHR) – from 1 July 2026

  • SQ306: Airbus A350 LH, departs SIN 01:10, arrives LHR 07:45
  • SQ308: Airbus A380, departs SIN 09:00, arrives LHR 15:45
  • SQ318: Boeing 777-300ER, departs SIN 12:35, arrives LHR 19:30
  • SQ322: Airbus A380, departs SIN 23:00, arrives LHR 05:55+1

London Heathrow (LHR) to Singapore (SIN) – from 1 July 2026

  • SQ305: Airbus A350 LH, departs LHR 09:25, arrives SIN 05:30+1
  • SQ317: Airbus A380, departs LHR 11:25, arrives SIN 07:30+1
  • SQ319: Airbus A380, departs LHR 20:35, arrives SIN 16:45+1
  • SQ321: Boeing 777-300ER, departs LHR 22:05, arrives SIN 18:10+1

This shift marks the first regular deployment of the A350 Long Haul to Heathrow since the pandemic, when it was the only aircraft type Singapore Airlines operated on the route.

Why London Heathrow Matter so much?

London Heathrow is one of Singapore Airlines’ most important and profitable destinations. Before COVID-19, the route generated more than US$2 million in daily revenue – making it the airline’s single biggest cash cow. It outperformed Singapore–Sydney by 33% and Singapore–Jakarta by 68% in 2019.

Competition on the London route is intense, with Gulf carriers aggressively targeting the London–Australia market. This has pushed Singapore Airlines to allocate its highest-capacity aircraft and latest cabins to Heathrow.

Traditionally, the airline ensures a strong First Class presence here, which makes the removal of First Class seats with the A350 Long Haul deployment particularly striking, Mainly Miles reported.

Photo: Singapore Airlines

Link to the new Business Class launch

The timing of this aircraft change aligns with Singapore Airlines’ major cabin refresh program. The first Airbus A350 Long Haul with new Business Class seats is expected in early 2026, and several aircraft will be needed to sustain a daily service to London.

This suggests that the A350 swap may not be about cutting costs, but about showcasing new cabin products at one of the airline’s most important global stages. Historically, London has often been among the first routes to see new cabins:

  • 2017 A380 Business Class debuted at LHR in early 2018.
  • 2013 777-300ER Business Class launched on LHR within weeks of introduction.
  • The iconic 2002 “SpaceBed” was first unveiled in London, not Singapore.

The pattern is clear: London Heathrow is where Singapore Airlines showcases its flagship products.

Photo: Tobias Green | CPH Route Development

What to expect in the new cabins

Renderings of the upcoming Business Class show a staggered layout with closing privacy doors, alternating window- and aisle-facing seats, and couple-friendly “honeymoon” pairs in the middle section.

The design echoes recent premium cabins from airlines like Qantas and Japan Airlines, both of which use Safran Unity platforms for their A350s.

Beyond seating, travelers can expect larger 4K-resolution IFE screens, USB-C and wireless charging, and Bluetooth headphone connectivity.

Premium Economy and Economy seats will also receive refreshes, though the new First Class will be reserved for the Airbus A350ULR and future Boeing 777-9 aircraft.

The refitted A350 Long Haul will carry 258 passengers (42 Business, 24 Premium Economy, 192 Economy), up slightly from the current 253-seat layout.

Photo- Singapore Airlines

Award seat availability

KrisFlyer award rates for Singapore–London remain as follows:

  • Economy: 42,000 miles (Saver), 70,000 miles (Advantage)
  • Premium Economy: 71,000 miles (Saver)
  • Business: 103,500 miles (Saver), 123,000 miles (Advantage)
  • First/Suites: 141,000 miles (Saver), 225,500 miles (Advantage)

For the new A350 rotation (SQ306/305), Business Class award seats from Singapore to London are unavailable in the first week of July 2026 but open from 8 July onward. From London to Singapore, awards are bookable from the first day of service on 1 July 2026.

Photo: By Li Pang – http://www.airliners.net/photo/Singapore-Airlines/Boeing-777-312/2035227/L/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18038413

Bottom Line

At first glance, replacing a Boeing 777-300ER with an Airbus A350 Long Haul at the peak of summer on the lucrative Singapore–London route looks like a downgrade. But history suggests otherwise.

London Heathrow has consistently been one of the first destinations to showcase Singapore Airlines’ latest premium products, and the July 2026 schedule change could mark the debut of the carrier’s long-awaited new Business Class.

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