Singapore Airlines A350 retrofits: No new seats, 4K screens, Bluetooth or USB-C for Premium Economy and Economy

Singapore Airlines has unveiled its next-generation KrisWorld inflight entertainment system, which will debut onboard its retrofitted Airbus A350-900 long-haul and A350-900 ultra-long-range (ULR) aircraft from early 2027. These aircraft will also offer high-speed Starlink connectivity, which SIA revealed earlier this year.

This marks the latest in a series of announcements that the airline has been drip-feeding ahead of its big event in early November 2026, when it will finally unveil its long-delayed next-generation cabin products. So far, we’ve also seen:

• More than 100 new and refreshed dishes across all cabins, plus new Christofle serviceware in Suites, First and Business Class
• New amenity kits by Sisley and BYREDO, and sleeper suits for Business Class passengers
• A refreshed First Class ground experience at Changi Airport, with a personal concierge, buggy service, priority security screening, and enhanced lounge dining

It’s little surprise that 4K screens, Bluetooth audio connectivity and wireless charging are finally coming to the SIA fleet.

But the real bombshell here is that the A350 retrofits will only “refresh” the existing Premium Economy and Economy Class seats, rather than replacing them with brand new ones.

Passengers in these cabins will receive some modest upgrades, such as spatial audio and the new KrisWorld system. However, they’ll have to wait until the Boeing 777-9 arrives to enjoy USB-C ports, 4K screens and Bluetooth audio connectivity, which will be disappointing news for many.

Singapore Airlines reveals new hardware — but not for everyone

Before we even talk about the new KrisWorld entertainment system, let’s first talk about the hardware, because this is bound to spark a lot of heated discussions.

Singapore Airlines has disclosed the entertainment and charging specifications for each cabin on the retrofitted A350s and the new B777-9, and the experience in Premium Economy and Economy will vary greatly depending on which aircraft you’re on.

Retrofitted Airbus A350-900LH & A350-900ULR

The first retrofitted A350-900LH is expected to enter service in Q1 2027, while the timeline for the A350-900ULR is still uncertain — and likely to take longer, since SIA is introducing a brand-new First Class cabin on this aircraft. 

Here’s a rundown of the features that passengers in each cabin can expect on the retrofitted aircraft.

Let’s start with the good stuff. 

SIA will be introducing 4K high-resolution touchscreens, measuring 32 inches in First Class, and 22 inches in Business Class. First Class passengers will receive B&O wireless headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC), while Business Class passengers will receive unbranded ANC headphones.

Passengers in both cabins will also be able to pair their personal Bluetooth headphones with the entertainment system, and charge their personal devices with USB-C and wireless charging.

All in all, this is a big upgrade for those in the premium cabins, compared to the incumbent products.

Old vs New First Class (B777-300ER vs A350-900ULR)
	2013F	2027F
Screen	24″ HD	32″ 4K OLED
In-Seat Power	1x UNI	1x UNI?
USB Ports	2x USB-A	USB-C
HDMI	✅	?
Bluetooth Audio	❌	✅
Wireless Charging	❌	✅

Old vs New Business Class (A350-900LH)
	2013J	2027J
Screen	18″ HD	22″ 4K OLED
In-Seat Power	1x UNI	1x UNI?
USB Ports	2x USB-A	USB-C
HDMI	✅	?
Bluetooth Audio	❌	✅
Wireless Charging	❌	✅

But the real surprise is in the Premium Economy and Economy cabins. Tucked away in literally the final line of the press release is this:

“The existing Premium Economy Class and Economy Class seats on these A350-900 aircraft will be refreshed.”

-Singapore Airlines

“Refreshed” is basically airline code for “new upholstery and little more”, and to put it simply: Premium Economy and Economy Class on the A350-900LH and A350-900ULR will retain their current hardware. This means no 4K screens, no Bluetooth audio connectivity, and no USB-C.

I’m stunned. I had always taken this as a foregone conclusion, and didn’t even consider the possibility that these would not be added.

It might sound like a minor detail, but the lack of USB-C is arguably the most frustrating omission of all. USB-A ports on older inflight entertainment systems typically have output of several watts, enough to slowly trickle-charge a phone, but little more (I’ve even seen my battery life deplete when plugged into USB-A!). It will take significantly longer to charge a modern smartphone, and it certainly won’t power a laptop or most tablets. 

There’s also a compatibility issue. Practically every new phone, tablet or laptop now uses USB-C, and many devices ship with only a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box. This means that passengers will have to hang on to their old USB-A cables for SIA flights, or carry a USB-C compatible travel adapter.

Remember, with Starlink coming to these aircraft (see below), passengers will be streaming and working on their devices more than ever before, all of which drains batteries quickly. I anticipate far more competition for the power outlets in Economy (the ratio of seats to power outlets here is 3:2), given that power banks are not allowed for onboard use.

So offering high-speed Wi-Fi without modern charging to go with it feels like solving one problem and creating another.

Granted, there may have been technical and certification reasons behind this decision, but after retrofits, the A350s will be flying into the late 2030s and possibly even beyond. Are Premium Economy and Economy Class passengers on these aircraft really resigned to not having these features for the next decade?

New Boeing 777-9

The Boeing 777-9 has suffered countless delays throughout its troubled development cycle, and is now running seven years behind schedule. The first deliveries are still expected to take place in 2027, but given the track record, it’d take a brave man to bet on that happening.

While two of Singapore Airlines’ B777-9s have begun test flights already, it’s not the launch customer, so it’s an open question as to whether these aircraft will arrive next year, or be delayed even further.

When the B777-9 finally arrives, however, the passenger experience will be far superior thanks to all-new cabin products from tip to tail.

The First Class technical specifications are more or less the same as on the A350-900ULR, but there’s a little surprise in Business Class, where the screen size is marginally smaller at 20 inches.

But the biggest upgrades on the B777-9 are in Premium Economy and Economy Class, where passengers will finally get USB-C charging, Bluetooth audio connectivity and 4K screens. Interestingly, SIA describes these screens as “up to” 16 inches in Premium Economy, and “up to” 13 inches in Economy, and says only selected aircraft will have OLED displays.

The “up to” is understandable, and probably relates to bulkhead and exit rows. These have no seat in front to mount a screen on, so they usually get a smaller screen that folds out of the armrest or attaches to the bulkhead.

However, the fact that certain aircraft have OLED and others don’t suggests that SIA will have two varieties of B777-9. My guess is that the interiors for the first few aircraft may have 4K LCD screens, while the later ones get OLED as supply and costs improve.

Singapore Airlines unveils new KrisWorld entertainment system

In light of the revelations about hardware, the news of the new KrisWorld inflight entertainment system almost seems like an afterthought!

That said, the software itself looks promising. The next-generation KrisWorld — which will be available across all cabin classes — introduces a redesigned interface with clearer menus, larger icons and improved search and filter functions to help passengers navigate and find content quickly. A Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature allows them to continue watching a video in a smaller window while browsing other content, similar to what’s offered on your smartphone already.

On the side of the screen is a widget that displays real-time flight information, including time to destination and weather conditions, without interrupting the viewing experience.

Spatial audio technology

Passengers across all cabins will enjoy spatial audio technology, which adds greater depth and clarity to the listening experience.

Regular stereo audio comes from two channels, left and right, so sound seems to sit inside your head or come from either side. On the other hand, spatial audio uses processing to mimic how your ears pick up sound in the real world, so sound appears to come from all around you. A helicopter can sound like it’s passing overhead, or a voice can seem to come from the screen in front of you rather than from between your ears.

Spatial audio works even with ordinary headphones, so you don’t need special hardware. This is why SIA will be able to offer it in every cabin, even with the limitations of Economy’s wired earphones. The effect is best felt with content that’s mixed in surround formats like Dolby Atmos, and will be less noticeable with older films or regular music.

Content options

The new KrisWorld system will have more than 2,500 entertainment options including content from Apple TV, BBC, CNA, HBO Max, iQIYI and Paramount+. BBC News and Sport 24 will continue to be available as live TV channels. The entertainment options will be refreshed monthly based on customer feedback and viewing trends. 

Parents with children will be able to activate Kids’ Mode, which provides age-appropriate entertainment options and a simplified interface.

Personalisation

Passengers who log in with their KrisFlyer accounts will be able to resume programmes across flights, save favourites, get recommendations, and view the gate and terminal for onward SIA connections from Singapore.

First and Business Class passengers can save seat positions, and First passengers can save lighting preferences. 

Wellness planner

The next-generation KrisWorld will also include a new wellness planner, with content that includes sleep and meditation tracks, videos with breathing exercises and light in-seat stretches, and articles on healthy living. 

First and Business Class passengers will receive recommendations on seat positions and lighting, while all passengers will receive beverage suggestions to support greater comfort on long-haul journeys.

Starlink also coming in 2027

In May 2026, Singapore Airlines announced the addition of Starlink high-speed connectivity to its fleet, starting from early 2027. This will enable passengers to enjoy significantly upgraded browsing speeds and gate-to-gate connectivity. It’s a hugely exciting development, because having a fast, dependable onboard connection is a gamechanger.

Starlink connectivity will be free for Suites, First and Business Class passengers, as well as PPS Club members and KrisFlyer members in Premium Economy and Economy Class. This mirrors the current policy.

However, patience will be required here, as the rollout plan is conservative, to say the least. Singapore Airlines plans to install Starlink across the following aircraft types, with the first aircraft refitted in Q1 2027, and the entire project completed by 2029.

This represents just over a third of the fleet, with the airline only saying that “details of high-speed connectivity plans for other SIA fleets will be shared when they have been confirmed”.

Given that Starlink can be installed in just 2-4 days — most of the time is actually spent removing the legacy system — this is a slow rollout. Qatar Airways equipped all its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 (more than 100 aircraft) in 14 months. United Airlines managed to equip almost 350 aircraft in one year, and expects to upgrade its entire fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft by the end of 2027. Emirates completed its first installation in November 2025, and is targeting to fit all 232 of its aircraft by mid-2027. 

The decision to commit to only a partial refit might be logical, as the omitted aircraft mostly fly medium-haul routes involving transit over countries which have not approved the technology, but the pace will be a bugbear for many.

Conclusion

Singapore Airlines has announced its new KrisWorld entertainment system, but what’s really going to grab the headlines is the hardware, or rather, the lack of it in Premium Economy and Economy on the retrofitted A350s.

First and Business Class passengers have plenty to look forward to, with 4K OLED screens, Bluetooth audio pairing, wireless charging and even B&O headphones in First Class. But for those at the back of the plane, the A350 retrofits will deliver little more than new upholstery and a software update. With these aircraft likely to fly into the late 2030s, that’s a long time to wait for features that are already standard on many competitors.

The B777-9 will offer a far more consistent experience from front to back, but the delivery timeline continues to be uncertain.

In the meantime, the new KrisWorld software and Starlink connectivity are welcome upgrades, but something tells me all the talk for weeks to come will be the decision to restrict Premium Economy and Economy to a light refresh.

I’ll definitely want to pen some thoughts on this in the week ahead, so stay tuned.

What do you make of SIA’s decision to skip hardware upgrades in Premium Economy and Economy on the A350s?