1st generation SIA A380 business class, suites seats to be on display at National Museum of Singapore

A donation of a first-generation A380 business class seat and suites seat from Singapore Airlines (SIA) has arrived at the National Museum of Singapore. 

These seats premiered in the SIA Airbus A380 in 2007, and represent many “firsts” for the national carrier. SIA was the first airline to fly the A380 when Airbus launched it 15 years ago, and was also the first airline to come up with the suites concept, offering a full-sized bed, sliding doors, window blinds and more in each cabin. 

The business class seats were also the first on SIA to provide direct access to the aisle for all seats in the cabin. They were known to be the widest of its kind at that time, and could be transformed into a full-flat bed that allowed passengers to rest comfortably. 

The handcrafted suites seats are designed by French luxury yacht designer Jean-Jacques Coste of Coste Design, while the business class seats with a full-flat bed concept were designed by JPA design of the United Kingdom and manufactured by Koito of Japan.  

In a media release on Oct 25, senior vice president customer experience of SIA, Mr Yeoh Phee Teik said that SIA is “grateful that the National Museum is preserving an important aspect of our history” through this showcase.

The National Museum’s director, Ms Chung May Khuen, also said that the seats are a valuable addition to the museum’s collection of travel artefacts.

She added: “Objects like these iconic seats from SIA enrich our documentation and telling of Singapore’s progress and development through the years, and we look forward to more of such meaningful contributions from individuals and organisations in Singapore.”

Members of the public will be given the opportunity to view the seats up close in an upcoming exhibition that will be hosted by the National Museum sometime in 2023.

More details on the exhibition will be shared closer to date by the National Museum of Singapore on their website and social media pages.