chornedsnorkack
7th Jan 2006, 09:49
What might Singapore New Interior feasibly be like?
We have seen a plenty of Airbus 380 interiors in pictures and mockups. But those are all fakes - never seen in any real aircraft AND not due to be put in any in future.
There is the interior of the real test frame, which is pretty specialized - except for the crew rest in upper deck Business Class. But Airbus is not selling tickets.
The real interiors which the airlines have planned to put in the planes and must actually have ordered already from Airbus seem to be big secrets now. Except for very few snippets.
But let us try and guess...
Singapore is supposed to get A380 first. They were supposed to get A380 in May - and come out with a New Interior, then in September get B777-300ER - and apply the same New Interior.
Which is one reason why they were offended when A380 was delayed to November.
But then Boeing had a strike - so the 777-300ER-s of Singapore seem to be delayed. And SQ is trying to make sure they get 777-300ER simultaneously or slightly later than A380, so they can go out with New Interior on A380 first.
What has SQ revealed of their A380-s?
They say about 460-470 seats.
They also say no Premium or Executive Economy - so they are stuck with 3 classes of Economy, Raffles and First. But they say A380 has more room in Economy.
Figuring it out... they have to cut up pies of different size and shape into different numbers of equal pieces, and divide the access to windowed walls, 2 in a cabin of any size and to aisles, 2 in all widebodies of different size.
A380 more room in Economy? Elbowroom is easy. B747 is 610 cm, and SQ fly them 10 abreast (not 9). A380 main deck is 658 cm, so 10 abreast is extra elbowroom. 11 abreast would be more cramped (sidewalls curving in near floor), and there is no hint of SQ wanting that.
Legroom... how much pitch will A380 Economy get?
Upper deck? Airbus says upper deck might be devoted to premium classes (and public space) having all Economy on lower deck (and boarding separately). Alternatively, the upper deck might be more than premium space needed, so economy is split between both decks.
Would 8 abreast on A380 upper deck be wide enough for "more room in Economy"? Taking account of the sidewalls curving in over the windows? Or does "more room in Economy" require 7 abreast on A380 upper deck?
Raffles Class...
SQ usually has 7 abreast in Raffles on B747 as well as B777. But some B777, and A340, have 6 abreast in Raffles.
Would Raffles be all in lower deck of A380, all in upper deck or split on both decks?
On the A380 lower deck, 6 abreast is pretty wide for Raffles. W abreast is reasonable. But observe that A380 lower deck is 72 cm wider than B777. If 7 abreast on 777 can be called Raffles, could A380 lower deck have 8 abreast Raffles?
On upper deck, there probably is not space enough for 7 abreast Raffles. Will SQ stick to 6 abreast?
And the First Class...
SQ has 6 abreast on B777 First - window seats with no aisle access.
Yet their 747 nosecones start 1-2-1 in the rear.
The First might be on the 380 lower or upper deck - probably not split between both.
On Upper Deck, 6 abreast is too narrow. Would they have 5 abreast (which configuration?), 4 abreast or perhaps 3 abreast (JAL has Skyflyer Solo 3 abreast on B77 and B747 nosecone rear)?
On Lower Deck, 6 abreast is easily feasible. Yet, even in the width of A380 main deck, I doubt they would call a middle seat of 7 abreast First Class.
So this leaves 6 abreast, 5 or 4.
Now, it is supposed to be New Interior both on A380 and B777-300!
In Economy, will they stick to 9 abreast 3-3-3 or catch a chance to start with a different configuration? I kind of doubt they can add elbowroom (8 abreast on 777 would be too much).
In Raffles, will the New Interior be 6 abreast or 7 abreast?
In First, will they have 6 abreast, 5, 4, or 3?
And is the SQ New Interior something which, after coming out on new planes, is supposed to be retrofitted on existing ones as the opportunities come?
If yes - do they plan a New Interior on B747 or A340?
We have seen a plenty of Airbus 380 interiors in pictures and mockups. But those are all fakes - never seen in any real aircraft AND not due to be put in any in future.
There is the interior of the real test frame, which is pretty specialized - except for the crew rest in upper deck Business Class. But Airbus is not selling tickets.
The real interiors which the airlines have planned to put in the planes and must actually have ordered already from Airbus seem to be big secrets now. Except for very few snippets.
But let us try and guess...
Singapore is supposed to get A380 first. They were supposed to get A380 in May - and come out with a New Interior, then in September get B777-300ER - and apply the same New Interior.
Which is one reason why they were offended when A380 was delayed to November.
But then Boeing had a strike - so the 777-300ER-s of Singapore seem to be delayed. And SQ is trying to make sure they get 777-300ER simultaneously or slightly later than A380, so they can go out with New Interior on A380 first.
What has SQ revealed of their A380-s?
They say about 460-470 seats.
They also say no Premium or Executive Economy - so they are stuck with 3 classes of Economy, Raffles and First. But they say A380 has more room in Economy.
Figuring it out... they have to cut up pies of different size and shape into different numbers of equal pieces, and divide the access to windowed walls, 2 in a cabin of any size and to aisles, 2 in all widebodies of different size.
A380 more room in Economy? Elbowroom is easy. B747 is 610 cm, and SQ fly them 10 abreast (not 9). A380 main deck is 658 cm, so 10 abreast is extra elbowroom. 11 abreast would be more cramped (sidewalls curving in near floor), and there is no hint of SQ wanting that.
Legroom... how much pitch will A380 Economy get?
Upper deck? Airbus says upper deck might be devoted to premium classes (and public space) having all Economy on lower deck (and boarding separately). Alternatively, the upper deck might be more than premium space needed, so economy is split between both decks.
Would 8 abreast on A380 upper deck be wide enough for "more room in Economy"? Taking account of the sidewalls curving in over the windows? Or does "more room in Economy" require 7 abreast on A380 upper deck?
Raffles Class...
SQ usually has 7 abreast in Raffles on B747 as well as B777. But some B777, and A340, have 6 abreast in Raffles.
Would Raffles be all in lower deck of A380, all in upper deck or split on both decks?
On the A380 lower deck, 6 abreast is pretty wide for Raffles. W abreast is reasonable. But observe that A380 lower deck is 72 cm wider than B777. If 7 abreast on 777 can be called Raffles, could A380 lower deck have 8 abreast Raffles?
On upper deck, there probably is not space enough for 7 abreast Raffles. Will SQ stick to 6 abreast?
And the First Class...
SQ has 6 abreast on B777 First - window seats with no aisle access.
Yet their 747 nosecones start 1-2-1 in the rear.
The First might be on the 380 lower or upper deck - probably not split between both.
On Upper Deck, 6 abreast is too narrow. Would they have 5 abreast (which configuration?), 4 abreast or perhaps 3 abreast (JAL has Skyflyer Solo 3 abreast on B77 and B747 nosecone rear)?
On Lower Deck, 6 abreast is easily feasible. Yet, even in the width of A380 main deck, I doubt they would call a middle seat of 7 abreast First Class.
So this leaves 6 abreast, 5 or 4.
Now, it is supposed to be New Interior both on A380 and B777-300!
In Economy, will they stick to 9 abreast 3-3-3 or catch a chance to start with a different configuration? I kind of doubt they can add elbowroom (8 abreast on 777 would be too much).
In Raffles, will the New Interior be 6 abreast or 7 abreast?
In First, will they have 6 abreast, 5, 4, or 3?
And is the SQ New Interior something which, after coming out on new planes, is supposed to be retrofitted on existing ones as the opportunities come?
If yes - do they plan a New Interior on B747 or A340?