New business-class seats, Air India plans among key takeaways from SIA’s first-half results briefing

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Singapore Airlines to review business-class seat design as it outlines Air India growth plans and AI transformation. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Higher jet fuel prices meant that SIA’s net profit for the first half was 43.9% lower despite a strong second quarter, but it was cushioned by a lower share of losses from its stake in Air India.

SINGAPORE - A week after receiving mixed feedback on its newly unveiled business-class seats, Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong said the airline would explore the possibility of making adjustments where it deemed fit.

Without elaborating on the extent of any possible changes, Goh said at SIA’s results briefing on Nov 12 that the group acknowledges the feedback it had received and would review it so that it could “further enhance” the travel experience for its customers.

SIA also elaborated on the growth strategy for loss-making Air India, in which it holds a 25.1% stake, noting that the airline is aiming to achieve profitability under new leadership and with growth opportunities emerging in the market.

The company posted $5.6 billion in revenue, 14.3% higher year on year, for the second quarter ended Sept 30. Net profit also quadrupled to $209.7 million.

Despite the strong quarter, the airline’s net profit for the first half of its financial year still fell 43.9% to $134 million, as rising jet fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict took a toll on its performance.

Jet fuel prices were lower in the first quarter than the second quarter, said group chief financial officer JoAnn Tan, but the surge still led to a 90.3% increase in fuel costs before hedging for the first half of the financial year.

Here are the key takeaways from SIA’s results briefing for the first-half of its 2027 financial year:

SIA’s long-haul business-class seats, revealed on Nov 7 alongside refreshed products across all its other cabin classes, has sparked substantial debate.

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