Restaurant A380: Singapore Airlines opens superjumbo for diners


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

You may have heard of pleasure flights to nowhere and old aircraft being converted into hotels, but what about an Airbus A380 being turned into a restaurant?

Singapore Airlines has struck upon the idea, which is sure to provide a feast of entertainment for aviation enthusiasts.

The airline will open one of its superjumbos for two days – on October 24 and 25 – at Changi Airport for what it calls a "memorable dining experience".

It said diners will be able to choose their cabin class before savouring "signature international dishes" or the "best dishes from our Peranakan menu, designed by acclaimed Singaporean chef Shermay Lee".

A Singapore Airlines A380. The airline is inviting guests on board to eat rather than fly. Courtesy Singapore Airlines
A Singapore Airlines A380. The airline is inviting guests on board to eat rather than fly. Courtesy Singapore Airlines

The cost of the meals is yet to be confirmed, though there are six different packages. For instance, the all-inclusive first-class option includes premium vintage drinks, a first-class meal for two, a 22-piece tableware set with Wedgwood dining ware and Lalique crystalware, and Lalique amenities for two, including sleeper suits.

To work up an appetite, diners can also sign up to a tour of the "restaurant", with a behind-the-scenes look at areas that are usually private when the plane is being used for transport.

And, if the conversation runs dry, visitors can tune in to the in-flight entertainment and sit back and relax with a film.

The airline said that as part of its heritage showcase of cabin crew uniforms through the years, guests can receive a special gift by dressing up in their own traditional heritage wear, such as a sarong kebaya, cheongsam, saree, batik shirt or even kilt.

The carrier is also offering a service whereby a private chef will deliver, reheat, plate and serve customers in their homes.

A380 is on its way out

The last A380 fuselage was pictured rolling off the assembly line last week at Airbus's manufacturing station in France.

Having built the A380 at the plant in Toulouse for 15 years, production is coming to a halt with the final jet headed for Emirates.

Airbus announced the end of the line for the A380 last year, saying it would stop production by 2021, although the coronavirus pandemic has brought the end forward slightly as airlines around the world grapple with a lack of demand.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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The National selections

Al Ain

5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura​​​​​​​
7pm: AF Arrab​​​​​​​
7.30pm: Al Jazi​​​​​​​
8pm: Futoon

Jebel Ali

1.45pm: AF Kal Noor​​​​​​​
2.15pm: Galaxy Road
2.45pm: Dark Thunder
3.15pm: Inverleigh​​​​​​​
3.45pm: Bawaasil​​​​​​​
4.15pm: Initial
4.45pm: Tafaakhor

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE