Singapore Airlines' regional arm SilkAir will be folded back into its parent airline, losing its 26-year old brand in favour of the iconic colours and Kris logo of Singapore Airlines.

SilkAir will also install all-new lie-flat business class seats across its single-aisle Boeing 737-800 and newer 737 MAX 8 jets, while the older Airbus A320 aircraft are retired, to deliver a consistent 'premium experience' across both international and regional Singapore Airlines flights.

SilkAir's current flagship business class product is the wide recliner of its new Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet.

AusBT review: Review: SilkAir Boeing 737 MAX business class

The A$100 million upgrade will also see seat-back video screens fitted in both business class and economy class to "ensure closer product and service consistency across the SIA Group’s full-service network."

Singapore Airlines says the SilkAir cabin upgrades are expected to start in 2020 "due to lead times required by seat suppliers, including to complete certification processes."

The formal merger of SilkAir and its parent Singapore Airlines is still some years away, however, and "will take place only after a sufficient number of aircraft have been fitted with the new cabin products."

There will also be "transfers of routes and aircraft between the different airlines in the portfolio" – which could see some current Singapore Airlines' short-range flights taken over by nominally SilkAir jets.