Singapore Airlines (SIA) is the national carrier of Singapore. It was incorporated as Mercury Singapore Airlines on 28 January 1972 before it was renamed Singapore Airlines on 30 June the same year.[1] Mercury Singapore Airlines was previously part of Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). The predecessor of MSA, Malayan Airways, was formed on 21 October 1937 by British Imperial Airways, Straits Steamship Company and Ocean Steamship Company.[2]
As there were doubts over the commercial viability of a Singapore–Malaya air route at the time, Malayan Airways was inactive for almost 10 years before making its first commercial flight – from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur – on 1 May 1947.[3] Since the inaugural flight, Malayan Airways has steadily grown, adding more routes to regional destinations such as Jakarta, Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Rangoon (also known as Yangon, the former capital city of Burma, now known as Myanmar) and Hong Kong.[4] It also increased its fleet size with the acquisition of new jet aircraft: the DC-4 Skymaster, Lockheed Super Constellation, Comet IV, Fokker F27, and Boeing 707 and 737.[5] After the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, Malayan Airways was renamed Malaysian Airways in November two months later. Following Singapore’s independence on 9 August 1965, Malaysian Airways changed its name to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines.[6] On 25 January 1971, the Malaysian and Singapore governments announced that MSA would split, which resulted in the formation of SIA and Malaysian Airline System.[7]
SIA began as a new entity with assets in excess of M$180 million inherited from MSA, including the entire fleet of seven Boeing aircraft, MSA’s overseas offices, the airline’s headquarters building on Robinson Road, aircraft hangars as well as maintenance facilities at Paya Lebar Airport.[8] It also took over MSA’s international route network encompassing 18 countries.[9]
During SIA’s formative years, one of the first tasks it undertook was to consolidate its position as the national carrier, and it did so by expanding its international route network.[10] To complement the expansion efforts, SIA enlarged its fleet to include better and bigger jet aircraft such as Boeing 747 and 777, and the Airbus A380.[11] The company also heavily invested in its brand by emphasising the high level of cabin service provided on SIA flights, using the sarong kebaya-clad “Singapore Girl” as the face of its advertising campaign in print and on television.[12] In addition, SIA looked to other areas to facilitate its growth such as the development of Changi Airport as an air-traffic hub and the promotion of Singapore as a travel destination.[13] In order to capitalise on new opportunities in the aviation industry, SIA established subsidiary airlines – regional carrier SilkAir (formerly known as Tradewinds) and long-haul budget carrier Scoot[14] – and acquired stakes in other airlines.[15]
Today, SIA – with its many awards and accolades – is a global carrier with a fleet of 103 aircraft flying to more than 60 destinations across 30 countries.[16]
References
1. MSA it is! (1972, January 29). The Straits Times, p. 1; Poteik, C., & Byramji, N. (1972, July 1). It’s fly SIA! The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Allen, R. (1990). SIA: Take-off to success (pp. 59–60). Singapore: Singapore Airlines. Call no.: RSING 387.70605957 ALL.
2. Allen, 1990, p. 19.
3. Allen, 1990, p. 19; Ten proud years 1947–1957: Great day in the history of Malayan airways. (1957, May 1). The Straits Times, p. 12. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Allen, 1990, p. 122.
5. Allen, 1990, p. 122.
6. Allen, 1990, pp. 49, 51; Now it’s Malaysian Airlines. (1963, November 28). The Straits Times, p. 1; MAL is now MSA. (1966, December 31). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Raman, P. M. (1971, January 26). MSA to split. The Straits Times, p. 1; Bad faith says Malaysia. (1972, January 30). The Straits Times, p. 1; Mercury is all set for ‘take off’ in June. (1972, February 3). The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; The Straits Times, 29 Jan 1972, p. 1.
8. The Straits Times, 29 Jan 1972, p. 1; Allen, 1990, p. 122.
9. Allen, 1990, p. 60; The Straits Times, 3 Feb 1972, p. 3.
10. Allen, 1990, pp. 61–63.
11. Singapore Airlines. (1979). The pursuit of excellence: An island and its airline (pp. 32–33). Singapore: The Airlines. Call no.: RSING 387.70655957 SIN; Into a new era. (1973, September 3). The Straits Times, p. 5; World’s first B777-300 coming to S’pore. (1998, June 10). The Business Times, p. 44; Kaur, K. (2007, October 26). Flying into history. The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. Singapore Airlines, 1979, pp. 35–37.
13. Singapore Airlines, 1979, pp. 12–15.
14. de Silva, G. (1992, March 13). Tradewinds to be renamed SilkAir, plans to buy more planes. The Straits Times, p. 48; Kaur, K. (2011, November 2). Love it or hate it, Scoot takes off in mid-2012. The Straits Times, p. Retrieved from Factiva.
15. Fang, N. (2000, April 18). SIA gets go-ahead for 25% of Air NZ. The Straits Times, p. 64; SIA buys Virgin Atlantic shares. (2002, May 3). Today, p. 18. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
16. Singapore Airlines. (2014). Annual report FY2013/14 (pp. 21, 33, 42–43). Retrieved December 16, 2014, from Singapore Airlines website: http://www.singaporeair.com/pdf/Investor-Relations/Annual-Report/annualreport1314.pdf
The information in this article is valid as at 2014 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.