Singapore Airlines: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is the national airline of Singapore. It uses the IATA call code SQ.

Subsidiaries and Alliances

The Singapore Airlines Group comprises of several separate companies, all of which are 100% owned by the parent company:

The airline owns a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic Airways, the transaction being completed on the 30th March, 2000.

It previously owned 25% of Air New Zealand (diluted to 4.5% after the New Zealand Government bought into the airline to rescue it from bankruptcy) and is a prominent member of the worldwide Star Alliance, which it joined in April 2000.

The airline have code-share agreements with the following airlines:

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History

Early History

Singapore Airlines began as "Malayan Airways" in 1947, flying an Airspeed Consul twin engined airplane between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Penang (two cities and an island of what is now called West Malaysia).

The remainder of the 1940s was a growth period for Malayan Airlines, as was the 1950s. World War II had just finished and people around the world wanted to travel, a privilege that they had sometimes been denied because of the situation worldwide during previous years, and residents of Singapore and Malaysia were no exception. By 1955, Malayan Airlines' fleet had grown to include a large number of Douglas DC-3s.

In 1963, the creation of the Federation of Malaysia brought a change of name, to "Malaysian Airways". In 1966, the name was changed again, this time to "Malaysia-Singapore Airlines" (MSA), following Singapore's departure from the Federation of Malaysia the previous year.

MSA ceased operations in 1972, when political disagreements between Singapore and Malaysia resulted in the formation of two new airlines: Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. Singapore's airline company had 10 aircraft at that time. However, Singapore Airlines' hostesses continued to wear the sarong kebaya dress, which had previously been used by MSA. While airlines in Western countries shied away from recruiting young women, Singapore Airlines promoted the image of the 'Singapore Girl' in its advertising.

Modern History

Singapore Airlines saw rapid growth. during the 1970s, adding many cities in the Indian subcontinent and Asia to the 22 city network it already served, and acquiring Boeing 747 airplanes.

During the 1980s, the United States, Canada, and many European cities joined Singapore Airlines' route map. During this time, Madrid became the first and only hispanic city to be served by Singapore Airlines.

In the 1990s, Singapore Airlines began flights to Johannesburg in South Africa, the first African destination for the airline, with the cities of Cape Town and Durban being added.

During the 1990s, Singapore Airlines licensed model aeroplane companies like Schabak, Wooster plastic aeroplanes, Herpa Wings and many others, to manufacture promotional plane models for them. Their Boeing 747's became known as the Megatops, and they ordered Boeing 767 and Airbus equipment to complement the Megatops.

On 19 December, 1997, SilkAir Flight 185, piloted by Captain Tsu Way Ming, plunged into the Musi River in Sumatra during a routine flight from Jakarta to Singapore killing 104 people on board.

On 31 October, 2000, Singapore Airlines Flight 6, flying on a Changi International Airport, Singapore-Chiang Kai Shek International Airport,Taipei, Taiwan-Los Angeles International Airport,Los Angeles, California route, crashed during takeoff from Taipei for its second leg, killing 79 passengers and 3 crew members.

Singapore Airlines has an enviable reputation in the air transport industry. It is generally regarded as Asia's leading airline and has won "World's best Airline" and "Airline of The Year" awards several times.

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Aircraft Fleet

Singapore Airlines operates one of the youngest fleets in Asia. Its streamlined fleet features aircraft from just 3 aircraft families, including the Boeing 747, the Boeing 777, and the Airbus A340. It is a launch customer for the largest passenger aircraft yet proposed, the Airbus A380, and will be the first airline in the world to operate it when it comes into service.

Current fleet by aircraft size
(as of August 28, 2004)
Aircraft Engine In Operation On Order On Option Type
Airbus A340-500 Rolls-Royce Trent 553 5 0 5 Long haul
Airbus A380-800 Rolls-Royce Trent 900 0 10 15 Long haul
Boeing 747-400 (Megatop) PW4056 29 0 6 Long haul
Boeing 777-200ER (Jubilee) Rolls-Royce Trent 884 30 6 19 Long haul
Boeing 777-200ER (Jubilee) Rolls-Royce Trent 892 15 6 19 Long haul
Boeing 777-300 (Jubilee) Rolls-Royce Trent 892 8 6 19 Long haul
Boeing 777-300ER (Jubilee) GE90-115B 0 18 13 Long haul

Notes

  • 6 of the Boeing 747-400s were withdrawn from regular operation since the SARS crisis in the year 2003. Another 2 more were withdrawn later, and all 8 will be sold to two airlines from the year 2006 to 2008, after being converted into freighters. There is a possibility they may be transfered to Singapore Airlines Cargo.
  • The Boeing 777 planes on order can be for any model in the aircraft family type (except for the Boeing 777-300ER, which were part of a seperate order signed in August 2004)
  • All 5 Airbus A310-300s, powered by PW4152 engines, have been withdrawn from the fleet.
  • The airline have a history of dubbing her fleet according to plane makes. A listing of previously used names includes "Superbus" for the Airbus A300, "3TEN" for the Airbus A310-300, "Celestar" for the Airbus A340-300, "Leadership" for the Airbus A340-500, "Super B" for the Boeing 747-200B, and "Big Top" for the Boeing 747-300.
  • Singapore Airlines flew, for a short period of time, a Concorde that it shared with British Airways. The plane had Singapore Airlines' livery on one side, and British Airways' logo on the other.
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Destinations

As at 14 May 2004, excluding code-shared, Silkair, and Singapore Airlines Cargo destinations. All flights are direct and originates from Singapore unless otherwise stated.

Africa

Asia

East Asia

South Asia

Southeast Asia

Southwest Asia

Europe

North America

Oceania

Terminated Destinations

The effects of the September 11 attacks on New York City caused a spate of service adjustments and reductions to the network for the next few years.

The year 2003 saw several more rounds of severe service cut-backs due to the effects from the SARS Crisis , as well as the war situation in Iraq.

  • Brussels (30 March 2003)
  • Chicago (7 April 2003) Trice-weekly service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays via Amsterdam, with first flight on the 1st of August 2001. The service was launched with the addition of the first Boeing 777-200ERs to the fleet. It was suspended on 13 January 2002, but resumed on the 1st of May of the same year. However, it was terminated on the 7th of April 2003.
  • Las Vegas (7 April 2003) Service (SQ8, SQ9) was first launched on 2 August 2002 via Hong Kong, departing Singapore on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
  • Hiroshima (9 April 2003)
  • Kaohsiung (15 April 2003)
  • Mauritius (15 April 2003)

==Other facts of interest==

Members of the Star Alliance
Air Canada | Air New Zealand | ANA | Asiana Airlines | Austrian Airlines | bmi | LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa | SAS | Singapore Airlines | Spanair | Thai Airways | United Airlines | US Airways | Varig

Future Members: Blue1 | South African Airways | TAP Air Portugal
List of Aircraft | Aircraft Manufacturers | Aircraft Engines | Aircraft Engine Manufacturers
Airlines | Air Forces | Aircraft Weapons | Missiles | Years in Aviation

Find more facts
 
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