Singapore Airlines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Singapore Airlines

A Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900
Founded	1 May 1947; 78 years ago (1947-05-01) (as Malayan Airways)
Commenced operations	1 October 1972; 53 years ago (1972-10-01) (as Singapore Airlines)
Hubs	Changi Airport
Frequent-flyer program	KrisFlyer PPS Club
Alliance	Star Alliance
Subsidiaries	Scoot SIA Engineering Company Singapore Airlines Cargo Singapore Flying College Air India Limited (25.1%)
Fleet size	163
Destinations	76
Parent company	Temasek Holdings (53%)
Headquarters	Airline House, Changi, Singapore
Key people	Peter Seah Lim Huat (chairman) Goh Choon Phong (CEO)
Revenue	S$19.01 billion (2024)
Operating income	S$2.72 billion (2024)
Net income	S$2.69 billion (2024)
Total assets	S$44.26 billion (2024)
Total equity	S$16.33 billion (2024)
Employees	14,803 (2023)
Website	singaporeair.com

Singapore Airlines (often called SIA or SQ) is the main airline of Singapore. Its main base is at Changi Airport. Many people consider it a top airline. Skytrax has named it the world's best airline five times!

The airline flies many different types of planes from Airbus and Boeing. These include the huge Airbus A380 and the modern Boeing 787-10. Singapore Airlines was actually the first airline to use these two types of planes. They also fly a special long-range version of the Airbus A350-900.

Singapore Airlines is part of a bigger group with over 20 companies. For example, SIA Engineering Company helps fix and maintain planes. Singapore Airlines Cargo handles all the freight. Another part, Scoot, offers flights at lower prices.

The airline is also famous for its flight attendants, known as the "Singapore Girls." They are a big part of the airline's image. Singapore Airlines has been a member of the Star Alliance group of airlines since April 2000. This means they partner with many other airlines around the world.

The Story of Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines started a long time ago, in 1947, as Malayan Airways. Over the years, it grew and changed. In 1972, it officially became Singapore Airlines. Since then, it has become one of the world's leading airlines.

How Singapore Airlines is Run

Singapore Airlines is mostly owned by Temasek Holdings. This is an investment company that belongs to the Government of Singapore. The airline's main office is located at Airline House, which used to be a large airplane hangar at Changi Airport in Singapore. In November 2024, a big change happened. Singapore Airlines partnered with Tata Group in India. Their airline, Vistara, joined with Air India. Now, Singapore Airlines owns a part of the new, bigger Air India. Around the same time, Singapore Airlines faced some challenges. They had fewer planes than expected. This was because of delays in getting new aircraft. These delays affected many airlines around the world.

The Singapore Airlines Brand

Singapore Airlines is famous for its flight attendants, known as the "Singapore Girls." They are a key part of the airline's image. You often see them in advertisements. The airline's logo is a stylish bird. This bird symbol has been used since the airline started. It was updated slightly in 1987, but it still looks very similar to the original. The word "Kris" is also important to the brand. You can see it in names like "SilverKris lounge" and "KrisFlyer" (their loyalty program). It also appears in "KrisWorld," which is their in-flight entertainment system.

Airplane Designs and Colors

The way an airline paints its planes is called its livery. Singapore Airlines has had a few different looks over the years.

A Boeing 737–100 with the older Malaysia–Singapore Airlines design.

A Boeing 747-200 with Singapore Airlines' second design.

A Boeing 777-200ER with the current design before small updates.

An Airbus A350-900 with the current design. This plane has special stickers for Airbus's 10,000th aircraft delivery.

Early Designs (1966–1972)

Before Singapore Airlines, there was Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). Their planes had a yellow MSA logo on the tail. The front of the plane was black, and the body was white and grey.

Second Design (1972–1987)

When Singapore Airlines started, they introduced a new look. Planes had blue and yellow stripes along the windows. The stylish bird logo was yellow. The words "Singapore Airlines" were written in a slanted style.

Current Design (1987–Present)

The current design keeps the gold and blue colors and the bird logo. The yellow part at the back of the plane changed to a shiny gold. A new orange line was added above it. The words "Singapore Airlines" also got a new style. In 2005, the design was updated slightly. The "Singapore Airlines" words became bigger and moved closer to the front. The bird logo also became larger.

Where Singapore Airlines Flies

Singapore Airlines flies to many places around the world. They reach five continents from their main hub in Singapore. Over the years, some routes have changed. For example, flights to Toronto stopped in 1992. Other routes were paused during difficult times, like the SARS outbreak in 2003–04. The airline plays a big role in the "Kangaroo Route." This route connects Australia and the United Kingdom, with a stop in Singapore. As of summer 2023, Singapore Airlines flew more flights to Australia than any other country. Singapore Airlines used to fly some of the longest flights in the world. These were non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles and Newark. They used special Airbus A340-500 planes for these trips. These flights stopped in 2013. However, Singapore Airlines brought back non-stop flights to the United States. In October 2016, they started flying to San Francisco. Then, in October and November 2018, they restarted non-stop flights to Newark and Los Angeles. They now use new A350-900ULR planes for these very long journeys.

World's Longest Non-Stop Flights

Singapore Airlines resumed the world's longest non-stop flight between Singapore and New York in October 2018. This flight covers about 15,300 kilometers (9,500 miles) and takes around 19 hours. It was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in March 2022. In November 2020, SIA also started non-stop flights between Changi Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. This route, known as Singapore Airlines Flights 23 and 24, is currently one of the longest scheduled flights in the world.

Working with Other Airlines

Singapore Airlines works with many other airlines to offer more choices to passengers.

Joint Ventures

They have special partnerships called joint ventures with these airlines:

Codeshare Agreements

Singapore Airlines also has codeshare agreements. This means you can book a flight with Singapore Airlines, but actually fly on a plane operated by one of these partners:

Interline Agreements

They also have interline agreements with these airlines, which helps with connecting flights:

Check-In Services in the City

If you are flying from Hong Kong to Singapore, you can check in your bags early. You can do this at Hong Kong Station or Kowloon Station. This means you can explore the city without carrying your luggage. Your bags are then sent directly to your flight at the airport.

Singapore Airlines Fleet

Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400 'Megatop' at Adelaide Airport

Singapore Airlines mainly uses large, wide-body planes. After joining with SilkAir, they started using the Boeing 737 again in March 2021. The airline also has special cargo planes, like the Boeing 747-400F and Boeing 777F, to carry goods. As of September 2025, Singapore Airlines had 163 aircraft in its fleet. This included 151 passenger planes and 12 cargo planes.

What to Expect on Board

Different Travel Classes

Singapore Airlines' original Suites cabin. These were removed by 2020.

Singapore Airlines offers five different ways to fly: Suites, First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class. In 2006, the airline spent a lot of money to make its cabins and services even better. These new features were first seen on the Boeing 777-300ER planes. In 2013, Singapore Airlines introduced new designs for First, Business, and Economy Class seats. These new designs were first used on their new Boeing 777-300ER planes. In 2017, they revealed even newer cabin designs for the Airbus A380-800. These updates made the planes even more comfortable and modern.

Business Class

An older Business Class seat on a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER.

Singapore Airlines' New Regional Business Class on their Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner.

The current Business Class seats were introduced in 2013. You can find them on updated Boeing B777-300ERs and Airbus A350-900s. These seats have power outlets and storage space. They can recline a lot and turn into a 78-inch (198 cm) long bed. Each seat also has an 18-inch screen for entertainment. For long flights, Business Class on the Airbus A380 and updated Boeing 777-200ERs offers a fully flat bed. These seats are 30 inches (76 cm) wide. They have a 15.4-inch personal TV screen, power, and USB ports. On some Airbus A380 planes, the entire upper deck is for Business Class passengers. In March 2018, new regional Business Class seats were shown. These seats are on the Boeing 787-10. They are arranged so every passenger has direct access to the aisle. Each seat is up to 26 inches (66 cm) wide and can become a 76-inch (193 cm) fully flat bed. In November 2024, Singapore Airlines announced plans to spend a lot of money to upgrade all its long-haul aircraft seats. This includes brand-new First and Business Class products.

Economy Class

Singapore Airlines 2017 Economy seats.

New Economy Class seats were introduced in 2013. They offer 32 inches (81 cm) of legroom and are slimmer. They have an adjustable headrest and an 11.1-inch touch-screen entertainment system. These seats are on new Airbus A350-900 and updated Boeing 777-300ER planes. Older Economy Class seats on some Airbus A380-800 and Airbus A330-300 planes are 19 inches (48 cm) wide. They have power outlets and a 10.6-inch personal TV screen. These seats also have a cup-holder, a USB port, and an iPod port on the Airbus A330. Singapore Airlines also updated the Economy Class seats on its Boeing 777 planes. These planes now have 9-inch screens with on-demand entertainment.

Delicious Food on Board

An appetizer served in Singapore Airlines' Business Class.

Singapore Airlines offers a wide variety of food on its flights. You can often find regional dishes on flights to those areas. For example, special meals are available for First Class passengers flying to Japan, China, and India. They also have a program called "Popular Local Fare." This offers local favorite dishes to passengers in all classes on certain flights. You might find Singaporean dishes like Hainanese chicken rice or Satay (meat skewers). Passengers in Suites, First, and Business Class can use a "Book the Cook" service. This lets them choose specific dishes from a larger menu before their flight. Premium Economy passengers can also use a "Premium Economy Book the Cook" service on some flights.

In-Flight Entertainment: KrisWorld

KrisWorld is Singapore Airlines' entertainment system on their planes. It was first introduced in 1997. The original KrisWorld offered many movies, TV shows, cartoons, and games. It also had phone and fax services, news, and flight path information. Later, they added "audio and video-on-demand," meaning you could choose what to watch whenever you wanted. In 2002, KrisWorld was updated with more movies, TV shows, music, and games. A new KrisWorld system was launched in 2007. It had a new look and even more entertainment options. All cabins received widescreen personal video screens. First Class had 23-inch screens, Business Class had 15-inch screens, and Economy Class had 10.6-inch screens. This new system is available on Airbus A330, Airbus A380, and Boeing 777-300ER planes. In 2012, Singapore Airlines introduced a brand new KrisWorld system. It features larger, higher-resolution screens and touch-screen controls. It also offers in-flight internet access. Passengers can make phone calls, send text messages, and use the internet for a fee. This new system is on the Airbus A350-900 and updated Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Awards and Recognition

Singapore Airlines has won many awards for its excellent service. On June 24, 2024, Skytrax named Singapore Airlines the Best Airline in the World for the second year in a row. They also won awards for Best Cabin Staff and Best First Class in World. In the same ceremony, they were named the Best Airline in Asia. On January 29, 2025, Fortune magazine listed SIA as the top airline and 28th overall on its list of the world’s most admired companies.

See also

In Spanish: Singapore Airlines para niños

• List of airlines of Singapore
• Transport in Singapore