Singapore Airlines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Singapore Airlines

Founded	1 May 1947; 78 years ago (1947-05-01) (as Malayan Airways)
Commenced operations	1 October 1972; 52 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
Fleet size	159
Destinations	81
Parent company	Temasek Holdings (55%)
Headquarters	Airline House, Changi, Singapore
Key people	Peter Seah Lim Huat (Chairman) Goh Choon Phong (CEO)
Revenue	S$17.77 billion (2023)
Operating income	S$2.69 billion (2023)
Net income	S$2.16 billion (2023)
Total assets	S$49.10 billion (2023)
Total equity	S$19.86 billion (2023)
Employees	14,803 (2023)

Singapore Airlines, often called SIA or SQ, is the main airline of Singapore. Its main base is at Changi Airport. It is also a member of the Star Alliance, a big group of airlines around the world.

The airline is famous for its flight attendants, known as the Singapore Girls. They are a key part of the airline's brand. Singapore Airlines has also kept its plane designs (livery) mostly the same over the years.

Many people think Singapore Airlines is one of the best airlines in the world. Skytrax has given it a 5-star rating. It has also been named the world's best airline five times! The airline uses many different planes from Airbus and Boeing. These include the A350, A380, Boeing 737, Boeing 747 Freighter, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787.

The Singapore Airlines Group has over 20 smaller companies. Many of these are related to airlines. For example, SIA Engineering Company fixes and maintains planes in nine countries. It works with companies like Boeing and Rolls-Royce. Singapore Airlines Cargo handles all the cargo flights. It also manages the space for cargo in passenger planes. Scoot, another company they own, is a low-cost airline.

Singapore Airlines was the first airline to use the Airbus A380. This is the world's largest passenger plane. They were also the first to use the Boeing 787-10. It is also the only airline that flies the special ultra-long-range (ULR) version of the Airbus A350-900. The airline is among the top 15 airlines globally for how many passengers it carries over distance. It is also ranked tenth for international passengers. In 2023, Singapore Airlines won "Best Airline" for the fifth time. It also won "Best First Class Airline" from Skytrax.

A Brief History of Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines started in 1947 as Malayan Airways. Later, it became Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA) in 1966. In 1972, MSA split into two airlines. One became Malaysia Airlines, and the other became Singapore Airlines. This is when Singapore Airlines officially began.

How Singapore Airlines is Run

The Singapore government owns most of Singapore Airlines. Its investment company, Temasek Holdings, owns 55% of the airline. This was true as of March 31, 2020.

The airline's main office is at Airline House. This building used to be a hangar at Changi Airport in Singapore.

Business Facts and Figures

Here are some important facts about Singapore Airlines' business over the years. These numbers are for the financial year ending on March 31:

Airline Branding and Logo

Singapore Airlines focuses its advertising on its flight crew. This is different from most airlines, which usually show their planes or general services. The airline's female flight attendants are called Singapore Girls. They are very famous and appear in most of the airline's ads.

The Singapore Airlines logo looks like a bird. The kris, a traditional Malay dagger, is also important to the brand. You can see it in the SilverKris lounge and the KrisWorld entertainment system. The logo has stayed almost the same since 1972. It had only a small change in 1987.

Plane Designs (Livery)

Boeing 737–100 in Malaysia-Singapore Airlines livery.

Boeing 747-200 in Singapore Airlines' second-generation livery.

Boeing 777-200ER in current-generation livery prior to the minor updates.

Airbus A350-900 in the current livery, This particular A350 has decals to celebrate Airbus' delivery of its 10,000th aircraft.

Early Designs (1966–1972)

From 1966 to 1972, the airline was called Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). Its planes had a yellow MSA logo on the tail. The nose was black, and the body was white and grey. These planes have all been repainted or are no longer used.

Second Design (1972–1987)

When Singapore Airlines started in 1972, it introduced a new design. The planes had blue and yellow stripes along the windows on a white body. The bird logo was yellow. The words "Singapore Airlines" were written in italics.

Current Design (1987–Present)

The current design has only small changes from the second one. It still uses gold and blue colors and the bird logo. The yellow back part of the plane became metallic gold. A new orange line was added above it and behind the bird logo. The font for "Singapore Airlines" was also changed.

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. The blue and gold parts of the tail were changed to be horizontal. Also, the first few windows are now part of the blue/gold/yellow stripe. The logos on the engines were removed a few years later.

Where Singapore Airlines Flies

Singapore Airlines flies to places on five continents from its main base in Singapore.

Over the years, the airline has stopped flying to some cities. For example, after a financial crisis in 1997, they stopped routes to cities like Berlin and Darwin. During the SARS outbreak in 2003–04, flights to cities like Brussels and Chicago were stopped.

The airline plays a big role in the Kangaroo Route. This route connects Australia and the United Kingdom through Singapore. As of summer 2023, Singapore Airlines flew to Australia more than any other country.

Singapore Airlines also used to fly non-stop from Singapore to Los Angeles and Newark. These were some of the longest flights in the world. They used special Airbus A340-500 planes. These non-stop flights stopped in 2013.

However, in 2016, Singapore Airlines started non-stop flights to the United States again. They began with San Francisco. Then, in 2018, they restarted non-stop flights to Newark and Los Angeles. They use new Airbus A350-900ULR planes for these very long flights.

On November 9, 2020, SIA relaunched non-stop flights between Changi Airport and New York (JFK). These flights, Singapore Airlines Flights 23 and 24, are currently the longest scheduled flights in the world.

Partner Airlines (Codeshare Agreements)

Singapore Airlines works with many other airlines. This means you can sometimes book a flight with Singapore Airlines, but part of your journey might be on a partner airline's plane. This is called a codeshare agreement.

The Singapore Airlines Fleet

Singapore Airlines mainly uses large, wide-body planes. However, they brought back the Boeing 737 in March 2021 after merging with SilkAir. The airline also uses Boeing 747-400F and Boeing 777F planes for cargo. As of December 2023, Singapore Airlines had 159 planes. This included 147 passenger planes and 12 cargo planes.

Onboard Services and Cabins

Singapore Airlines original Suites cabin products. These seats have been completely withdrawn in 2020.

Singapore Airlines offers five types of seating: Suites, First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class. In 2006, they spent about S$570 million to make big improvements to their cabins and service.

On November 2, 2017, Singapore Airlines showed off new cabin designs for its Airbus A380-800 planes. These changes cost about S$1.16 billion. They were made to compete with other big airlines. The new A380s have 6 Suites and 78 Business Class seats on the top floor. The lower floor has 44 Premium Economy Class seats and many Economy Class seats. These new designs were added to five new A380 planes. Older A380s also got these new features by 2020.

Business Class Experience

A Business Class seat on board one of Singapore Airlines' Boeing 777-300ERs, before being refitted with newer cabin products.

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

The newest Business Class was shown on July 9, 2013. You can find it on updated Boeing B777-300ERs and the Airbus A350-900. These seats have a power outlet and ports, storage space, and an 18-inch screen for movies. The seat can recline a lot and turn into a 78-inch long bed.

For very long flights, Business Class on Airbus A380 and updated Boeing 777-200ER planes offers a fully flat bed. These seats are 30 inches wide. They face forward and have a 15.4-inch personal TV screen. They also have power outlets and USB ports. Skytrax named this the world's best business class in 2011.

On March 28, 2018, a new regional Business Class was introduced. These seats are made by Stelia Aerospace and are on the Boeing 787-10. They are arranged so every passenger can easily reach the aisle. Each seat is up to 26 inches wide and can become a 76-inch fully flat bed. There are also dividers between the middle seats for more privacy.

The new A380 Business Class seats were shown on November 2, 2017. There are 78 Business Class seats on the A380's upper deck. These seats can recline into a fully flat bed. The dividers between the middle seats can be lowered to create double beds. Each seat has an 18-inch touchscreen TV and a panel with power and USB ports.

Economy Class Experience

Singapore Airlines Regional Economy Seats

A new design for the Economy Class seat was shown on July 9, 2013. These seats have 32 inches of legroom and are thinner. They have an adjustable headrest and an 11.1-inch touchscreen for entertainment. You can also control the screen with a special remote. These new seats are on the Airbus A350-900 and updated Boeing 777-300ER planes.

Older Economy Class seats on the Airbus A380-800 and Airbus A330-300 are 19 inches wide. They have power outlets and a 10.6-inch personal TV screen. These seats are arranged 3-4-3 on the lower deck of the A380, 3-3-3 on the Boeing 777, and 2-4-2 on the A330 and the upper deck of the A380. They also have a cup-holder and a USB port.

Food and Drinks (Catering)

An appetiser served in Singapore Airlines' Business Class.

Singapore Airlines offers many different food choices on its flights. They often serve local dishes on flights to certain regions. For example, special meals are available for First Class passengers flying to Japan, China, and India.

They also have a "Popular Local Fare" program. This offers local favorites to passengers in all classes on flights from certain places. These dishes include Singaporean street food like Hainanese chicken rice and Satay.

In 2010, they even published a cookbook called Above & Beyond: A Collection of Recipes from the Singapore Airlines Culinary Panel.

Passengers in Suites, First, and Business Class can use a "Book the Cook" service. This lets them choose specific dishes from a bigger menu before their flight. Premium Economy passengers can also use "Premium Economy Book the Cook" on some flights.

In-Flight Entertainment (KrisWorld)

KrisWorld is Singapore Airlines' entertainment system on its planes. It was first introduced in 1997.

The KrisWorld logo.

The first KrisWorld offered 14 movies, 36 TV shows, and 5 cartoons. It also had Super NES games, phone and fax services, news, and flight maps. Later, an updated version called Wisemen 3000 was added. This allowed passengers to choose movies and music on demand.

In 2002, KrisWorld was updated again. It had more movies, TV shows, music, and games. In 2005, they offered Connexion by Boeing, an internet service on the plane. They also started offering free language lessons and live news updates.

In 2007, a new KrisWorld system was launched. It had a new look and more programs. Movies and music on demand became standard. All cabins got 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 KrisWorld is on Airbus A330, Airbus A380, and Boeing 777-300ER planes. It also has built-in office software for use with a USB port and power outlets.

In 2012, a new $400 million KrisWorld system was revealed. This system has bigger screens with better quality. It also has touch-screen controls and new software. Most importantly, it offers internet access on the plane. Singapore Airlines started offering Wi-Fi in August 2012. Passengers can now make calls, send texts, and use the internet for a fee. These new systems are on the Airbus A350-900 and updated B777-300ER planes. Some Airbus A380s also have in-flight Wi-Fi.

Airline Leadership

• Chairman: Peter Seah Lim Huat (since January 2017)
• Chief Executive: Goh Choon Phong (since January 2011)
• Vice President: David Lau (since November 2023)
• Chief Financial Officer: Jo-Ann Tan (since June 2023)

Past Chairmen

1. J. Y. Pillay (1972–1996)
2. Michael Fam Yue Onn (1997–2001)
3. Koh Boon Hwee (2001–2005)
4. Stephen Lee Ching Yen (2006–2016)

Past Chief Executives

1. Lim Chin Beng (1972–1982)
2. Cheong Choong Kong (1984–2003)
3. Chew Choon Seng (2003–2010)

Important Events and Incidents

A Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400 (registered as 9V-SPK) in the Tropical livery. This aircraft was involved in the Singapore Airlines Flight 006 accident.

• July 13, 1982 – A Boeing 747 flying from Singapore to Melbourne flew into ash from a volcano. Some engines stopped working. The plane made a safe emergency landing in Jakarta with two engines. All four engines were replaced.
• March 26, 1991 – Singapore Airlines Flight 117, an Airbus A310-300, was taken over by a group of people. It landed at Singapore Changi International Airport. Special forces quickly took control of the plane. All the hijackers were stopped, and no passengers or crew were harmed.
• October 31, 2000 – Singapore Airlines Flight 006, a Boeing 747-400, tried to take off from the wrong runway at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. It hit construction equipment on a closed runway. Sadly, 83 people out of 179 on board died, and 71 were injured. This was the only time a Singapore Airlines plane had a fatal accident.
• March 12, 2003 – A Boeing 747-400 flying from Auckland to Changi Airport had its tail hit the runway during takeoff. This caused damage to the plane's tail. The flight returned to Auckland safely, and no one was hurt. It was found that the pilots made a mistake in their calculations.
• June 27, 2016 – Singapore Airlines Flight 368, a Boeing 777-300ER, had an engine oil leak during a flight from Singapore to Milan. During an emergency landing back at Singapore Changi Airport, the right engine caught fire. The fire was put out quickly, and no one was injured.
• September 28, 2022 – A passenger on Singapore Airlines Flight 33 from San Francisco to Singapore made threats. The Republic of Singapore Air Force sent F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to escort the plane to Changi Airport. The threat was later found to be false.
• October 25, 2022 – A Boeing 777-300ER flying as SQ 319 from London Heathrow Airport to Changi Airport in Singapore had to change its route to Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. This was due to bad weather in Singapore. The weather also got bad in Batam, and after three tries, the plane landed with very little fuel left. No one was hurt, and the plane was not damaged.

See also

In Spanish: Singapore Airlines para niños

• List of airlines of Singapore
• Transport in Singapore