Our Heritage

On 2 November, Singapore Airlines unveils its latest cabin products which will be fitted to its Airbus A380 fleet starting from December, signifying an investment cost of USD850 million. The new products will enter service in December on the first of five new A380 aircraft entering the fleet. Retrofit work will also take place on 14 existing A380 aircraft. The new Singapore Airlines A380 will be configured with 471 seats in four classes, featuring six Singapore Airlines Suites and 78 Business Class seats on the upper deck, as well as 44 Premium Economy Class seats and 343 Economy Class seats on the main deck.

On 2 March, Singapore Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 in Toulouse. It is the first of 67 A350 aircraft on firm order, including seven of an ultra-long-range variant for which Singapore Airlines will be the launch customer.

On 21 September, Singapore Airlines launches its new ‘Capital Express’ service, linking Singapore for the first time with the capital cities of both Australia and New Zealand. Singapore Airlines is the first airline to operate regularly scheduled international services to and from Canberra. It is also the first airline with flights between Canberra and Wellington.

On 21 May, Singapore Airlines unveils its new Premium Economy Class seats and in-flight offerings. An investment of nearly US$80 million went into developing the new cabin product which features a contemporary and stylish design.

On 29 May, Singapore Airlines operates its first ever Charity Flight on the world's largest commercial aircraft, the Airbus A380, treating more than 300 beneficiaries to a three and a half hour flight.

On 9 August, a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 in special SG50 livery takes part in the aerial flypast of Singapore’s National Day Parade (NDP), celebrating the nation’s 50th birthday. It’s the first time Singapore Airlines has participated in the NDP flypast. 20 Singapore Girls on trishaws are also featured in the Vintage Parade segment.

On 9 July, Singapore Airlines launches its next generation of cabin products, set to be the new industry benchmark for premium air travel. Nearly US$150 million has been invested to introduce the new products on an initial eight Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. These products are the result of more than two years of working with world-renowned design firms.

On 6 September, Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia arrived safely in Singapore this morning, flown in comfort on board a Singapore Airlines Cargo Boeing 747-400 freighter. The approximately 4.5 hour flight, which departed from Chengdu, were scheduled to minimise any climate-related discomfort.

 On 18 May, Singapore Airlines presents its first cookbook, Above and Beyond: A Collection of Recipes from the Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel, with a collection of 50 delectable recipes contributed by the ten celebrated chefs.

 We take delivery of the first of 19 new Airbus A330-300 in Toulouse, France on 21 January. This aircraft has a unique two-class layout, with 30 seats in Business Class and 255 in Economy Class.

On 18 February, Singapore Airlines celebrates the one-millionth passenger on its Airbus A380 aircraft. To commemorate this special occasion, passengers across all three classes on board the aircraft are presented with champagne and special Singapore Airlines giveaways.

In January, SQ318 to London is the first flight to take off from the new Terminal 3 in Singapore Changi Airport.

The all-Business Class non-stop service from Singapore to Los Angeles begins in August.

We take delivery of the world’s first Airbus A380 in Toulouse, France on 15 October.

The future takes flight with our first Airbus A380 from Singapore to Sydney on 25 October.

In October, our comprehensive suite of new generation cabin products are introduced across all classes. These include the world’s widest First and Business Class seats, which transform into fully-flat beds.

On 15 October, we unveil the first new aircraft to join our fleet since 1997 – the ultra long-range Airbus A340-500.

KrisWorld is the first to provide audio- and video-on-demand to all passengers in all classes, starting October.

KrisFlyer, our frequent flyer programme, is launched. Members get to earn KrisFlyer miles when they fly with us, in any class of travel, which they can redeem for awards.

Our International Culinary Panel, comprising five world-acclaimed chefs from five countries, takes inflight dining to new heights.

In September, a S$500 million makeover unveils a new suite of cabin products across all classes of travel, together with a wider selection of cuisine and entertainment.

A waxwork of the Singapore Girl is unveiled at Madame Tussauds, the world-famous waxwork museum in London. It’s the first commercial figure to be displayed at the museum. Madame Tussauds said the Singapore Girl was chosen “to reflect the ever-growing popularity of international travel”, and commemorate the 21st birthday of both Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Girl.

Personal satellite-based phones onboard allow passengers to stay in touch with people on the ground while they’re in the air.

On 22 November, SQ23 from Amsterdam is our first flight to land at the new Terminal 2 in Singapore Changi Airport.

Tradewinds, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is announced in February as Singapore’s second airline. It has since become SilkAir, and grown its flight network to more than 30 destinations across Asia and in Australia.

We’re the first airline to send a Boeing 747-400 commercial flight from Singapore across the Pacific.

 The first Airbus A310-200 and Boeing 757 arrive in November, ready for flight.

Airline House, our corporate headquarters, officially opens at the Changi Airfreight Centre.

The first Boeing 747-300 flies to Los Angeles via Tokyo on 5 May.

The first Airbus A300 Superbus flies to Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta on 1 February.

On 1 July, our operations move from Paya Lebar Airport to our new home, the brand-new Singapore Changi Airport.

A hangar is built exclusively for the queen of the sky, the Boeing 747.

Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA) separates into two airlines, Malaysian Airline System, and Singapore Airlines as we know it today.

Our fleet expands to include the state-of-the-art Boeing 747, Boeing 727, and DC10.

Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), a Singapore Airlines subsidiary, is set up to manage ground services at Paya Lebar Airport.

We launched our first transcontinental service from Singapore to London on 2 June.

We’re the first to give out free headsets for the inflight entertainment system, and offer a choice of meals and drinks in Economy Class.

Five Boeing 737-100s join the fleet.

Our annual revenue hits S$100 million for the first time.

The sarong kebaya is introduced in 1968, and subsequently adapted by French couturier Pierre Balmain to become the signature outfit for the Singapore Girl.

Three new Boeing 707s mean more frequent flights, further, faster.

Malaysian Airways Limited becomes Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA) in May.

The Federation of Malaysia forms on 16 September. To commemorate this, Malayan Airways Limited becomes Malaysian Airways Limited.

Our DC-3 makes its inaugural flight to Brunei.

Four new DC-3s are added to the fleet.

Iced water isn’t the only item on the inflight menu anymore. We serve a choice of hot, cold and alcoholic beverages, as well as sandwiches, biscuits and cold cuts.

We introduce the original “female pursers”, who pave the way for the Singapore Girl some twenty years later.

Three new DC-3s are added to the fleet. We begin flying to North Borneo, Sarawak, Mergui and Rangoon.

The larger and faster Douglas DC-3s take off to Jakarta, Medan, Palembang and Saigon.

We introduce flights to Bangkok.

On 1 May, the Malayan Airways Limited (MAL) Airspeed Consul takes off from Singapore Kallang Airport. It’s the first of three flights a week to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang