https://www.scmp.com/rss/519869/feed Singapore Airlines, with its hub at Changi Airport, is the flag carrier of Singapore. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As Southeast Asia’s tourism sector takes a hit from the Iran war, a pivot to serving as alternative flight hubs may help to save the industry. The region’s major airlines are seeing rising demand for European routes as travellers avoid Middle Eastern hubs amid disruptive drone and missile attacks, according to Reuters. Singapore Airlines has joined other major Asian carriers, such as Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and Qantas Airways, in posting strong performances on Europe flights in March. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351081/how-southeast-asias-aviation-hubs-are-capturing-traffic-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351081/how-southeast-asias-aviation-hubs-are-capturing-traffic-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:55:40 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asian airlines are cutting flights, raising fares and reshuffling networks as the Iran war sends jet fuel prices soaring, leaving carriers across the region scrambling to protect their margins and preserve key routes. The shock has hit Asia especially hard because many economies depend heavily on fuel flows from the Middle East, according to aviation analysts, and some regional carriers are less protected from sudden price spikes than their counterparts in Europe or the US. “The impact has been... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350497/asian-airlines-face-major-headwind-jet-fuel-costs-forcing-flight-changes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350497/asian-airlines-face-major-headwind-jet-fuel-costs-forcing-flight-changes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:49:33 +0000 CNA CNA A man was charged on Tuesday with molesting and harassing an air stewardess on a Singapore Airlines flight on February 9. Akash Tiwari, a 36-year-old Indian national, is accused of using criminal force on the woman by using his body to make contact with the area around her buttocks. He is also accused of using threatening behaviour by following her to the galley area, cornering her in the confined space and continuing to pursue her, causing her to be distressed. A gag order was imposed on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346855/indian-man-charged-molesting-flight-attendant-singapore-airlines-plane?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3346855/indian-man-charged-molesting-flight-attendant-singapore-airlines-plane?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:19:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Asian carriers are among the best positioned airlines to weather the war in the Middle East as travellers scramble for flights – and pay premiums – to escape the conflict. Asian airlines have emerged as one of the go-to choices for people leaving the Middle East in the wake of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Extensive airspace closures mean carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways have essentially ground to a halt, creating opportunities for rivals that can fly non-stop between Europe and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345520/asian-airlines-emerge-top-travellers-fight-flights-out-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345520/asian-airlines-emerge-top-travellers-fight-flights-out-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:15:23 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Airspace closures across the Middle East have left tens of thousands of travellers stranded and forced airlines to divert routes, threatening to derail the fragile recovery in Asia’s tourism and aviation sectors, as the conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran continues to escalate. Major transit hubs, including Dubai and Doha, remain shut or are operating at reduced capacity for a third straight day, upending Europe–Asia connections that depend heavily on Gulf airspace. Airlines are... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3345150/asias-travel-sector-rattled-iran-attacks-fears-domino-effect-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3345150/asias-travel-sector-rattled-iran-attacks-fears-domino-effect-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:53:17 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore’s move to bar undesirable visitors from boarding planes to the city state began on Friday, with airlines flying into its airports required to deny access to passengers flagged as risks. The new directive is aimed at preventing “undesirable or prohibited immigrants, and those who do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements, from boarding flights bound for Singapore”, according to an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) statement released on November 28 last year. Airlines flying... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341803/singapore-begins-ban-undesirable-visitors-airline-boarding-rules-take-effect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341803/singapore-begins-ban-undesirable-visitors-airline-boarding-rules-take-effect?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 07:07:06 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong air travellers are being advised to leave their power banks at home and bring charging cables as several South Korean airlines become the latest to ban the use of the portable batteries during flights. A local tour operator issued the guidance on Friday after Hanjin Group announced that, starting from January 26, its five carriers would ban the use of the devices on board their aircraft as part of enhanced flight safety measures. Yuen Chun-ning, managing director at travel operator... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341043/air-travellers-urged-ditch-power-banks-more-airlines-ban-flight-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341043/air-travellers-urged-ditch-power-banks-more-airlines-ban-flight-use?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:41:54 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Philippine Airlines has drawn widespread praise online for a new in-flight safety video that turns routine cabin instructions into a full-blown Filipino soap opera. Titled Care that Comes from the Heart, the six-minute video borrows heavily from the tropes of a teleserye – the melodramatic television dramas that dominate Philippine prime time – weaving safety procedures into a story of doomed romance and family conflict. “What do you need to do to keep your love safe?” asks the trailer for the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3339305/love-tears-and-turbulence-philippine-airlines-soap-opera-safety-video-becomes-viral-hit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3339305/love-tears-and-turbulence-philippine-airlines-soap-opera-safety-video-becomes-viral-hit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 07:17:17 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele As a near-weekly flier, Qyira Yusri is attuned to the rising menace of in-flight theft, mainly by Chinese gangs targeting flights across Asia to pilfer cash, credit cards and luxury handbags stored in overhead compartments. She checks everything twice before boarding, puts aside her passport and phone and only places carry-on luggage overhead in her eye line. For the 30-year-old, whose next flight to Bangkok from Malaysia will be her 55th in a work-packed year, a healthy dose of paranoia... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3338155/mile-high-crime-club-theft-syndicates-target-asias-airlines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3338155/mile-high-crime-club-theft-syndicates-target-asias-airlines?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:30:08 +0000 CNA CNA A man who took a passenger’s luggage on a Singapore Airlines flight from Dubai to Singapore was jailed for 20 months on Tuesday. Liu Ming, a 26-year-old Chinese national, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft. The act was financed by a criminal syndicate and Liu had boarded the flight specifically to steal high-value items from business class passengers, the prosecution said. His case follows other convictions for on-board theft this year, including one case of an offender who had accomplices on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337555/singapore-airlines-passenger-jailed-flight-theft-targeting-business-class?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337555/singapore-airlines-passenger-jailed-flight-theft-targeting-business-class?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 01:17:09 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Noble Panacea, founded in 2019 by Nobel laureate Fraser Stoddart and CEO Céline Talabaza, is a pioneer in science-driven luxury skincare. Grounded in Stoddart’s award-winning chemistry research, the brand’s proprietary Organic Super Molecular Vessel (OSMV) technology enables the encapsulation of active ingredients at the molecular level, enhancing their potency and ensuring precise, targeted delivery. The company’s latest launch, the Absolute Peptide8 Night Serum, is a groundbreaking formula... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3335357/style-edit-noble-panacea-ceo-celine-talabaza-science-sustainability-and-women-stem?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3335357/style-edit-noble-panacea-ceo-celine-talabaza-science-sustainability-and-women-stem?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 02:00:22 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A small fire triggered by an overheated power bank broke out on a Singapore-bound Scoot flight from Hong Kong over the weekend, but it was quickly extinguished by the cabin crew, with no injuries reported. Singapore Airlines’ budget arm Scoot on Sunday confirmed the incident took place on flight TR939, which departed from Hong Kong International Airport for the city state at 5.49pm the day before. A spokesman said an overheated power bank had caused a small flame in the cabin, which was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3333909/hot-power-bank-causes-small-fire-aboard-scoot-flight-hong-kong-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3333909/hot-power-bank-causes-small-fire-aboard-scoot-flight-hong-kong-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 06:20:42 +0000 Reuters Reuters Singapore Airlines on Thursday reported a sharp fall in first-half profit, hit by losses at its Indian associate Air India, higher costs and intensifying competition. The airline’s profit slid steeply in the second quarter to S$52 million (US$40.18 million) from S$186 million in the first quarter, highlighting Air India’s drag on performance. Singapore Airlines began accounting for Air India’s earnings in December 2024 after the integration of joint venture Vistara into Air India. The Singapore... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3332839/singapore-airlines-profit-drops-68-amid-air-india-losses-and-rising-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3332839/singapore-airlines-profit-drops-68-amid-air-india-losses-and-rising-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:50:19 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Demon, spirit, ghost or monster? How Chinese mythology separates them According to ancient Chinese legend, the Hungry Ghost Festival is when the gate to the underworld opens, allowing ghosts of the deceased to pass through to the realm of the living. But not all ancestors have good intentions, and it is not just human... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3325135/chinese-supernatural-beings-explained-30kg-weight-loss-journey-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3325135/chinese-supernatural-beings-explained-30kg-weight-loss-journey-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott Singapore Airlines (SIA), the city state’s national carrier, has unveiled its new in-flight safety video. From early reports, it has been given two thumbs up from social media users. With a run time of five minutes, 39 seconds, the video – SIA’s first new safety video in eight years – takes viewers on a journey through Singapore’s diverse communities, with cabin crew visiting landmarks such as the Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa, Lau Pa Sat and Jurong Lake Gardens. Blending real-life... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3324486/singapore-airlines-new-safety-video-vs-cathay-pacifics-how-do-they-compare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3324486/singapore-airlines-new-safety-video-vs-cathay-pacifics-how-do-they-compare?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:15:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore has pledged to strengthen aviation safety practices around in-flight turbulence after two accidents last year that resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. Severe turbulence will now be classified as a state-level operational safety risk, alongside runway incursions, mid-air collisions and system failures, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in its Singapore National Aviation Safety Plan for 2025-2027, released on Wednesday. The report identified 45 actions to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3324257/singapore-elevates-turbulence-top-aviation-safety-risk-amid-rising-mid-air-instability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3324257/singapore-elevates-turbulence-top-aviation-safety-risk-amid-rising-mid-air-instability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 01:35:30 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore’s Temasek Holdings is mulling one of its biggest overhauls in years, potentially reorganising the firm into three investment vehicles in a bid to boost returns and efficiencies, according to people familiar with the matter. Under the proposal still being discussed at senior levels, Singapore’s state-owned investor could divide its business into three arms. One would focus on Temasek’s biggest domestic holdings, such as Singapore Airlines, and another would oversee largely foreign... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3322544/singapores-temasek-mulls-major-overhaul-boost-returns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3322544/singapores-temasek-mulls-major-overhaul-boost-returns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:31:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Jetstar Asia’s recent closure highlights the need for budget carriers in Asia to rethink their fare strategies, with analysts warning that the industry is expected to continue facing pressure on its profit margins due to economic volatility, rising costs and intense competition. The Singapore-based subsidiary of Qantas was the latest casualty in a sector already squeezed by high fuel prices and supply chain bottlenecks. Its exit leaves the Singapore Airlines Group as the only airline group based... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3320687/jetstar-asias-exit-spotlights-asias-budget-airline-squeeze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3320687/jetstar-asias-exit-spotlights-asias-budget-airline-squeeze?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:15:30 +0000 June Xia,Mandy Zuo June Xia,Mandy Zuo China’s aviation authorities have imposed an emergency ban on air passengers’ carrying substandard power banks, catching many travellers off guard. The safety precaution, which went into effect on June 28, two days after being announced by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), has triggered questions and concerns. Here are six points that people travelling to and within China need to know – from which power banks are still allowed, to what can be done with ineligible ones at the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316836/chinas-power-bank-crackdown-6-preflight-answers-wary-travellers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316836/chinas-power-bank-crackdown-6-preflight-answers-wary-travellers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:00:30 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Almost 5 per cent of international flights to the Middle East have been cancelled this month due to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, which has made the region more unstable after the US bombarded key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself. According to data from aviation analytics company Cirium, 1,552 out of 32,583, or 4.76 per cent of scheduled flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Doha, and Abu Dhabi worldwide were cancelled this month. There were no cancellations of flights... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3315535/middle-east-conflict-hits-global-aviation-hong-kong-routes-unaffected?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3315535/middle-east-conflict-hits-global-aviation-hong-kong-routes-unaffected?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:20:55 +0000 Reuters,Bloomberg Reuters,Bloomberg Commercial airlines around the world on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights after the United States struck three nuclear sites in Iran and Tehran vowed to retaliate. Singapore Airlines, one of the highest-profile carriers in Asia, had called the situation “fluid” on Sunday as it cancelled flights from Singapore to Dubai following a security assessment. The Middle East route has become more important for flights between Europe and Asia since Russian and Ukrainian airspace... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3315423/singapore-airlines-gulf-flight-freeze-amid-us-iran-escalation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3315423/singapore-airlines-gulf-flight-freeze-amid-us-iran-escalation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Jun 2025 01:31:47 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore Airlines is facing a lawsuit in the United States after a New York paediatrician claimed she suffered a severe allergic reaction mid-flight when she was served shrimp despite having warned cabin crew of her shellfish allergy. The incident forced the aircraft to divert to Paris for emergency medical care. In a complaint filed on Tuesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Dr Doreen Benary alleged that her explicit allergy disclosure was overlooked during meal... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3315290/us-woman-sues-singapore-airlines-over-alleged-allergy-oversight-led-emergency-landing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3315290/us-woman-sues-singapore-airlines-over-alleged-allergy-oversight-led-emergency-landing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 12:48:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Dozens of flights to and from Indonesia’s resort island of Bali were cancelled on Wednesday, according to authorities and the island’s airport, after a volcano in the archipelago’s east erupted, shooting an ash tower 10km (6 miles) into the sky. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584-metre (5,197-foot) volcano on the tourist island of Flores, erupted on Tuesday, with authorities raising its alert status to the highest level of a four-tiered system. “Due to volcanic activity of Lewatobi Laki-Laki in... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3314845/singapore-china-india-airlines-cancel-bali-flights-after-volcano-erupts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3314845/singapore-china-india-airlines-cancel-bali-flights-after-volcano-erupts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 01:42:30 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau The shutdown of Singapore-based airline Jetstar Asia is a sign of turbulent times ahead for budget carriers in the region as they grapple with higher costs and stiffer competition, aviation analysts have said. On Wednesday, Jetstar Asia, the low-cost arm of Australian airline Qantas, announced that it would close down at the end of July. The decision followed a review of the budget airline, which had in recent years been challenged by rising supplier costs, airport fees, aviation charges and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3314046/singapore-based-jetstar-asias-exit-signals-turbulent-times-low-cost-airlines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3314046/singapore-based-jetstar-asias-exit-signals-turbulent-times-low-cost-airlines?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 12:04:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters Australia’s Qantas Airways will close its Singapore-based budget airline Jetstar Asia, the group said on Wednesday, blaming rising supplier costs, high airport fees and strong regional competition. The shutdown of the 20-year-old airline next month will result in up to 500 job losses, a Qantas spokesperson said, and Jetstar Asia’s fleet of 13 Airbus A320 planes will be redeployed to Australia and New Zealand. Cost increases have been seen across “the whole ecosystem we operate out of”, Jetstar... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3313928/australias-qantas-close-jetstar-asia-amid-stiff-competition-rising-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3313928/australias-qantas-close-jetstar-asia-amid-stiff-competition-rising-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 01:01:59 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng A China Southern Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen was forced to return to the airport 15 minutes after take-off on Saturday after the crew found smoke coming from a passenger’s camera battery and power bank. According to a social media post by the airline, the camera batteries and power bank of a passenger on board flight CZ6850 started to produce smoke soon after taking off. “The crew handled it properly and quickly eliminated the safety risk. To ensure safety, the flight immediately... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3312593/china-flight-turns-back-after-smoke-found-coming-camera-battery-power-bank?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3312593/china-flight-turns-back-after-smoke-found-coming-camera-battery-power-bank?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 10:23:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Singapore authorities said on Tuesday that an investigation into a Singapore Airlines flight last year that hit turbulence, injuring dozens of people and killing one, was still awaiting analysis of the plane’s weather radar system. A 73-year-old passenger died of a suspected heart attack in the incident, which occurred after flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered what the airline described as sudden, extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar. It was civil aviation’s first death... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3311997/turbulence-hit-singapore-airlines-jets-weather-radar-system-sent-tests-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3311997/turbulence-hit-singapore-airlines-jets-weather-radar-system-sent-tests-us?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 10:46:06 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Broken bodies, shattered minds: lasting toll of Singapore Airlines turbulence 2. Anwar Ibrahim mints a dynasty – but Malaysia’s youth aren’t buying it 3. North Korean warship launch flops before Kim Jong-un, a blow to his ‘prestige’ 4. How India and Pakistan are... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3311893/singapore-airlines-incident-year-kim-jong-un-watches-warship-flop-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3311893/singapore-airlines-incident-year-kim-jong-un-watches-warship-flop-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 03:22:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China speeds up Pakistan dam construction after Indian threat to cut supplies China has said it was accelerating work on a “flagship” dam in Pakistan in the wake of India’s recent threats to cut off water supplies. 2. India’s Prachand... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3311327/singapore-airlines-turbulence-1-year-china-pushes-pakistan-dam-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3311327/singapore-airlines-turbulence-1-year-china-pushes-pakistan-dam-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 04:12:08 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways may find itself in a weaker position in the race for global talent, an analyst has said, after two of the airline’s major rivals dished out heftier bonuses for at least two straight years. Singapore Airlines (SIA) offered employees a profit-sharing bonus equivalent to 7.45 months’ pay after reporting a record net profit of S$2.78 billion (US$2.15 billion) for 2024-25, surpassing analysts’ expectations. The amount is slightly lower than the 7.94... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3311443/can-hong-kongs-cathay-compete-against-rivals-dishing-out-hefty-bonuses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3311443/can-hong-kongs-cathay-compete-against-rivals-dishing-out-hefty-bonuses?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 00:30:08 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A year after Singapore Airlines flight 321 was struck by severe turbulence, many passengers are still struggling with the trauma, as medical evaluations and efforts to secure compensation from the airline continue. The Boeing 777, en route from London to Singapore, encountered violent turbulence on May 21, forcing an emergency diversion to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. A British man died and several other passengers among the 211 on board were injured in the incident. Inside the battered... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3311188/singapore-airlines-turbulence-hit-passengers-still-suffering-1-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3311188/singapore-airlines-turbulence-hit-passengers-still-suffering-1-year?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 06:33:18 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Singapore Airlines Ltd. will reward employees with a profit-sharing bonus worth more than seven months after delivering full-year net income of S$2.78 billion (US$2.1 billion) that beat analyst estimates. Employees will be paid 7.45 months’ bonus, lower than the 7.94 months received a year ago, chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong said on Friday. The smaller bonus payout comes as Singapore Airlines on Thursday warned that tariff and trade tensions on top of broader economic and geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3310552/singapore-airlines-pay-staff-over-7-months-bonus-warns-trumps-tariffs-hurting-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3310552/singapore-airlines-pay-staff-over-7-months-bonus-warns-trumps-tariffs-hurting-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 May 2025 01:04:11 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways ranked ninth for on-time performance among Asia-Pacific airlines in April, while its regional rival Singapore Airlines dropped out of the top 10 list, a flight intelligence service provider said on Thursday. Cathay Pacific earned its ninth place by achieving an on-time arrival rate of 78.13 per cent, according to Cirium’s On-Time Performance Monthly Report, which provides insights into airline and airport punctuality. Philippine Airlines topped the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3309570/how-does-hong-kongs-cathay-stack-among-regional-airlines-punctuality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3309570/how-does-hong-kongs-cathay-stack-among-regional-airlines-punctuality?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2025 09:17:26 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Despite several high-profile incidents, travellers in the Asia-Pacific area routinely bring devices powered by lithium-ion batteries on flights and still have little understanding of the potential risks, a poll has found. The survey indicated that a quarter of respondents reported storing these batteries in their checked luggage, and alarmingly, 28 per cent admitted to having no knowledge about the associated dangers. However, 76 per cent of passengers said that an airline’s battery safety... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3309442/asia-pacific-air-passengers-unaware-lithium-battery-risks-poll-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3309442/asia-pacific-air-passengers-unaware-lithium-battery-risks-poll-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 May 2025 10:57:24 +0000 India’s airlines are set for a landmark week, with two milestones days apart, that will redefine the competitive landscape in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Vistara operates its final flight on Monday before its planned merger with Air India kicks in the following day, marking the end of a complex and messy two-year long process. On Thursday, market leader IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., debuts its business-class cabins on select routes as it ventures beyond... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3285992/indias-top-2-airlines-vie-each-others-customers-its-long-term-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3285992/indias-top-2-airlines-vie-each-others-customers-its-long-term-game?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Nov 2024 01:17:22 +0000 Singapore Airlines Ltd. is introducing first class on its ultra-long-haul flights for the first time as part of a sweeping S$1.1 billion (US$843 million) upgrade to its cabin products. Singapore’s flag carrier, already routinely ranked as the world’s No 1 airline with its generous pourings of champagne and ability to book the cook and order Lobster Thermidor, unveiled its fresh and completely redesigned first and business class seats – with all-new privacy doors – on Monday. To start, Singapore... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3285190/singapores-flag-carrier-debut-first-class-seats-ultra-long-haul-flights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3285190/singapores-flag-carrier-debut-first-class-seats-ultra-long-haul-flights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Nov 2024 01:47:48 +0000 Singapore Airlines has rolled out discounts of up to 60 per cent on airfares for Hong Kong travellers to Asia-Pacific destinations ranging from Bali and the Maldives to Australia in an aggressive scramble for fliers amid increasingly fierce competition among regional airlines. The move is set to spark a new airfare discount war in Hong Kong and put pressure on regional rival Cathay Pacific Airways to introduce more promotional offers. Singapore Airlines announced on Thursday that it was offering... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3280078/singapore-airlines-offers-hong-kong-fliers-tickets-regional-destinations-discounted-60?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3280078/singapore-airlines-offers-hong-kong-fliers-tickets-regional-destinations-discounted-60?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:03:48 +0000 Singapore Airlines has confirmed it removed an elderly passenger from a flight at Hong Kong airport for “repeatedly verbally abusing” crew members before take-off and turned him over to authorities. A spokesman for the carrier told the Post on Saturday that a passenger on board Singapore-bound flight SQ897 on Tuesday was handed over to authorities at Hong Kong International Airport. “After repeatedly verbally abusing the cabin crew on board, our pilots assessed the situation and decided to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3278542/man-71-hauled-flight-hong-kong-airport-verbally-abusing-singapore-airlines-crew?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3278542/man-71-hauled-flight-hong-kong-airport-verbally-abusing-singapore-airlines-crew?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Sep 2024 11:52:29 +0000 Some of Asia’s largest operators of the Airbus A350, including Singapore Airlines, said they would undertake checks of their fleet after Cathay Pacific Airways’s mid-flight discovery of an engine component issue in the aircraft type. Singapore’s flag carrier said it would inspect all the engines powering its fleet of 64 A350-900 aircraft as a “precautionary measure”, stressing there was no current impact on its flights. The carrier said it was in contact with Airbus and engine-maker Rolls-Royce... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3277126/singapore-airlines-follows-cathay-pacifics-lead-acts-airbus-a350-safety-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3277126/singapore-airlines-follows-cathay-pacifics-lead-acts-airbus-a350-safety-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Sep 2024 04:20:41 +0000 A report of white smoke coming from a landing Singapore Airlines plane forced a runway at Japan’s Narita airport to close temporarily on Monday, officials said, though responders found no signs of fire and no one was injured. The smoke prompted six fire engines and two ambulances to rush to the scene, and Narita’s runway B was closed from around 7:40am (local time), shortly after the flight landed at the gateway to Tokyo, airport and fire officials said. “We received a report of white smoke... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3274126/smoke-singapore-airlines-plane-forces-runway-closure-japans-narita-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3274126/smoke-singapore-airlines-plane-forces-runway-closure-japans-narita-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Aug 2024 03:49:53 +0000 Singapore Airlines on Wednesday warned that a key revenue metric would remain under pressure this year as rising competition crimps average fares and higher fuel costs dent group profit. Airlines globally have been increasing the number of flights and routes as they rebuild after the pandemic and cater to robust air travel demand, especially during the summer months. This has resulted in heightened competition, squeezing airlines’ margins as ticket prices take a hit and fuel costs rise. “The... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3272682/singapore-airlines-warns-competition-fuel-costs-affect-revenues-profitability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3272682/singapore-airlines-warns-competition-fuel-costs-affect-revenues-profitability?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Jul 2024 22:00:17 +0000 Singapore Airlines has sent out offers of compensation to passengers of turbulence-hit flight SQ321, with those who suffered minor injuries able to claim US$10,000 from the carrier. An aviation law expert who spoke to This Week in Asia said that while it was standard practice for airlines to offer compensation after such incidents, the payout for light injuries in this case was more generous, given the serious turbulence and massive publicity it attracted. In a social media update on Tuesday,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3266116/singapore-airlines-offers-sq321-victims-least-us10000-compensation-generous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3266116/singapore-airlines-offers-sq321-victims-least-us10000-compensation-generous?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jun 2024 04:28:46 +0000 Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines (SIA), two of Asia’s top aviation firms, have tied up to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the region, a critical initiative for a sector which is facing decarbonisation challenges. The chief executive officers of the Hong Kong-based and Singapore-based airlines on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of the 80th International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting and world air transport summit... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3265572/rivals-cathay-pacific-singapore-airlines-team-source-sustainable-aviation-fuel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3265572/rivals-cathay-pacific-singapore-airlines-team-source-sustainable-aviation-fuel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jun 2024 05:15:09 +0000 When junior doctor Amos Chan woke up while on his flight from London to Singapore, he was lying in the aisle two rows behind his seat. That was when he realised he must have passed out. Chan and wife Ade Tan, also a junior doctor, were flying back from their honeymoon in Iceland on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 on May 21 when the aircraft was hit by severe turbulence that left one dead and dozens injured. The couple, both 28 years old, told This Week In Asia on Friday they were waiting for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3264900/singapore-airlines-turbulence-doctor-couple-sq321-describes-mass-casualty-scenario-aiding-others?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3264900/singapore-airlines-turbulence-doctor-couple-sq321-describes-mass-casualty-scenario-aiding-others?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 May 2024 09:07:06 +0000 The turbulence experienced on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 was likely caused by rapid changes to the gravitational force (G) exerted on the aircraft after an “uncommanded increase in aircraft altitude and airspeed”, preliminary investigations have found. The rapid changes in gravitational force over 4.6 seconds resulted in an altitude drop of 178 feet (54 metres), which likely caused the injuries to the crew and passengers, said Singapore’s Transport Ministry on Wednesday. The preliminary... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/article/3264592/singapore-airlines-sq321-turbulence-rapid-gravitational-force-changes-likely-led-injuries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/article/3264592/singapore-airlines-sq321-turbulence-rapid-gravitational-force-changes-likely-led-injuries?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 May 2024 11:13:29 +0000 Thirty-four Singapore Airlines Ltd. passengers remain hospitalised in Bangkok almost one week after their flight struck turbulence, underscoring the severity of the fatal incident. In an update late on Monday, the airline said 50 people who were on the London-Singapore service on May 21 are still in the Thai capital, including those receiving medical treatment. All the crew from Flight SQ321 have returned to Singapore. Thai authorities have said most of the injuries involved the head or spine,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3264379/34-singapore-airlines-passengers-still-hospital-1-week-after-deadly-turbulence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3264379/34-singapore-airlines-passengers-still-hospital-1-week-after-deadly-turbulence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 May 2024 06:32:08 +0000 Last week, a Singapore Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence that left one passenger dead and dozens injured. While the episode has been described as a freak incident, it is making people wonder what could have caused such a serious disruption to the flight and whether climate change will worsen the frequency and intensity of turbulence during air travel. Already, turbulence is the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in on-board accidents. Hours after takeoff from London on May 20, the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3264170/singapore-airlines-turbulence-how-climate-change-has-hit-flight-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3264170/singapore-airlines-turbulence-how-climate-change-has-hit-flight-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 May 2024 01:30:08 +0000 The Singapore Airlines (SIA) aircraft that operated turbulence-hit flight SQ321 returned to Singapore on Sunday, five days after it made an emergency landing in Bangkok. The plane landed in Singapore at 1.39pm, SIA said in response to CNA’s query. According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, the plane, now SQ9071, departed Bangkok at 10.49am local time. “SIA obtained the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities in Singapore and Thailand, the investigators, and the aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3264150/singapore-airlines-turbulence-aircraft-operated-sq321-returns-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3264150/singapore-airlines-turbulence-aircraft-operated-sq321-returns-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 May 2024 07:03:51 +0000 Stopping all airline meal service when the seat belt sign is turned on may not be the most effective way to tackle the risk that turbulence poses to passengers, the head of the union representing Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways flight crew has said, after rival Singapore Airlines adopted the measure following a fatal incident earlier this week. Paul Weatherilt, chairman of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, told the Post on Saturday tightening cabin service rules could bring about... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3264112/singapore-airlines-turbulence-stopping-meal-service-rule-may-not-be-best-way-tackle-risk-passengers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3264112/singapore-airlines-turbulence-stopping-meal-service-rule-may-not-be-best-way-tackle-risk-passengers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 May 2024 14:54:54 +0000 Passengers with spinal and brain injuries could seek eight-figure payouts, one lawyer said, as the extent of the harm following the Singapore Airlines flight that encountered extreme turbulence becomes clearer. Prior payouts for similarly severe injuries escalated “easily into seven and sometimes eight-figure claims,” Peter Neenan, a partner specialising in aviation litigation at London-based firm Stewarts, said in an interview. Several dozen people suffered traumatic, and potentially... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3264027/singapore-airlines-turbulence-carrier-may-face-hefty-payout-pressure-after-sq321-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3264027/singapore-airlines-turbulence-carrier-may-face-hefty-payout-pressure-after-sq321-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 May 2024 22:00:12 +0000