Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) wholly-owned subsidiary, SIA Cargo, will be re-integrated as a Division within SIA.
This move intends to improve efficiency through greater synergy with the wider SIA Group, the airline said in a press statement on May 19, 2017.
The re-integration is expected to be completed in the first half of 2018 – SIA Cargo will become the ‘Cargo Division’ of SIA. It will be business as usual from a customer perspective, as there will be no change to SIA Cargo’s operations. Seven Boeing 747-400 Freighter aircraft will continue to be operated, while the Cargo Division will continue to manage the passenger aircraft ‘bellyhold’ space for SIA, SilkAir and Scoot.
SIA Cargo was a Division of SIA until 1 July 2001, when it became a separate company within the SIA Group. The cargo was in the process of growing its fleet to up to 17 747-400Fs, and it was better suited to carry out its expansion as a standalone all-cargo airline.
The airfreight market has since seen structural change, however. SIA Cargo’s freighter fleet has been reduced to the current seven aircraft while the proportion of revenue from passenger aircraft ‘bellyhold’ capacity has increased significantly.
The majority of SIA Cargo’s nearly 900 employees will be retained in the new Cargo Division. Some will be transferred to other SIA Divisions. The integration will provide new opportunities for staff development within the larger SIA organisation.
“Re-integrating SIA Cargo as a Division within Singapore Airlines makes sense from a business standpoint. It will improve efficiency and offer greater flexibility for staff deployment by maximising synergies with the larger SIA business,” said Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, SIA.
“Cargo remains an important part of our business, and we remain committed to operating a fleet of dedicated freighter aircraft to carry specialised cargo and provide feed to the overall SIA Group network.”