History of Singapore Airlines

In some ways, the history of Singapore Airlines mimics the history of modern Singapore. The main airline serving Singapore underwent several name changes that reflected what was happening geopolitically: it was called "Malayan Airways", then "Malaysian Airways", then "Malaysia-Singapore Airlines", and finally, "Singapore Airlines" in 1972. Also, just like Singapore rapidly moved from Third World to First, Singapore Airlines leapt from obscurity to become a world-class airline. This leap was rapid: for example, in 1977, Singapore Airlines used the Concorde for the Singapore-London route, becoming one of only a few airlines to ever use the majestic aircraft.

The airline has also been central to Singapore's image. Singapore Airlines has a reputation for being efficient, on-time, and delivering impeccable service, exactly what Lee Kuan Yew wanted foreigners to think about Singapore. In fact, Lee Kuan Yew valued a world-class Singapore Airlines so much that he intervened twice when airline pilots went on strike:

In the video, Lee Kuan Yew describes how he talked to the pilots face-to-face and got them to stop their strike. Towards the end of the video, you can hear his famous quote: "Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him or give it up. This is not a game of cards."

Here's an interesting video about the history of Singapore Airlines:

Part 2: