The Queen of the Skies.
Since 1973, Singapore Airlines 747s have been one of the most iconic and beloved aircraft in the world, flying millions of passengers to cities across the globe.
We've Always Believed in Breathing Space.
Singapore Airlines 747s have been about comfort since the get-go, when we modified our aircraft to seat 349 passengers instead of the usual 500.
Foreign exchange.
In 1972, the Airline sent six cabin crew members to Los Angeles to learn how to better attend to passengers on superjets like the 747.
A Capacity for Luxury.
A trio of executives from the Airline in the specially designed "Tiger Lounge" aboard a 747 at Boeing's Seattle airfield.
Weighing our Options.
In 1972, we visited Boeing and McDonnell Douglas to decide which superjet to purchase — the B747 or the DC10. The rest is history.
The Brains of our Operation.
We've been at the cutting edge of communications since the 1970s. The Flight Control Centre pictured here would eventually evolve into a network of computers that spans the world.
Singapore's 747: Magic Takes Flight
"The memories are still so vivid...the sheer size of the aircraft. There was some kind of magic to it." -- Hazel Dhing, SIA Stewardess on first seeing the 747
Practice Makes Perfect.
Singapore Airlines' revolutionary cabin mockup trainer allows our crew to refine their service without ever leaving the ground.
Dawn of the Jumbo Jet
In 1973, the world had seen nothing like the B747. At 255 feet long, the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina could have taken place inside the 747's main body.
Hot off the Press.
1979—With its inflight innovations and ever-charming cabin crew, Singapore Airlines was making waves just a few years after its birth.
Putting the Romance Back in Travel
"Built to carry hundreds of people over thousands of miles in comfort and safety, the 747 has a distinctive aura of romance about it." -- Bob Candiotti, SIA Los Angeles
Sliding to Safety.
Our cabin mockup also includes an Evacuation Trainer with a wave pool; allowing cabin crew to practice for emergency situations.
Let her show you the world.
Always courteous, gentle, and ready to serve with a smile, the Singapore Girl has been Singapore's unofficial ambassador to the world since 1972.
Singapore's flower girl.
The Singapore Girl Orchid, a hybrid bred specially for the Airline's 50th anniversary, marked the coming together of two national icons — the orchid and the Singapore Girl.
You Could Call Us Repeat Customers.
On 12 October 1993, Singapore Airlines took delivery of Boeing's 1000th 747, marking a decades-long business relationship between the two companies.
A traditional welcome.
1983—Traditional Lion Dancers wait on the tarmac to greet passengers arriving on the first Big Top 747 flight.
Building the future.
An engineer performs a high-intensity welding job on 747 components. Our Engineering Company is the Airline's technological backbone.
Mapping the skies.
A group of Singapore Airlines pilots prepare their flight plan, a document that must be filed with aviation authorities prior to every flight.
We're Famous from Singapore to Seattle
Seattle, 1983—Following our purchase of the first Big Top 747, the Governor of Washington declared it Singapor e Airlines Week in Seattle.
Key to the Future
Seattle, 1983—Boeing Executive Vice-President Clarence Wilde hands over the keys of the first Big Top 747 to SI A Group Chairman J.Y.M. Pillay.
All hands on deck
1982—Engineers at Boeing's Seattle facility work on one of the Big Top's 20 sub-sections.
Top Gear.
The landing gear of a Boeing 747 has 18 wheels, all the better to support a maximum weight of nearly half a millio n kilogrammes.
The taste of perfection.
Not only do the chefs at Singapore Airlines' in-flight catering centre create over 4,000 different recipes a year , they also get the meals ready every day — all 50,000 of them.
Not Even the Sky Could Limit Us
The B747-400 Megatop could fly so far and so fast, it conquered the previously unassailable headwinds between Asi a and Europe, getting us to London in a single flight.
All systems go.
Singapore Airlines Engineering Company inspects and maintains our aircraft on a regular basis. The most intensive o f these is the 747's "D" Check, occurring after 35,800 flight-hours.
Far from an empty vessel.
The B747 Mega Ark — with a capacity of 110 tons, it was as revolutionary a cargo aircraft as the Megatop was a passenger plane.
Ruling the roost.
A Singapore Airlines 747 is towed into one of our engineering hangars — among the largest in the world.
The Soaring Heights of Service
Singapore Airlines' Boeing 747s look majestic on the tarmac, but they're best when in their element: carryin g passengers in unrivaled comfort at 30,000 feet.
The Jumbo's Jet
An engineer runs tests on a Pratt & Whitney turbofan engine. These powerful airbreathing engines keep our 747s flyin g at speeds over 900 kilometres an hour.
A warm welcome home
1983—Journalists, VIPs, and onlookers crowd the tarmac at Changi Airport to welcome the Big Top home.
The Atlantic crossing
Frankfurt, 1992—A poster at our sales office promoting the newly inaugurated Frankfurt-New York Megatop flight.
A good flight's sleep
We believe in resting comfortably, so in 2005, we had legendary fashion house Givenchy create sleeper suit s exclusively for our First Class passengers.
Before the blockbusters
Before the days of personal video screens and blockbuster movies, we were keeping our travellers entertained wit h board games and mind benders.
A presidential caller
When Singapore Airlines sat down with Boeing to sign the order for our B777s, we received an unexpecte d congratulatory phone call from former United States President Bill Clinton.
We've Got the Best Sound in the Sky.
When you're at 30,000 feet, there's nothing more relaxing than withdrawing into yourself. Which is why we introduce d Dolby Headphone Technology to passengers in all classes of travel.
Getting started
On a wet Seattle morning in October 1996, Singapore Airlines Technical Manager Noel Han was invited to initiate th e assembly of our B777's wing component, symbolizing the start of major assembly on our newest aircraft fleet.
A jubilant welcome
Continuing a tradition begun with the Jumbo Jet, lion dancers were on hand to give a customary Singapore welcome t o our B777.
Childlike wonder
Travel fills us with a sense of wonder, so we can only imagine how it feels to a child. Over the years, we've ha d special programmes for our young fliers—from the Junior Jet programme to the Young Explorer's Club.
Simulated Reality
Singapore Airlines uses a number of sophisticated flight simulators to prepare our pilots for flight duties aboar d the different aircraft in our fleet.
The Software Behind the Hardware.
Technological innovation works best when tempered by a human touch. Which is why we didn't upgrade the speed of ou r inflight ovens once we learned that the resulting noise would disturb our passengers.
Cinema above the clouds
Our inflight film selections aren't just blockbusters—every month, we search for the best of cinema around the world , to bring you a truly global in-cabin experience.
The Height of Connectivity
On 25 September 1991, Singapore Airlines launched Celestel, the world's first inflight telephone service, allowin g passengers to stay connected no matter how long the journey.
The philosophy of comfort
The design philosophy of our Business Class seats is so simple it can be summed up in a sentence: people sit o n leather, but they should sleep on fabric.
A Hint of Romance in Your Travels.
A beautiful journey calls for sensory delight. And over the years, we've teamed up with the finest names in the field—Ferragamo, Bulgari, Givenchy—to bring travellers amenities that add a special touch of romance to their journe y.
Biggest fleet in the sky
At one point in the 1990s, we had the most B747 Megatops in the sky. In 2005, we upheld the tradition by becoming th e world's largest B777 operator at the time, with 58 777s in our fleet.
A life-long partnership
We 've always had a big relationship with Boeing. In 2006, we took delivery of the 600th B777 to come out of Boeing's Seattle workshop, cementing our position as the foremost 777 operator at that time.
Unlimited access
The Boeing 777 features a maintenance access terminal that logs every incident across the aircraft's 3 millio n components, making repairs that much easier.
Romance in the Orient.
The elegant feel of our First Class cabin was created by design firm James Park and Associates, famous for their wor k on the legendary Orient Express.
Proud to Present
Our fiftieth birthday was a good one. Not only did we get our first B777, we also introduced our Wiseme n Entertainment System, putting the ability to pause, play and rewind into the hands of our passengers.
Back to School
The B777 was years ahead of any other aircraft at the time, so much so that we had to send teams of pilots t o Boeing's school in Seattle to learn how to fly it.
Degrees of relaxation
Though we've broken barriers of time and distance, perhaps the most important milestone was the first time we made a seat that could recline all the way to a sleeping position.
Toy Story
We 've always been a big believer in fun and games. From the Mind Teasers and colouring books of yesteryear, to modern games from Hasbro, we want our junior fliers to have the time of the sky.
Serving the Freshest Food in the Sky
No matter how long the journey, we insist on serving food as fresh as if it were just made. All our componen t ingredients are made fresh – even the soups and sauces.
Keeping their composure
During their training, our cabin crew are put in situations that stretch their service excellence and intuition t o the highest degree, so that they can react with composure and elegance when in the sky.
Taster's Choice
Every few months, our food and beverage team gathers to sample and evaluate the latest gastronomic delights concocted by our International Culinary Panel of chefs, in order to determine which of them will be served on our flights.
The Gourmet Option
A fine dining experience is nothing without choice; which is why we created our Book the Cook service, allowing premium class passengers to choose their meals before even setting foot on the aircraft.
Learning is a Lifelong Passion
The world is ever-evolving, and so Singapore Airlines' cabin crew keep up with their training, no matter how long they've been flying for.
A Taste of Home
Travelling fast and far around the world can be a disorienting experience. Which is why we make it a point to carry newspapers from the home countries of our passengers – so they can feel at home, no matter where they are.
Service at the heart of Singapore
A great flight starts at home – that's why we opened our customer service centre at the Ion Orchard. In the heart o f Singapore's shopping district, it's at the perfect location for great service.
Tis the season
Our commitment to fresh food allows our customers to indulge in the finest seasonal ingredients. In 2011, our Strawberry Special saw the introduction of unique menu items made with the world's best strawberries.
Keeping You Connected in the Sky
Just because you're in the air doesn't mean you want to be disconnected from the world. At Singapore Airlines, we understand that. Which is why our inflight connectivity has kept up with the times. We've gone from phones and fax machines to USB plugs and wireless inflight connectivity. All so that you can reconnect with your world, if yo u choose to.
All on the board
We serve gourmet cheese from around the globe, and our cabin crew have been extensively trained in cutting, serving, and pairing them alongside the finest wines in the sky.
Room Overhead
Space isn't just about where you're sitting, it's about the whole environment. That's why we removed the overhead storage in the centre row of our Boeing 777-300ER's First Class cabin, and in the Business Class cabins of some o f our Airbus A380s.
Eat the way it was intended
We serve cuisine from all over the world, and our serviceware is no different. Our guests can enjoy food the way i t was meant to be eaten – be it Kyo-Kaiseki from Japan, Shi Quan Shi Mei from China, or Shahi Thali from India.
There From The Beginning
Our journey with the A380 began on 29 September 2000, when we placed a firm order with Airbus for 10 as-yet-unnamed super-jumbo aircraft. Back then, they were still referred to as the Airbus A3XX – but we knew they would be something special.
Going Direct to the Source
Since we were the first in the world to fly the A380, we didn't as yet have a simulator to train our first batch of pilots in. So we sent them to Airbus' headquarters in Toulouse, France, to train on their simulators and even on the prototype A380 aircraft.
One Big Happy Family
On 28 June 2008, we did something we'd never done before. We took delivery of our fifth A380 at Airbus' facilities in Toulouse, and our 18th B777-300ER at Boeing's workshop in Seattle, marking the first time we've had an aircraft delivery from both our supply partners on the same day.
Flying Cargo
At nearly 80 metres from tip to tip, the wings and other components of our A380 are so big, they had to be transported to Airbus' final assembly factory by land and sea, instead of the usual A360 Beluga cargo aircraft.
Heavy Duty
Once the flight is over and the fuel expended, our A380 has a maximum landing weight of 386 metric tonnes – more than the maximum takeoff weight of almost every other passenger aircraft.
Bridging The Gap
Before our first A380 arrived, our Airport Development Services team went around the world, helping airports install special dual-level aerobridges that could get passengers directly to the upper deck.
Passing the Torch
Since its entry into service with a flight to Sydney, the A380 has started flying to cities the world over, taking over iconic routes from the B747 Megatop in a passing of the torch from one giant of aviation to another.
Flying our Colours
To paint the Singapore Airlines livery on one of our A380s, it takes 21 days and 2,200 litres of chromate-free paint – healthier both for the environment, and for the painters.
Maintaining Our Advantage
We weren't just the first in the world to fly the A380 – we were also the first to maintain it. So we had to build a gigantic new hangar, tall enough to accommodate our new aircraft's 24-metre high tail fin.
Luxury by Land, Sea and Air
We pushed the design of our A380 cabins further than ever before. Longtime Singapore Airlines collaborator and designer of the Orient Express train interiors, James Park, crafted our Business Class cabin, while renowned French yacht designer Jean-Jacques Costes put his unique touch on our Suites.
The Most Generous Seat in the Sky
The seats on the world's first commercial A380 flight were auctioned off for charity, and the highest price paid for a seat was a number as historic as the flight itself: US$100,380, paid by Australian businessman Julian Hayward.
A United Effort
Months before our first flight, a prototype A380 from Airbus landed at Singapore's Changi Airport. Onboard were 75 Airbus engineering staff, who had come to help our team get ready to operate the aircraft.
Sharing Our Knowledge
We learned a lot of things while preparing to operate the world's first A380. So it only made sense to share some of the knowledge we'd acquired to help other airlines when it was their turn to fly the superjumbo.
Colder than Ice
To test the functionality of the A380‘s systems in cold weather, it was flown to Iqaluit, Canada, just south of the Arctic circle. There, it was cold-soaked for 5 days at -30 degrees Celsius before it was thawed and flown off.
From Jumbo to Superjumbo
With more and more travellers taking to the sky every day, this generation needed a plane as revolutionary as the first B747 was in 1970. And with its maximum capacity of 525 passengers, the A380 was just the aircraft we were looking for.
The Green Giant
The A380 is forward-thinking in more ways than one. It burns less fuel on a seat-to-mile basis and produces lower carbon dioxide emissions per passenger than any other large passenger aircraft in the world.
A Double-Decker Dinner
In November 2007, 600 of Singapore Airlines' European business partners and premium customers were treated to a one-of-a-kind experience: a banquet dinner beneath the wing of our second A380 as it was being tested at Airbus' A380 flight line in Hamburg.
A Ministerial Salute
When the world's first A380 reached Singapore from Toulouse, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was on hand to trigger the traditional water salute to welcome it to its new home.
A Local Affair
Singapore Airlines received the world's first certification of airworthiness for an A380 from a Singaporean organisation, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore – but it happened in the south of France, at Airbus' headquarters in Toulouse.
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