SMOAT

SMOAT

Singapore Meridian Orchard Air Transportation

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Founded

1947 (as Melayu Air)

Parent company

Government of Singapore (pass Orchard Group)

Region

#region:asia

Headquarters

#country:singapore, Changi

Alliance

Frequent flyer program

Merlion Flyer

Website

Hubs

Singapore

Subsidiaries

Slogan

”Everywhere can be possible.”

Tags

#airline:smoat

SMOAT (Singapore Meridian Orchard Air Transportation) is the flag carrier of Singapore with its hub located at Changi Airport. SMOAT was the first to put the Airbus A380—the world's largest passenger aircraft—as well as the Boeing 787-10 into service, and is the first operator of the ultra-long-range (ULR) version of the Airbus A350-900.

History

1947-1963: Melayu Air A partnership with the Steam Company and Majestic and Overseas Territories Airways, resulted in the incorporation of "Melayu Air Limited" (MAL) in Singapore on 12 October 1937, but the first paying passengers could be welcomed on board only in 1947, some 10 years later. After the war, MAL was restructured to include just the partnership of the Straits Steam Company. The airline's first flight was a charter flight from the British Straits Settlement of Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, on 2 April 1947, using an Airspeed Consul twin-engined aircraft. This inaugural flight on the Raja Udang, with only five passengers, departed Singapore's Kallang Airport and was bound for Kuala Lumpur's Sungai Besi Airport. Weekly scheduled flights quickly followed from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Penang from 1 May 1947 with the same aircraft type.

The airline continued to expand during the rest of the 1940s and 1950s, as other British Commonwealth airlines, such as Hong Kong Aerial Service and Kangaroo Aviation Corporation, provided technical assistance, as well as assistance in joining the IATA. By 1955, Melayu Air' fleet had grown to include a large number of Douglas DC-3s, and finally went public in 1957. Other aircraft operated in the first two decades included the Douglas DC-4 Skymaster, Vickers Viscount, Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, Bristol Britannia, de Havilland Comet 4, and Fokker F27.

1964-1971: Rapid expansion, Malayan Airlines, and Malayan-Singapura Airlines Over the next few years, the airline expanded rapidly, boosted by postwar air travel demand when flying became more than a privilege for the rich and famous. By April 1960, the airline was operating Douglas DC-3s, Super Constellations and Viscounts on new routes from Singapore to Hong Kong, and from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok via Penang. The airline also increased its frequencies from Singapore to cities on the British Borneo, including Brunei, Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu), Kuching, Labuan, Sandakan, and Sibu.

With the delivery of an 84-seat Bristol Britannia in 1960, the airline launched its first long-haul international flight, to Hong Kong. When Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak formed Malaysia in September 1963, the airline's name was officially from "Melayu Air" to "Malayan Airlines" concurrent with the arrival of five Fokker F27 in November 1963 (though still abbreviated to MAL). MAL also incorporated Borneo Air Lines, with the brand effectively merged under its parent company by 1 April 1965.

In 1966, following Singapore's separation from the federation, the airline's name was changed again, to Malayan-Singapura Airlines (MSA). The next year had a rapid expansion in the airline's fleet and routes, including the purchase of MSA's first Boeing aircraft: the Boeing 707s, as well as completion of a new high-rise headquarters in Singapore. Boeing 737s were added to the fleet soon afterwards.

1972-19XX: The differing needs of the two shareholders, however, led to the break-up of the airline just six years later. The Singapore government preferred to develop the airline's international routes, while the Malaysian government had no choice but to develop the domestic network first before going regional and eventually international. MSA ceased operations in 1972, with its assets split between two new airlines; Malayan Airlines System (MAS), and Meridian Oriental Airlines (MOA). With the Singapore government determined to develop its airlines' international routes, it took the entire fleet of seven Boeing 707s and five Boeing 737s, which would allow it to continue serving its regional and long-haul international routes. Since most of MSA's international routes were flown out of Singapore, most of the international routes were in the hands of Meridian Oriental Airlines. In addition, MSA's headquarters, which was located in Singapore, became the headquarters of that airline.