As Singapore Airlines celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, we take a closer look at one of the key factors in its longevity and success – its people
Beyond the exceptional service, comfortable trips and modern fleet, it’s the people behind the scenes who keep the wheels turning and the Singapore Airlines (SIA) flag flying high.
Forty-year veteran Cecile Hamelle joined SIA’s Paris office in 1976, just before the Airline’s first flight to the French capital. “I wanted to travel and I did, to my heart’s content,” says Hamelle on her reason for accepting the job. She also shares one of her special memories, “There was a dinner to celebrate the launch of Singapore Airlines in Paris. Mr Pierre Balmain, the famous French designer who created the Singapore Girl’s sarong kebaya, was there.”
As for Mark Woodcock (above), a marketing sales officer at the Manchester station, one of the most memorable moments in his 11-year career with the Airline is the launch of the Singapore-Manchester-Houston route. “The check-in area was festooned with balloons, lots of photos were taken, and everyone left with smiles on their faces!”
Over at the Auckland office, agency and distribution manager Paula Kerr, who has been with the Airline since 1996, says, “We have a saying at SIA New Zealand: ‘In for five years, in for life.’ When you are as proud as we are to work for a company with such great service and product standards, 20 years’ service is very easy to achieve.”
What’s next for SIA? “Singapore Airlines has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the foremost carriers in the world, while retaining humility in the way we serve our customers,” says Mr Goh Choon Phong, the Airline’s CEO (above). “Although we are proudly celebrating our 70th anniversary this year, we do not take past successes for granted. We will be unwavering in our drive to continue developing our products, services and network to ensure we always remain relevant and competitive.”
– TEXT BY OLIVIA LIM
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
