SIA Cargo to be "re-integrated" into the parent group

Singapore Airlines Cargo Boeing 747-412F (32900/1349) 9V-SFO taxies at Ted Stevens-Anchorage International Airport (ANC/PANC) on May 8. 2017.
(Photo by Michael Carter)

SIA Cargo is to be "re-integrated" into the parent airline, in a “business as usual” move intended “to improve efficiency through greater synergy with the wider SIA Group".

The wholly-owned cargo subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA) will become the cargo division within the parent group and the transition is expected to be completed in the first half of 2018.

SIA Chief executive Goh Choon Phong said: “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.”

SIA said in a statement: “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 the Asian mega-carrier until July 2001, when it became a separate company within the SIA Group. At the time, it was in the process of growing its fleet to up to 17 B747-400Fs, and it was “better suited to carry out its expansion as a standalone all-cargo airline”, said SIA.

The group statement continued :”The airfreight market has since seen structural change, however, and SIA Cargo’s freighter fleet has been ‘right-sized’ in recent years to the current seven aircraft while the proportion of revenue from passenger aircraft bellyhold capacity has increased significantly.

“Despite the smaller freighter fleet, SIA Cargo’s overall capacity, including that from passenger aircraft, still grew 4%-5% in each of the past two financial years.”

The majority of SIA Cargo’s nearly 900 employees will be retained in the new Cargo Division, said SIA, while some will be transferred to other SIA Divisions. For a group of staff for whom alternative job positions have yet to be confirmed, placement opportunities will be facilitated elsewhere within the SIA Group.

It continued: “The integration will provide new opportunities for staff development within the larger SIA organisation.”

SIA chief executive Phong added: “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.

“Importantly, the Cargo Division will continue to provide high-quality products and services that customers have come to expect from SIA Cargo.”

The move is not expected to have a material impact on SIA’s financial performance in the 2017/18 financial year.

(AirCargoNews)