SIA Sees Three to Four Times More Applications Than Pre-Pandemic Levels
SINGAPORE: The number of applications for cabin crew positions at Singapore Airlines (SIA) has surged by three to four times compared to pre-COVID levels. This increase comes as the airline resumes its recruitment efforts, aiming to hire around 2,000 new cabin crew members this financial year. Since restarting recruitment in March, over 800 applicants have been selected, with about 60% being returning crew members.
SIA confirmed that the number of applications it has received is several thousand, a significant rise from pre-pandemic times. Despite the demand for cabin crew, the airline has no plans to resume pilot recruitment at this stage.
Successful candidates are required to begin their roles within three months of application, although SIA may offer flexibility for those who face challenges with the timeline.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, SIA had implemented a hiring freeze for ground positions and offered early retirement or release to some cabin crew members. The airline also announced significant job cuts across its airlines, including SilkAir, which ceased operations after merging with SIA in January 2021.
Looking ahead, SIA is seeing positive signs of recovery, with passenger capacity reaching 61% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter, and expectations of 70% of pre-COVID destinations served by the end of the second quarter. The airline carried 1.5 million passengers in April, marking a 13-fold increase from the previous year, with the passenger load factor hitting its highest since the pandemic began.
