Malaysia–Singapore Airlines


Malaysia–Singapore Airlines was the flag carrier of Malaysia and Singapore. It came into being in 1966 as a result of a joint ownership of the airline by the governments of the two countries. The airline ceased operations after six years in 1972 when both governments decided to set up their own national airlines, Malaysian Airline System and Singapore Airlines.

History

The airline traced its roots to the formation of Malayan Airways in 1946. With its first flight on 1 May 1947, the Singapore-based carrier flew on domestic routes between Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang and Singapore on an Airspeed Consul twin engined aeroplane. In April 1948, the airline flew direct international routes from Singapore to Saigon in Vietnam; Batavia, Medan and Palembang in Indonesia; and to Bangkok in Thailand via Penang. It also flew a route connecting Penang with Medan.
The airline grew rapidly in the next few years, boosted by rising demand for air travel during the post-war period, where flying was no longer a privilege for the very rich. By 12 April 1960, the airline was operating Douglas DC-3s, Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellations and Vickers Viscounts on new routes from Singapore to Hong Kong and from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok via Penang. Flights were also introduced from Singapore to cities in the Borneo Territories including Brunei, Jesselton, Kuching, Sandakan and Sibu.
In 1 April 1965, Borneo Airways Limited was officially amalgamated with Malaysian Airways and the merged company was renamed Malaysia–Singapore Airlines the following year to reflect the political changes between Malaysia and Singapore.
The last of 30 Boeing 737-100s built was delivered to Malaysia–Singapore Airlines in October 1969. This resulted in the return of the last MSA de Havilland Comet 4s leased from British Overseas Airways Corporation being returned to that airline.

Name changes

The airline saw its name changed twice due to political shifts. In 1963, the creation of the Federation of Malaysia prompted a change of name to "Malaysian Airways". Singapore's expulsion from the federation in 1965 led to another name change to Malaysia–Singapore Airlines when the two separate governments took joint ownership of the airline in 1966.

MSA Building

MSA had its downtown offices at Robinson Road in Singapore's business district. The building later became SIA building.

Breakup

The different 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 preferred to develop a domestic network first before going regional and eventually, long-haul. MSA ceased operations in 1972, with its assets split between two new airlines; Malaysian Airline System Berhad, and Singapore Airlines.
With Singapore Airlines determined to develop its international routes, it took the entire fleet of seven Boeing 707s and five Boeing 737s which would allow it to continue servicing the regional and long-haul international routes. Since most of MSA's international routes were flown out of Singapore, the vast majority of international routes were in the hands of Singapore Airlines. In addition, MSA's headquarters, which was located in Singapore, became the headquarters of Singapore Airlines.
Malaysian Airline System, on the other hand, took all domestic routes within Malaysia and international routes out of the country, as well as the remaining fleet of Fokker F27 Friendships and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders. It began flights on 1 October 1972.
The initials MSA were well regarded as an airline icon and both carriers tried to emulate them. Malaysian went for MAS by just transposing the last two letters and choosing the name Malaysian Airline System, whereas Singapore originally used the name Mercury Singapore Airlines to keep the MSA initials, but that was blocked following widespread protests in Malaysia. Eventually, the new entity was named SIA instead.

Corporate affairs

In the 1960s Malaysian Airways was headquartered in Raffles Place, Singapore. By 1971 the headquarters had moved to the MSA Building on Robinson Road in Singapore.

Fleet

Over the years, MSA operated many aircraft including:

AircraftIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airspeed Consul19471951
Boeing 707-32019671980-1982Transferred to Singapore Airlines
Boeing 737-10019691980Transferred to Singapore Airlines
Boeing 737-20019711980Transferred to Singapore Airlines
Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander19681972
Cessna 310FOne aircraft in Malaysian Airways fleet prior to merger with Borneo Airways
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver1952Operated by Federation Air Service prior to merger with Malayan Airways
de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide19491958
de Havilland DH.106 Comet 419621969Operated by Malaysian Airways prior to merger with Borneo Airways
Douglas DC-319471968Operated by Malaysian Airways and Borneo Airways prior to merger
Douglas DC-419581960
Fokker F27 Friendship19631972Operated by Malaysian Airways prior to merger with Borneo Airways
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation19601960
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer19591962Operated by Borneo Airways prior to merger with Malaysian Airways
Vickers Viscount19591962

Past destinations

Malayan Airways

Borneo Airways and Malaysian Airways each had one aircraft accident while operating. Aircraft operated by successor Malaysia–Singapore Airlines were involved in five accidents resulting in hull loss.