Divergent flight paths

Like many things about Malaysia and Singapore, their national airlines have taken quite different paths ever since the two countries split in 1965.

The two airlines used to operate as one entity called Malaysia-Singapore Airlines before they parted ways in 1972. Since then, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has become one of the most profitable airlines in the world, while Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has had a very turbulent flight path despite the recent turnaround.

The Star has a very colourful feature on the MAS story.

But no one should blame Singapore for inheriting the international routes of MSA in the divorce settlement.

This is because Malaysia didn't want the international routes in the first place, preferring to take the 50-seat Fokkers to help link West and East Malaysia. Singapore, with no hinterland, had to go international at all cost with its inherited Boeings.

Many things have changed since then.

MAS has returned to government control following the botched privatisation exercise in the late 1990s. SIA retrenched close to 500 people in one bad year in 2003 despite many good years.

One thing remains unchanged. The stewardesses of the two airlines continue to wear their sarong kebaya, albeit by different designers.