SINGAPORE: While most of us are still fantasizing about a decent year-end bonus, one Singapore Airlines (SIA) employee just coolly confirmed hers — and it’s a jaw-dropper!
“Yeah…” she answered with a smile when asked if she really received a 7.5 months’ salary bonus. Interviewed by YouTube channel Popping SG, she stood in the middle of Singapore’s Central Business District (CBD), casually dropping the kind of news that might cause widespread envy among desk-bound mortals.
Interviewer: “Hey! You got 7.5 months’ salary bonus?!”
Woman: “Yeah…”
Interviewer: “When you heard that news, how did you feel?”
Woman: “Oh well, my company is doing well, so I’m happy!”
And by “doing well” might just be an understatement.
SIA’s record-setting ascent
According to a Channel News Asia report, Singapore Airlines announced a record-breaking net profit of S$2.8 billion for the financial year ending March 31, 2025. A large part of this windfall came from a one-off S$1.1 billion gain from the merger of its India-based joint venture, Vistara, with Air India.
Despite rising fuel costs, dropping airfare yields, and increasing competition, the national carrier stayed sky-high in terms of profitability. And now, it’s raining bonuses — again.
SIA confirmed that employees will receive a profit-sharing bonus of 7.45 months, following a long-standing formula agreed with staff unions. This comes after the previous year’s historic 7.94 months’ bonus, which was the airline’s highest ever.
“7.5 months bonus x S$1.5K basic salary — not exactly impressive…”
Before you rush to update your resume and learn safety demo choreography, some Singaporeans were quick to sprinkle a dose of reality:
“SQ cabin crew basic pay is less than S$2,000. So the 7.5 months’ bonus applies only to basic pay, not the allowances,” one noted. “7.5 months bonus x S$1.5K basic salary — not exactly impressive,” another added.
Nevertheless, for many of our flight crews, the bonus is still a meaningful recognition of turbulent schedules, endless time zone hops, and demanding in-air service.
What’s fuelling the sky-high profits?
The Air India-Vistara merger gave SIA a 25.1% stake in the growing Indian aviation market, one of the fastest-expanding globally. Even as global airlines faced supply chain crunches and tariff turbulence, SIA managed to carry a record number of passengers while keeping an eye on long-term profitability.
Still, the skies aren’t entirely clear. SIA flagged potential turbulence from US-led tariffs, trade tensions, and geopolitical risks that could slow demand for passenger and cargo services.
Despite this, the airline maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook, citing a well-diversified network and strong positioning to adapt to global shifts.
So… “Yeah…”
In a nation obsessed with performance bonuses, the humble “Yeah…” from the SIA crew member might go down as the most understated flex of the year. While SIA pilots the way through economic turbulence, its employees are clearly buckled in for a rewarding ride.
Watch the full video on Popping SG to find out if Singaporeans are really paid enough; answered by CBD employees themselves below:
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