Malayan Airlines This airline began operations on 1 May 1947. Its inaugural service was from Kallang Airport to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang, three times a week. The airline’s single British- made Airspeed Consul had space for only five passengers and no cabin crew, on- board refreshments being limited to a flask of iced water per passenger.

By 1955, the carrier had acquired a fleet of Douglas DC- 3s. Operations were extended to Jakarta, Medan, Palembang, Saigon, Bangkok, Sabah, Sarawak, Rangoon and Brunei. In 1962, it began using larger Comet jets on international routes. Malayan Airlines was renamed Malaysian Airways after Merger in 1963. In 1966, after Separation, the carrier was renamed Malaysia- Singapore Airlines (MSA).

In 1967, MSA expanded its network beyond Southeast Asia. It bought three Boeing 707s. It also introduced the sarong kebaya uniform (designed by Pierre Balmain) for its flight attendants.

Disagreements between Singapore and Malaysia as to how the airline should be operated caused MSA to cease operations in 1972. In its place, two new airlines were formed: Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

Photo credit: Wong Han Min