SIA offers no-pay leave for cabin crew

It currently faces manpower supply glut.

Singapore Airlines is offering a voluntary no-pay leave to its cabin crew to address temporary manpower surplus.

According to RHB News Bulletin, the recent notice to the crew offers employees to take leave between September and November this year to allow the airlines to manage crew resources and operational requirements.

Currently, SIA has about 8,200 cabin crew members.

Quoting news reports, RHB noted that SIA needs to be flexible and nimble to address operational challenges as it faces fierce competition from airlines especially in the long-haul premium sector.

To recall, the last time SIA asked their crew to take a no-pay leave was in the post-2008 global financial crisis.

In a statement sent to Singapore Business Review, a SIA spokesperson said having temporary surpluses or deficits of cabin crew is not unusual due to the nature of its business.

"This voluntary scheme over a specific period of time is to ensure that we efficiently manage crew resources and operational requirements. It's a new approach to ensure the Cabin Crew Division is more flexible and nimble in managing crew resources, and the intention is to offer it from time to time going forward," the spokesperson added.