Emirates to hire 5,000 cabin crew amid expansion drive
[SINGAPORE] Dubai's Emirates airline is looking to hire 5,000 new cabin crew globally this year, with a recruitment roadshow set in Singapore next week, as the group embarks on fleet expansion plans.
In a press statement on Friday (Jun 13), Emirates said the hiring spree will span more than 460 cities across six continents. Its invite-only recruitment drive in Singapore will take place on Jun 19, but more are planned throughout the year, with the next one scheduled for Jul 19.
As at June 2025, more than 70 members of its 24,000-strong cabin crew were from Singapore. The airline has not set a limit on the number of people hired in Singapore or elsewhere, it said.
Emirates is also hiring 1,550 new pilots within the next two years, with more than 550 recruited this year, it said last month.
The recruitment drive follows its push to expand its network and fleet.
Last November, the airline received the first of 65 Airbus A350-900 jets it had ordered. This was also the first new aircraft type to join its fleet since 2008.
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Emirates has since retrofitted a slew of A380s and rolled out these refreshed aircraft to Bangkok, Hong Kong and Perth, among other destinations. It also launched more daily non-stop flights within Asia, with services in Da Nang, Vietnam; Shenzhen, China; and Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The airline said it also has 59 A350 jets and a mix of 205 Boeing 777-9 and 777-8 aircraft in its order book. 'The new aircraft will expand the airline's reach and provide flexibility to add new routes to its network,' it added.
Jetstar shutdown
Emirates' hiring spree comes on the heels of Jetstar Asia's shutdown, which saw more than 500 staff laid off in Singapore.
Parent company Qantas, Australia's flag carrier, on Wednesday announced that it will wind down the operations of the Singapore-based unit on Jul 31, as rising costs threaten the sustainability of its business.
Jetstar Asia's closure affects 16 intra-Asia routes – including flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok and Manila – but will not affect Jetstar's operations in Australia, New Zealand or Japan.
The budget airline's fleet of 13 Airbus aircraft will be redeployed within the Qantas Group to support growth in Australia and New Zealand.
Labour chief Ng Chee Meng has said that the National Trades Union Congress was exploring possible opportunities to match retrenched Jetstar Asia employees, including crew and corporate staff, to suitable roles within the Singapore Airlines Group.
SIA and its budget arm, Scoot, also said they will ramp up flights to various Asian destinations after Jetstar Asia ceases operations.
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Business Times
5 hours ago
- Business Times
The low-cost carriers that have taken to Singapore skies
[SINGAPORE] News of the impending shutdown of Jetstar Asia, with the loss of more than 500 jobs, has sent shockwaves through the aviation sector. Comments on social media site Reddit lamented the budget carrier's closure as it was the only airline that plied between Singapore and the holiday destinations of Okinawa in Japan, Wuxi in China, Labuan Bajo in Indonesia and Broome in Australia. On Wednesday (Jun 11) the Qantas unit announced its closure and said that its last day of operations would be Jul 31. Budget flights have become a staple of the travel industry, accounting for one-third of the 49.8 million passengers who passed through Changi Airport in the first nine months of 2024. As the low-cost carrier scene continues to battle stiff competition, rising fuel costs, price wars and the entry of new players, The Business Times takes a look back at the Singapore budget carrier landscape. Early 2000s: Budget airlines take off Budget airlines made their appearance in the Singapore aviation sector in the early 2000s, bringing cheap fares and new destinations to an emerging class of cost-conscious travellers. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up With their trademark low fees and no-frills offerings, they revolutionised travel and made flying – once considered a luxury – much more affordable and accessible. South-east Asia underwent a budget travel boom after Malaysia's Tony Fernandes pioneered the low-cost carrier model in the region with AirAsia in 2002. Singapore's first low-cost carrier Valuair took flight in May 2004, ferrying 162 passengers on its maiden trip from Changi Airport to Bangkok. The privately owned startup was co-founded by former SIA deputy chairman Lim Chin Beng, alongside other investors. With fares at a fraction of those offered by full-service airlines – up to 40 to 50 per cent lower – it became a competitor to SIA's now-defunct subsidiary SilkAir, which plied regional routes. That same year, SIA Group launched Tiger Airways with state investor Temasek, while the founders of Irish budget carrier Ryanair and Australia's flag carrier Qantas established Jetstar Asia. The year 2005 proved to be a rocky one for low-cost carriers as fuel costs rose and full-service carriers slashed prices to never-seen-before levels to compete with and undercut their budget rivals. Governments in the region, such as Indonesia, also shut their doors to foreign budget carriers. This left Singapore-based airlines with only a few crowded regional routes to compete in. That year, Jetstar Asia and Valuair merged under the holding company Orangestar, with both retaining their original names. Amid challenging conditions, the two carriers struggled to make money. Still, there was no stopping travellers' wanderlust. In 2007, Jetstar Asia and Tiger Airways featured on a list of Changi Airport's top 10 carriers by passenger numbers. In January 2010, Tiger Airways listed on the mainboard of the Singapore Exchange (SGX). Entrances and exits: Players scoot in and out Over the years, Singapore's budget carrier market expanded by 21 per cent from 2004 to 2024, outpacing that of full-service airlines, which grew 1.4 per cent, according to Alton Aviation Consultancy. The number of budget flights from Changi Airport also soared with the expansion of low-cost airlines. From just 1,705 flights in 2004, the number of budget flights from the airport climbed to 16,798 in 2009 and hit a peak in 2018 with 64,618 flights to more than 100 cities. But as air fares and earnings fell, carriers scaled back on operations, causing a string of consolidations and exits. Indonesian budget airline Tigerair Mandala ceased operations in 2014, when its shareholders pulled the plug on funding. Tiger Airways owned a 35.8 per cent stake in the loss-making carrier, which had contributed to it racking up hefty losses for the financial year ended March 2014. During this time, SIA launched a new and second low-cost carrier, Scoot, in 2012, in response to growing competition with brands such as Jetstar and AirAsia. It made its inaugural voyage to Sydney in June that year. Scoot was meant to capture the medium- and long-haul market, while Tiger Airways would focus on short-haul flights. Tiger Airways, which had been renamed Tigerair, struggled with consecutive full-year operating losses for FY2014 and FY2015. The airline began to scale back its regional ambitions amid fierce competition, exiting the markets of Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan. Eventually, SIA took it private in 2016. Tigerair was then folded into Scoot in 2017 as SIA consolidated its two budget carriers under the holding company Budget Aviation Holdings, to operate them under the Scoot brand, which fared better in market perception on issues such as comfort, safety and service quality. The merger also aimed to boost cooperation between the two carriers and cut costs. Meanwhile, Jetstar Asia enjoyed growth in the early part of the 2010s, as higher passenger numbers and an expanded regional network brought its earnings to S$18 million for the financial year ended June 2011. However, its growth slowed near the end of the decade. As at 2018, its share of Singapore's low-cost carrier market shrank to less than 20 per cent from over a quarter in 2010, a Centre for Aviation report showed. By then, its rival carrier Scoot had grown rapidly. Pandemic turbulence and recovery Covid-19 dealt the aviation sector a heavy blow with the curbs on travel. The inevitable result was that Changi Airport's budget flight numbers dived and remained below 50,000 for 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2020, Jetstar Asia grounded its entire fleet, retired five aircraft and trimmed 26 per cent of its headcount or 180 staff. Scoot suspended most of its flights and pivoted to chartering cargo as its parent company SIA Group cut some 4,300 positions across its airlines By 2024, as the pandemic eased and travel recovered – with Changi Airport's budget airline passenger traffic reaching 101.6 per cent of 2019 levels between January and September of 2024 – low-cost carrier operators were poised to resume growth. Scoot added new destinations to its network, ramped up flights and expanded its fleet. In comparison, Jetstar's recovery was slower. Analysts observed that its 2024 capacity and traffic was only around half of pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, despite a surge in 'revenge travel', low-cost carriers continued facing headwinds. These included stiff regional competition, volatile fuel prices and geopolitical tensions. Challenges such as supply chain snags also delayed new plane deliveries and grounded existing ones, while sustainable aviation fuel mandates pushed costs up. Airlines cited rising costs – including the fees charged by Changi Airport – as a challenge to operating in Singapore. The Republic in November 2024 had announced airport fee hikes to fund upgrades to Changi Airport. The move was lamented by Jetstar Asia's chief executive John Simeone, who said it could affect the airline's ability to sell tickets under S$100 – which comprised around two-thirds of the carrier's flights as at December 2024. Jetstar Asia grounded When Jetstar Asia announced its exit – citing cost pressures as threatening its ability to offer the low fares that are key to its business – passengers and staff were shocked, but industry experts said the move was unsurprising, albeit unfortunate. They pointed to how the Singapore-based carrier had struggled to turn a profit even before the pandemic, and was in the black for only six years in more than two decades of operations. Jetstar Asia lacked the scale, local dominance and margin buffers of its stronger rivals, analysts said. Moreover, its 2023 shift to Terminal 4 from Terminal 1, where its parent Qantas operates, severed the seamless connectivity between the two airlines and lengthened connecting times, which likely worsened its problems, analysts added. However Qantas itself has displayed a respectable performance. Qantas Airways in February announced an underlying profit before tax of A$1.39 billion (S$1.17 billion) for its first half ended December. It also declared its first special dividend in more than two decades and its first final dividend since September 2019. What does Jetstar's departure mean? Jetstar's exit leaves Scoot the sole Singapore-based budget carrier and closes a chapter on the once high-flying budget carrier scene. As Changi Airport Group works with other carriers to plug connectivity gaps in the dust of Jetstar Asia's departure, one thing is for certain: There will always be a demand for budget travel – but whether it is a profitable business remains to be seen.
New Paper
a day ago
- New Paper
Jetstar Asia passengers struggle to get refunds for cancelled flights
One day after Jetstar Asia announced that it would soon close, the low-cost carrier's passengers say they continue to struggle with rejected refund requests, congested helplines and disrupted travel plans. Some of the airline's passengers told The Straits Times they received notifications that they were "not eligible for a monetary refund" after submitting requests to get their money back for cancelled flights, while others said they received links that did not work. On June 11, the Singapore-based airline made a surprise announcement that it would close on July 31, citing rising costs and growing regional competition. Since then, its customers have been gradually notified via e-mail to either apply for a refund or reschedule their flights. Mr David Shuttleworth's June 14 flight to Penang was cancelled, but when he applied to get his money back, he was told that he was "not eligible for a monetary refund". The 70-year-old consultant said he has been unable to speak to Jetstar Asia staff about his case because of congested chat lines. Mr Wen Long also received a similar message after applying for a refund of about $50 for his flight to Penang. The 38-year-old accountant spent 45 minutes on the airline's online chat service before being told that he would be refunded and sent a confirmation e-mail within seven business days. Ms Atiqah A.R., 32, said the e-mail she received contained a broken link that directed her to Jetstar Asia's homepage, instead of a refund request form. The tax consultant later found the form on the website, but felt the process is troublesome. She had paid $88 for a July 19 flight to Kuala Lumpur. She also said she received an Instagram "follow" request from what she believes to be a fraudulent account called "@jetstarclaimresponse" on June 12. "I almost fell for it. This is what happens when (Jetstar Asia) is not as responsive as they should be," she added. "People are desperate to get any sort of (response) and might fall prey to these scammers." Other customers have found themselves stuck with travel expenses that they cannot get refunds for. Ms Jazz Anana, 38, had her flight to Okinawa in October cancelled. It also means she will not be able to make a subsequent ANA flight from Okinawa to Tokyo that cost her $800. The homemaker has been told by ANA that her ticket is non-refundable. "I didn't get travel insurance for this trip yet, I deeply regret not buying it earlier," she said. The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said it received three complaints on June 11 and 12 from customers having issues getting refunds from Jetstar Asia, due to either navigation issues on the airline's website or a lack of clarity on who to contact. Case president Melvin Yong said the consumer watchdog is working with Jetstar Asia on how it intends to process refund requests and reschedule flights. Asked about the issues passengers are facing, a Jetstar Asia spokeswoman said all passengers are entitled to monetary refunds. "By today (June 12), all customers will be contacted with details of alternative flight options where possible or offered a full refund. We ask customers to check the e-mail used at the time of booking for details," she said. The spokeswoman also said that customers who have made "non-refundable deposits" for other travel expenses such as hotels and car rentals should contact the airline, and requests for refunds would be considered on a case-by-case basis. A screenshot of a flight cancellation e-mail from Jetstar Airways to a passenger. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Meanwhile, Jetstar Asia's passengers continue to have to deal with cancelled flights at Changi Airport. Ms Aisyah Matsuni, 33, who works at an active ageing centre, was supposed to leave for Bangkok with her family at 7am on June 11, but had her flight cancelled twice. She was put on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight to Bangkok on June 12 instead. SIA Group said it is working with Jetstar Asia to accommodate Jetstar passengers on SIA and Scoot flights if seats are available. It has set up a counter at Changi Airport Terminal 2 to assist these passengers. "All of us are very angry. Especially the kids - they're very excited for it, and you (the airline) cancel last minute without any notification," Ms Aisyah said, adding that she was worried her return flight on June 15 would also be cancelled. Travel agencies are also dealing with the fallout. Chan Brothers Travel's senior marketing communications executive Trista Foo said Jetstar Asia's closure has affected its tour packages to Okinawa in Japan and Broome in Australia. The airline is the only carrier offering direct flights to these places. Customers who had bought tour packages to Okinawa are being provided with non-direct flights with transfers from carriers such as Cathay Pacific or China Airlines, said Ms Foo, which will take about 2½ hours longer than a direct flight. Alternative flights to Broome could extend journeys by up to 10 hours, including layover times, she said. Customers will receive a full refund if they cancel their bookings and do not take up the alternative arrangements offered by the agency, she added. CTC Travel's deputy manager Diana Tan said it is working with alternative airlines for its group tours affected by Jetstar Asia's closure. Ms Tan said the agency has not had any cancellations so far. Meanwhile, Income Insurance said in a statement that it would cover eligible customers of its travel insurance who have suffered losses from non-refundable travel expenses. It said that it was doing so as a gesture of goodwill even though airline closure is not covered under its policies. The insurer said affected customers would be able to claim for expenses including accommodation, travel packages, amusement park tickets and transport bookings.
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Independent Singapore
Jetstar Asia staff offered ‘attractive' severance package and job support after 'quite sudden' closure
SINGAPORE: More than 500 Jetstar Asia staff based in Singapore will be laid off when the Qantas low-cost subsidiary ceases operations on Jul 31. The closure was announced to employees through a company-wide email at about 7 a.m. on Thursday (Jun 12), just before the public announcement. While some found the move 'extreme,' others appreciated what they described as an 'attractive' severance package, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported. Shortly after the official announcement, a company town hall was held at Changi Airport Terminal 1, with an option to attend virtually, a flight attendant said. During the meeting, management discussed the company's challenges, including operating expenses and fuel prices, as reasons for Jetstar Asia's closure. A cabin crew member who had worked for Jetstar Asia for three years said the news was 'sad and disappointing.' 'The management did call us up individually and asked us how we are coping and are we okay, because we still have to work,' he said. Meanwhile, a pilot who joined the company less than a year ago told CNA that they had 'no real clue' that such a 'quite sudden' move was coming. However, he noted that the severance package was 'attractive' and 'quite good,' especially for those who have been with the airline for longer. The severance package includes four weeks' salary for each year of service with the airline, a bonus for the current financial year, a special thank-you payment, and continued access to staff travel perks for a period equal to their tenure. Jetstar is also supporting employees in securing new roles across the aviation sector. Staff said they were given channels to other airlines, including Singapore Airlines (SIA), Emirates, and Qatar Airways, in addition to Jetstar Airways and Jetstar Japan. 'They handled it quite well, they tried to give us other opportunities,' the pilot said. Unions have also stepped in for support. Labour chief Ng Chee Meng said the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU), and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) would be providing on-site support from next week at Changi's Terminal 1. Mr Ng said this includes career coaching, employability support, and training. Mr Ng added that they are exploring opportunities for SIA Group to match affected Jetstar Asia employees, including crew and corporate staff, to suitable roles where possible. Jetstar Asia 'wants to keep the flights going,' said the pilot, adding that cancelling flights now would affect many people, given it's the holiday period. /TISG Read also: Scoot to take over Jetstar Asia's Okinawa and Labuan Bajo routes
