Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Singapore Airlines is one of the world’s best airlines, but it is built on a city of only six million people, with almost no domestic aviation. This video explains how Changi Airport, Star Alliance, codeshares, joint ventures, Scoot and its investment in Air India gave Singapore Airlines a global network far larger than the one it operates itself—and why Emirates and Etihad chose very different paths. Singapore’s population stood at 6.11 million in June 2025, while Star Alliance currently connects its 26 member airlines to more than 1,150 airports across 190 countries.
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Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
Main sources: Singapore Airlines FY2024/25 Annual Report; Singapore Airlines partner-airline information; Star Alliance members and network figures; Star Alliance history; Changi Airport traffic statistics; Singapore Department of Statistics population data; Skytrax 2025 World Airline Awards; Condé Nast Traveler 2025 airline rankings; Travel + Leisure 2025 international-airline rankings; SIA’s Air India–Vistara merger announcement; Emirates’ FY2025/26 results; and Etihad’s 2016 financial-results announcement, which reported a US$1.87 billion loss and US$808 million in equity-partner exposures and receivables.
Singapore Airlines is one of the world’s best airlines, but it is built on a city of only six million people, with almost no domestic aviation. This video explains how Changi Airport, Star Alliance, codeshares, joint ventures, Scoot and its investment in Air India gave Singapore Airlines a global network far larger than the one it operates itself—and why Emirates and Etihad chose very different paths. Singapore’s population stood at 6.11 million in June 2025, while Star Alliance currently connects its 26 member airlines to more than 1,150 airports across 190 countries.
Facebook: facebook.com/behindasian
Instagram: instagram.com/behindasia
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
Main sources: Singapore Airlines FY2024/25 Annual Report; Singapore Airlines partner-airline information; Star Alliance members and network figures; Star Alliance history; Changi Airport traffic statistics; Singapore Department of Statistics population data; Skytrax 2025 World Airline Awards; Condé Nast Traveler 2025 airline rankings; Travel + Leisure 2025 international-airline rankings; SIA’s Air India–Vistara merger announcement; Emirates’ FY2025/26 results; and Etihad’s 2016 financial-results announcement, which reported a US$1.87 billion loss and US$808 million in equity-partner exposures and receivables.
