Malaysia–Singapore Airlines
Logo used from 1967 to 1972 | |||||||
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| Founded |
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| Ceased operations | 30 September 1972 (restructured into Malaysian Airline System and Singapore Airlines) | ||||||
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| Secondary hubs |
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| Fleet size | 13+ | ||||||
| Headquarters | Robinson Road, Raffles Place, Singapore | ||||||
Malaysia–Singapore Airlines (abbreviation: MSA) was the binational flag carrier of Malaysia and Singapore that operated from 1966 to 1972. The airline originated as Malayan Airways (MAL), established in 1937 to provide air services within British Malaya and the surrounding regions. MAL also operated regional subsidiaries, notably Borneo Airways and Federation Air Service. In 1963, following the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, the airline was renamed Malaysian Airways to reflect the newly established political entity.
In 1966, after the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, the airline was rebranded as Malaysia-Singapore Airlines to serve both countries and facilitate the growing demand for air travel between them. The new airline significantly expanded its fleet and network, introducing modern aircraft including the Boeing 707 and Boeing 737, which enabled it to operate longer international flights and increase its presence in Europe, Australia and East Asia. It also bolstered its domestic services, connecting key urban areas across both countries with aircraft such as the Fokker 27 and BN-2 Islander for regional flights.
Despite its success, MSA encountered internal tensions between the governments of Malaysia and Singapore, stemming from differing priorities and ambitions for the airline's future. These conflicts ultimately led to the dissolution of the partnership in 1972, resulting in the formation of two independent airlines: Malaysian Airline System (MAS) and Singapore Airlines (SIA). The end of MSA marked the conclusion of the carrier, paving the way for the continued growth of both national airlines.