Singapore Airlines’ Longest-Serving Cabin Crew Reflects on 46 Years of Flying

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SINGAPORE- For nearly half a century, Mr. Ng Yak Keng served as a cabin crew member with Singapore Airlines (SQ), one of the world’s most respected carriers. His career began with a spontaneous decision at age 21 and concluded with a thoughtful retirement shaped by health concerns.

From his first international flight to Perth, Australia (PER), to countless journeys across global cities such as Jakarta (CGK), New York (JFK), and Adelaide (ADL), Mr. Ng became one of the longest serving cabin crew in Singapore Airlines’ history.

Along the way, he met world leaders, celebrities, and millions of passengers, carrying with him the professionalism and warmth that defined the SIA brand.

Singapore Airlines’ Longest Serving Cabin Crew

Meeting Mr. Ng in his Tampines flat, one immediately notices his polished demeanor. Even in retirement, the 67-year-old retains the habits of a steward: neatly slicked hair, thick-framed glasses, and a welcoming smile.

His tall, trim figure moves with the same ease that once defined his service onboard.

His casual speech is still sprinkled with courteous phrases like “certainly” and “of course,” a living echo of his 46 years in the skies.

For him, working at SIA was never just a job but a calling. “I never thought of leaving the airline, because this has been my life,” he reflected.

On his dining table sit folders of rosters and flight schedules, yellowed with age. Each page is evidence of his discipline: decades of flights meticulously recorded, from short turnarounds to Jakarta to long-haul layovers in New York.

Taking Off at 21

Mr. Ng’s journey with SIA began after completing National Service. Initially unsuccessful in two job applications, he followed his friends’ advice to try the airline, which was actively hiring at the time. “I was accepted immediately,” he recalled, still with a trace of disbelief.

He had done no preparation, no research, and no new clothes for the interview with CNA. He simply went “with the flow.”

The process was brisk: a group interview with eight other men, and then, suddenly, he was in. “That was the beginning of my adventure with Singapore Airlines,” he said.

Training lasted two months, shorter than the three to four months required today. Having just left the army, he and his peers went from field drills to lessons on etiquette, wine, and fine dining.

“We used to have food slammed onto our mess tins. Suddenly, we had to wear a tie and learn prim and proper things,” he laughed.

One of his favorite lessons was on cheese, learning to tell camembert from Gouda and pairing them with fruit or crackers. This knowledge later became part of the refined service that SIA was known for.

His first working flight was to Perth (PER) on a Boeing 707. Excited but focused, he followed seniors closely, learning how to serve meals and attend to passengers.

The flight was smooth, but his inexperience showed upon arrival. Carrying flowers at a friend’s request, he was stopped by Australian immigration officers. “The officer shouted ‘Agriculture!’ at me,” he chuckled, recalling his embarrassment.

Lessons From a Global Career

Across decades of travel, Mr. Ng visited cities steeped in history, culture, and food. “Every country is fantastic,” he said. “If you like history, go to Egypt or China. If you enjoy food, go to Bangkok (BKK) or Hong Kong (HKG).”

Exposure to different societies, from liberal to conservative, broadened his worldview. “You begin to be more accepting of differences,” he reflected.

Working thousands of flights, he honed his observation skills and emotional intelligence. “To be in this job for so long, your EQ has to be sharpened,” he said.

He met countless celebrities: footballer Ronaldo, tennis champion Maria Sharapova, singer Stephanie Sun, and American musician Jason Mraz. Sometimes, he did not recognize them until passengers rushed for autographs.

One day, he realized too late that the man beside him was Jackie Chan, though he eventually got a signed boarding pass as a keepsake.

But no celebrity encounter compared to meeting Singapore’s leaders. He proudly showed a faded photo with the late Lee Kuan Yew and his wife. “He was very nice, very normal,” Mr. Ng said. For him, these moments were career highlights.

Camaraderie Above the Clouds

What Mr. Ng cherishes most is the camaraderie with colleagues. In the early years, without mobile phones or tablets, layovers were times of bonding.

Crews toured cities together, shared meals, and spent hours talking. In Honolulu, they enjoyed long stays that forged deep friendships.

“Up there, we knew we were one,” he said, emphasizing teamwork as the key to successful flights.

Challenges of the Job

Behind the glamour, the job came with sacrifices. Medical emergencies onboard required calmness and quick action. “Using CPR or even AEDs to save a life together, it gives us a sense of fulfilment,” he shared.

He admitted to youthful mistakes, like once tapping a drunken passenger on the head. “Not the right thing to do,” he chuckled. Over time, he learned that honesty and humility were the best ways to defuse tension, especially when delays angered passengers.

The schedule took its toll. Flying around 80 hours a month meant missing birthdays, Chinese New Year, and Christmas. “Birthdays are not important to me,” he said.

His daughter Amanda, now 29, agreed: “He misses all the time. We just ask, ‘Are you in?’ If yes, we celebrate.”

The family adapted by celebrating birthdays within the month. Still, Amanda admitted, “Now that he’s always around, it gets a bit suffocating. It’s like COVID-19 all over again.”

Jet lag was another challenge. In his younger years, he ignored sleepless nights. But age made it harder.

“It became more disorienting. Sometimes I didn’t know if it was day or night,” he said. Despite this, he maintained a professional front: “Once we step into the cabin, we are all smiles.”

Ironically, despite his career at 41,000 feet, Mr. Ng has a fear of heights. On a family trip to Malacca, he froze on a modest amusement ride. His daughter teased him for laughing nervously and gripping the seat in fear.

Living Archive of Aviation

At home, Mr. Ng is a collector of vintage items: rotary phones, boomboxes, and diamond clocks. He restores old radios and cassette players, reliving the sounds of his youth in the 1960s and 1970s.

He also keeps SIA memorabilia: uniforms, name tags, and even an apron once issued in the 1980s. The apron, he recalled, “looked ugly over the kebaya” and was quickly phased out.

His old photo albums show early steward uniforms, powder blue jackets, and oversized bow ties that passengers compared to moths. Female crew hairstyles varied then, before the iconic chignon became standard.

Through his collection, he sees aviation’s evolution: from planes without suction toilets to modern galleys with microwaves.

“It’s almost like a kitchen now,” he marveled. He also noted the shift from luxury travel, when passengers dressed formally, to today’s casual approach with budget airlines.

Last Flight

In July 2025, Mr. Ng took his final flight, a 7-hour journey from Adelaide (ADL) to Singapore (SIN). He expected an emotional farewell, but instead found it felt like “a normal day in the office.”

Only later did he learn that colleagues had long referred to him as a “legend,” a nod to his seniority and unmatched tenure.

Flipping through his old passports, he pointed out how clean they were. Crew lanes meant he rarely collected immigration stamps. “No chops at all,” he laughed.

Embracing a New Chapter

After becoming Singapore Airlines’ longest serving cabin crew, Retirement, for Mr. Ng, is not an ending. He keeps active with squash, gym sessions, and language classes. When bored, he jokes about heading to Johor Bahru (JHB) like many Singaporeans do.

His greatest adjustment lies in identity. Having spent his entire adult life as a steward, he admits that his professional self and personal self are one. “I am who I am today because of the 46 years I spent in the line,” he said.

Thoughtfully, he added, “It’s better to have more time to myself now. Retirement is not the end of the world; it’s discovering your second life.”

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