Singapore Airlines Appoints New General Manager

Media Release
15 January 2007

Singapore Airlines Appoints New General Manager

Singapore Airlines has appointed Alan Lim as General Manager New Zealand. His last posting was Shanghai where he spent almost five years as Manager of Eastern China for the airline.

He replaces Sak-Hin Chin who returned Singapore to take up another position within the company.

“New Zealand is an important market for Singapore Airlines,” says Alan. “We plan to increase flights to twice daily out of Auckland by October 2007 in time for the Northern Winter, and we will have daily departures from Christchurch.”

Alan brings a special perspective on the Chinese market, of which he has an intimate knowledge, thanks to his time in China and Taiwan.

“China is a large and diverse geography, and Singapore remains a significant strategic hub for New Zealanders travelling there for business and leisure,” says Alan. “And we are greatly looking forward to beginning our A380 service, which will increase our international capacity.”

China is rapidly growing with enormous potential, as a market for New Zealand’s exported goods and services, as a travel destination for New Zealanders, and as a source of tourists for New Zealand.

“Singapore Airlines has been actively promoting New Zealand as a tourist destination from China for the last four years,” says Alan. “We worked closely with Tourism New Zealand to promote both North and South Island destinations, developing strategies with agents and devising holidays packages for the market. There is tremendous potential among Chinese travellers who want a quality experience of this country. However, these aims require long-term focus as the outbound market from China is still developing.

“Now that I’m here I will enjoy promoting China as a destination for New Zealanders. Shanghai is an amazing vibrant city, but the China Singapore Airlines knows is far larger that Shanghai. Each week we operate 103 flights into China: to Beijing 21 times; Guangzhou 10 times; Hong Kong 41 times; Nanjing three times; and we land in Shanghai four times every day. And on top of this we have our SilkAir destinations of Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Shenzhen, and Xiamen.”

Alan came to New Zealand fourteen years ago as a tourist, using his first privilege travel tickets from Singapore Airlines.

“Already I was thinking of New Zealand! I spent two weeks driving around this beautiful country, and I especially remember the scenery in the South Island. Moving from Shanghai to Auckland is certainly a huge lifestyle change, but one my family and I are looking forward to,” he says.

ENDS

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