“Bench Warmer No More: A Mom’s Bold Stand for Travel Ball Players”

What defines an airline as the “top in the world”? Exceptional service, punctual departures, extensive flight options, cozy seating, competitive fares, robust safety records, appealing loyalty rewards, etc., right? These are precisely the qualities that travelers seek when choosing an airline, and countless individuals have awarded Singapore Airlines the designation of “most awarded airline.” In 2023, it was declared the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax World Airline Awards for the fifth occasion, surpassing any other airline in the 24-year tradition of the awards.

Now, a further reason Singapore Airlines is receiving accolades from both passengers and non-passengers has emerged. Following the airline’s announcement of a record net profit for 2023/2024, a source informed CNN in May that the airline would be granting all employees a bonus equivalent to nearly 8 months of salary. Although specifics regarding the bonus have not been disclosed by the airline, a comparable bonus was distributed to employees last year, which also marked a record-setting year for the company. An airline representative who spoke with Business Insider stated that the bonus stems from “a long-established annual profit-sharing plan agreed upon with our staff unions.”

Profit-sharing strategies incentivize employees to enhance performance, benefiting both employees and employers—as long as those at the top are not inclined to hoard all profits. Singapore Airlines’ bonus related to profit-sharing may be part of its total compensation scheme rather than a discretionary bonus; still, it represents an exceptionally large sum for any organization to distribute as a bonus, prompting considerable commentary from people.

“Wise move, this fosters employee satisfaction and a willingness to go above and beyond. They are poised for an even more successful year ahead.”

“It’s not merely a bonus….it’s the percentage. Receiving 8 months of salary demonstrates outstanding leadership. If only corporate America would avoid being so avaricious with their record earnings.”

“Rewarding employees, not just the executives, exemplifies effective leadership.”

“Kudos to Singapore Airlines! Setting a fine precedent of acknowledging employees for their commitment and diligence.”

In its explanation for earning 2.68 billion Singapore dollars ($1.99 billion USD), the airline indicated, “The demand for air travel remained robust throughout FY2023/24,” bolstered by several significant Asian nations fully lifting travel restrictions post-COVID-19 pandemic. The airline reported that it transported 36.4 million passengers, marking an impressive 37.6% rise compared to the previous year.

Clearly, many choose Singapore Airlines, but why? What genuinely elevates it to the status of best (or for 2024, second best following Qatar Airways) globally?

For starters, they excel in awards for First Class travel, which is commendable but doesn’t significantly impact the average traveler flying economy. However, Singapore’s economy experience surpasses that of most other airlines by a considerable margin. The cabins of Singapore Airlines are recognized for their thoughtful design, immaculate cleanliness, and relative comfort, and the crew is renowned for their friendliness, attentiveness, and helpfulness. (Indeed, Singapore Airlines received the World’s Best Cabin Crew award from Skytrax in 2024.) Frequent travelers of Singapore Airlines often describe the experience as feeling entirely distinct from domestic airlines in the U.S., even in economy class. The seating, meals, service on the ground and in the air—everything contributes to high quality.

When you offer customers what they value, ensure your employees remain content and motivated with equitable profit-sharing incentives, and also operate in a cost-efficient manner, it’s little wonder when you achieve high rankings for accolades throughout the industry. Such recognition drives more customers to seek you out, boosting your revenue and ultimately resulting in record profits, which are then shared with employees who strive harder to maintain this constructive cycle.

It’s remarkable how prioritizing customers and employees can lead to universal success.