An illustration showing an Singapore Airlines plane over Singapore with Air India trailing behind.
Asia-Pacific

Singapore Airlines and Its Air India Dilemma

Asia-Pacific

Singapore Airlines and Its Air India Dilemma

May 2026
41 min read
Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat
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Skift Take

Singapore Airlines has a bad habit: buying into troubled airlines. Virgin Australia, Ansett, Air New Zealand — the list of regrettable investments is long. Now, its 25% stake in Air India is turning into perhaps the most painful bet yet. The timing couldn’t be worse. Even as Singapore Airlines itself benefits from booming premium demand and travelers rerouting through Changi instead of the Gulf, Air India is hemorrhaging money. Can SIA turn the investment around? We take a closer look in this week’s feature story.

Issue Overview

Singapore Airlines has a bad habit: buying into troubled airlines. Virgin Australia, Ansett, Air New Zealand — the list of regrettable investments is long. Now, its 25% stake in Air India is turning into perhaps the most painful bet yet. The timing couldn’t be worse. Even as Singapore Airlines itself benefits from booming premium demand and travelers rerouting through Changi instead of the Gulf, Air India is hemorrhaging money. Can SIA turn the investment around? We take a closer look in this week’s feature story.