One key element of SIA’s competitive success is that it
manages to navigate skillfully between poles that most
companies think of as distinct: delivering service excellence
in a cost-effective way. SIA’s costs are below all other fullservice
airlines, and, in fact, its cost levels are so low that
they are comparable to those of budget airlines. From 2001
to 2009, SIA costs per available seat kilometer were just
4.6 cents. According to a 2007 International Air Transport
Association study, the costs for full-service European airlines
were 8–16 cents, for US airlines 7–8 cents, and for Asian
airlines 5–7 cents per available seat kilometer. SIA had even
lower costs than most low-cost carriers in Europe had and
the US had, which ranged from 4–8 cents and 5–6 cents,
respectively.