Airline Stewardess Reminisces about Missed Birthdays, Jet Lag, and Encountering Lee Kuan Yew in Four Decades Working for SIA

Retired Flight Attendant Mr. Ng Yak Keng: A Pioneer of Singapore Airlines' Skies

After nearly 50 years of dedicated service, Mr. Ng Yak Keng, a 67-year-old retiree, has hung up his wings as a flight attendant for Singapore Airlines (SIA). Mr. Ng began his career with SIA in 1993, following his friends, and spent the next four decades soaring through the skies.

Born and raised in Singapore, Mr. Ng started his career with SIA at the tender age of 21. His career spanned before the digitization of flight records, as evidenced by the curled and sepia-toned pages of his physical rosters and flight schedules. Over the years, he has kept detailed records of all his flights, spanning over half a decade, including short trips to Southeast Asian cities and long-haul journeys to destinations like New York.

Mr. Ng's decision to step down from his role was a tough but pragmatic one, made after careful consideration of his health. In 2024, he fell sick with pneumonia twice, causing him to worry about his ability to maintain his work standard after four decades. Over the next few months, he realized the toll his career was taking on his health and made the decision to step down.

In a society where people often change jobs every few years, Mr. Ng is an anomaly for staying with the same company and job for his entire career. He spent his entire working life, 46 years, with SIA as a cabin crew member. Mr. Ng is one of the longest-serving cabin crew members in the history of Singapore Airlines.

Mr. Ng's home reflects his casual yet neat and organized lifestyle. Dressed in a simple black polo tee, he moves about his flat with practiced ease. His black hair is slicked back, he wears thick-framed glasses, and has an ever-obliging smile.

Mr. Ng's speech is punctuated with phrases like "certainly" or "of course" and has a slight upbeat twang, a remnant of his career with SIA. He finds comfort in his job as a cabin crew member, stating that it suits his lifestyle.

Despite his retirement, Mr. Ng exudes traits of a model service worker. His career in flying began before the widespread use of computers and digital records, but he has adapted to the changing times. He will be remembered as a pioneer of SIA's skies, a testament to dedication, hard work, and a passion for service.

Airline Stewardess Reminisces about Missed Birthdays, Jet Lag, and Encountering Lee Kuan Yew in Four Decades Working for SIA