Origin of the 'SQ' code?

[fuu99]

I was reading an interesting question on another forum (a collectors' message board) asking where the two-letter IATA codes were derived from.

So why does SIA have 'SQ' for its code? SA was already supposedly taken by SAA, but why 'Q' after the 'S'? "Singapore Quality"?

Why not just keep the previous "MA" code from the time they were still MSA?

[Jumbojet Lover]

I heard from someone from SIA that SQ stands for "Superior Quality". Not sure if that was the reason why "SQ" was chosen, or it was derived from the code, like Malaysia Airlines' "Malaysian Hospitality".

[SQflyergirl]

like Malaysia Airlines' "Malaysian Hospitality".

Malaysian Hospitality is an afterthought term coined late 2000's - the MH code came way before that. (i think)

[boing]

AFAIK, the two letter airline codes are given by IATA to have much resemblance with the airline as possible, and if not, a random code is given to have some resemblance to the airline. The only semblance in SQ's case is the letter S. As time went on and codes were running dry, number based codes like 5J, 2P and 9W were given out.

[Jumbojet Lover]

So, SIA did not have any choice in having the 'Q' in their airline code? That would mean 'Superior Quality' is an afterthought.

[Moviela]

The two character IATA code for airlines dates back to 1960 when Blair Smith of IBM started a reservation system with American Airlines. Semi-Automated Business Research Enviornment was the name of that system, now known as SABRE. IBM has always been thrifty with the bits, so only two were assigned to the airline name. Prior to SABRE, one had to visit a travel office or airport and place your name on a list. The next day they would tell you if your reservation was accepted, and a ticket could be issued. You then had to fetch the ticket before flying. I like the click the mouse and go to the airport system we have today.

Singapore was late to the party (meaning a fairly new company) and all the two letter designators were taken, so SQ was assigned by the trade group that had been delt the responsibility to assign those things. Of course there was a nod to the limitations of American Airlines SABRE system, as it saved the airline a ton of money, and other systems like APOLLO that were designed to interface with it. SABRE is a separate company since the turn of the century, and is being used by carriers to extract as much cash from passenger wallets as practical.

Singapore has several identifiers, 618 on Airwaybills, SQ, SIA, SQC cargo, and the radio callsign is SINGAPORE.