LONDON – The SIA Group, which owns Singapore Airlines and budget carrier Scoot, has resumed recruitment of cabin crew, ending a hiring freeze that lasted two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Channel News Asia reported.

The resumption of hiring for cabin crew came as travel to and from the city-state recovers and countries ease travel restrictions following an increase in vaccinations.

According to a statement from the carrier, most of the pilots and cabin crew have now returned to active duty.

The airline said that it would “continue to make necessary investments” in its people and the business in order to ensure it is in a “position to emerge stronger” as international air travel recovers.

The Singapore government has set up a Vaccinated Travel Lane scheme to facilitate easy travel of fully-vaccinated individuals to and from other countries. 

The measure helped Singapore Airlines to raise its load factor to 46.5 percent in December from 13.7 percent the previous year.

In September 2020, the Singapore Airlines staff was cut by around 15 percent as a result of layoffs and voluntary early retirement schemes. 

The carrier has raised S$21.6 billion ($16bn) in additional liquidity since April 2020 to help cover expenses and survive the pandemic.

SIA added that it has kept in touch with those who were impacted by the job cut of 4,300 positions, and is inviting former cabin crew who are keen to rejoin the company to apply. 

“They will similarly be shortlisted and selected based on merit and suitability for the role,” the spokesperson said.