Singapore Airlines recognized the potential of transporting air cargo and launched its subsidiary Singapore Airlines Cargo in 2001. Singapore Airlines used to carry cargo on its regular passenger flights and did run freight carriers before formally launching SIA Cargo. Singapore Airlines Cargo operated 11 freighters. Destinations that are not on Singapore Airlines passenger network are serviced by the cargo services.

SIA Cargo warehouse is located in Singapore, which is dubbed SIA Super hub 1, and was opened in 1995. The warehouse has the capacity to hold up to 450,000 tons of goods a year. In 2001 new SIA Super hub 2 was opened, which has the capacity to carry 800,000 tons of goods annually. Singapore airlines owns 25% stake in Great Wall Airlines and 16 % stake in China Cargo Airlines.SIA cargo is part of the WOW Alliance , which included JAL cargo, SAS Cargo Group and Lufthansa Cargo as members. SIA cargo transports goods in three different types of aircrafts, which are passenger aircraft, cargo aircrafts or freighters. In passenger aircrafts, the cargo area is located under the passenger area, and is referred to as the “belly”. Examples of these types of aircrafts are Airbus A320, Boeing 737 NG and Airbus A 380. In cargo aircraft or freighters, goods are carried on the main deck in the aircraft plus in the cargo space. Some of the cargo planes have large doors to load and unload large sized pallets. In combi aircrafts, the cargo area is on the main deck behind the passenger area.

Singapore Airlines Cargo currently operates 600 dedicated weekly cargo flights to 72 destinations in 37 countries. Amongst the 37 countries 33 are served by Singapore Airline Passenger flights as well.  SIA cargo holds in all Singapore Airlines passenger aircrafts, provide cargo transport service to all the destinations on Singapore Airline passenger network. A typical cargo supply chain in Singapore Airlines cargo consists of Shipping, forwarding out, air transport, forwarding in and consignment steps.

Singapore Airlines has installed a computerized cargo tracking system and customers can track the status of their shipped goods by logging on to the website and checking the tracking number. The entire fleet of Singapore airlines cargo aircrafts consists of Boeing 747s. Each aircraft is capable of carrying 110 tonnes.

Singapore Airlines Cargo offer different types of cargo services. You can ship packages weighing up to 500kgs through swift rider. The package can be of any shape as long as it can be hauled on to the aircraft. You can also avail of the charter service and send your cargo to destinations which are not on the network. Singapore Airlines Cargo also ships and transports perishable goods. SIA Cargo has special cold storages and chillers to store the goods in. The service also transports live animals in specially built, well ventilated containers from which the animals cannot escape. SIA Cargo also transports goods that are deemed dangerous. However you must inform the airline about the nature of the goods and they in turn will tell you if they will and in what condition will they handle them. SIA Cargo has won several awards for being one of the top air cargo service providers in the world.