Mr Chin Yau Seng will be appointed Chief Executive of SilkAir with effect from 26 March 2007.

Mr Chin, 35, is presently the Vice President Company Planning and Fuel, in Singapore Airlines, of which SilkAir is a wholly owned subsidiary.

He has worked for the Singapore Airlines Group since 1995. Mr Chin has headed the Company Planning and Fuel Department since end 2004. He has previously held postings as Singapore Airlines General Manager Greece, Regional Marketing Manager Europe (based in London), a number of appointments in Singapore, including in the Network Revenue Management Department and Passenger Marketing Department.

Mr Chin will be taking over from Mr Mike Barclay, who will leave the Singapore Airlines Group to join the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as Regional Vice President, Member & Government Affairs for Asia Pacific, based in Singapore.

"I am looking forward to working with a great team of people who have done a wonderful job in making SilkAir the leading regional airline in this part of the world.

"With SilkAir's recent order of eleven A320-family aircraft, as well as options for another nine aircraft, the airline is well positioned to continue to grow and spread its wings in the region over the next few years. I'm pleased to be playing a role in that," Mr Chin said.

The Chairman of SilkAir, LG (Rtd) Bey Soo Khiang, thanked Mr Barclay for his efforts in building SilkAir's strong presence in the region.

"In the past three years as the Chief Executive, Mike has strengthened the airline in the face of both competition from new startup airlines and high fuel prices.

"The Airline has also embarked on an exciting path, having ordered new aircraft for new routes which are being identified. SilkAir can tap the emerging demand for travel within South East Asia."

"I welcome Mr Chin as the new Chief Executive who, I am sure, will further strengthen SilkAir's presence in the region," LG Bey said.