Singapore's flagship carrier is looking to diversify its revenue – by selling its expertise in dealing with VIPs and tricky customers to other industries.

The city-state's airline is creating a training unit to teach companies on good service as well as improving innovation and operations, it said in an emailed statement. Singapore Airlines launched the offering in September with a customized training program for caregivers at Khoo Teck Puat, a Singapore hospital. 

In a three-day course, students hone skills like effective interpersonal communication, customer handling, and to embody values like empathy, warmth and care. The airline is frequently ranked as the world's best for customer service, in passenger surveys and industry league tables.

The creation of Singapore's «academy» represents an attempt by the airline to utilize resources and personnel rendered dormant in the pandemic. «The Singapore Airlines Academy is also a strategic move for the SIA Group, and has the potential to add a new source of revenue in the coming years,» top executive Vanessa Ng said.