Singapore Airlines says a surplus in First Officers has forced the carrier to place a hiring freeze on cadet pilots.

Denying speculations that the freeze could be linked to a decline in business, the carrier said it would not move its pilots into its subsidiaries, SilkAir and Scoot, Channel News Asia reported.

The airline regularly recruits new cadets on a three-year lead time basis, which gives the carrier space to adjust training modules according to requirements and future aircraft deliveries.

The last batch of recruits was selected early this year.