Compared to April 2012, passenger traffic to Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East grew. This was offset by a decline in traffic to and from Africa and Europe.
SINGAPORE – Singapore Changi Airport handled 4.24 million passenger movements in April 2013, an increase of 0.8% over the same period in 2012. Flight movements increased by 4.3% to 27,500. In terms of airfreight movements, 145,600 tonnes of cargo passed through Changi last month, 1.8% lower than a year ago.
Compared to April 2012, passenger traffic to Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East grew. This was offset by a decline in traffic to and from Africa and Europe. Traffic to South Asia and Southwest Pacific was little changed. Overall, traffic was also impacted slightly by the difference in timing of the Good Friday holiday which this year fell in March compared to April last year.
In the first four months of this year, 17.3 million passenger movements were recorded at Changi, 4.8% more than the corresponding period in 2012. Aircraft movements grew in tandem, increasing by 4.0% to 110,100. Cargo shipments decreased 2.1% to 579,600 tonnes for the same period.
After three years of double-digit increases from 2010 to 2012, traffic growth at Changi Airport has eased in recent months and continued downside risks are expected. The near-term outlook for aviation remains cloudy with external threats such as high fuel prices, depressing cargo volumes and weak economic prospects for the global economy. With some airlines operating at Changi reporting forward passenger bookings to be flat, the number of passenger movements in the coming months may be volatile.
As at 1 May 2013, more than 100 airlines operate at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to 250 cities in some 60 countries and territories worldwide. With more than 6,500 weekly scheduled flights, an aircraft takes off or lands at Changi roughly once every 100 seconds.
Other highlights at Changi
New airlines – Changi Airport welcomed the arrival of Golden Myanmar Airlines in April 2013. The carrier operates daily services connecting Singapore via Yangon to Mandalay, a new city link for Changi Airport. In addition, Sichuan Airlines commenced twice-weekly services connecting Singapore to Nanning in China last month. Changi Airport is currently the most connected point to China in Southeast Asia with connections to 24 Chinese cities.
Awards updates – Changi Airport was honoured with the Best Airport in Asia accolade at the annual Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards (AFSCA) for the 27th consecutive year. Changi has garnered more than 430 awards since 1981.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
