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Singapore Changi Airport has registered the highest growth in passenger traffic year-to-date in May 2010. Changi handled almost 3.39 million passenger movements during the month, a 21.6% increase compared to May 2009. This takes the total number of passenger movements for the first five months of the year to more than 16.6 million, an increase of 16.7% year-on-year.
The increase in passenger traffic was partly driven by the Vesak Day long weekend and the beginning of the mid-year school holidays at the end of May. Growth was broad based with all regions enjoying higher traffic compared to May 2009. North America registered the strongest year-on-year growth of 43%, followed by traffic to Northeast Asia (34%). Southeast Asia and South Asia also performed well, registering growth of more than 20%. Full service carriers accounted for 60% of the increase in passenger traffic. Airlines that added or started new services in May 2010 included Indonesia AirAsia (to Jakarta and Bali), Jetstar Asia (to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and Penang), Silkair (to Bangalore) and Singapore Airlines (to Hong Kong).
On the airfreight front, cargo movements in May totalled 153,098, an increase of 14.7%. For the Jan-May period, airfreight movements were up 17.3% to 728,794 tonnes. Aircraft movements rose 12.4%, taking the number for May to 22,151. This brings the total for the five months to 106,177, up 9.6%.
As at 1 June 2010, Changi Airport served 88 airlines operating 5,070 weekly scheduled flights to more than 200 cities in some 60 countries and territories.
New Outlets – The first amusement arcade at Changi Airport, Zone X, opened at Terminal 3 Basement 2 in June. Other new outlets include sandwich chain Quiznos at Terminal 1’s Arrival Hall, bookshop Hudson News at the Budget Terminal, accessories retailer Diva and sporting apparel Billabong at Terminal 2’s Departure/ Transit Mall. Retail Promotion – Shoppers and diners at Changi Airport stand a unique opportunity to win S$1 million in the ‘Be a Changi Millionaire’ Draw. Probably the largest cash prize ever to be given away in a retail draw in Singapore and in an airport worldwide, passengers and visitors simply need to shop or dine at Changi with a minimum spend of S$60. The number of chances for the draw increases with the amount spent. Besides creating a millionaire, there will be 188 other winners with cash prizes totalling more than S$200,000.
In addition, the GST-absorbed shopping programme has been extended from Terminal 3
to Terminals 1 and 2. Under the ‘Flying Or Not, You Shop We Absorb’ programme, over
40 retail stores, representing over 80% of the retail outlets located in Changi Airport’s
public areas, will absorb the GST on all purchases made at their stores.
Airport Enhancements – Singapore’s tallest slide, The Slide@T3, opened to the public in late May. At a height of 12 metres or equivalent to four storeys, The Slide promises daredevils a swirling good time. Sliders can expect to hit a maximum speed of 6 metres/ second. Located at the public areas of Terminal 3, airport visitors can redeem two tokens to ride on the slide with every $30 spent at the airport. There is also a shorter one-and-ahalf storey slide at Basement 2 for which no tokens are required.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
