Singapore’s Changi Airport has enjoyed a strong performance in the third quarter of 2024, amid pent-up regional traffic movements in the North Asia sector.
The airport welcomed 16.8 million passengers between July and September. The Singapore hub reached 97.4% of its 2019 levels and showed a robust 10% increase from the previous year.
Aircraft movements, including landings and take-offs, totalled 92,100 for the quarter, up 7.5% year-on-year. The strong growth follows on from robust North Asia traffic and regional air travel demand.
North Asia Leads Growth with China as Top Market
North Asia emerged as the standout performer, with passenger traffic surging 27% in Q3 and recording almost 50% more passengers year-to-date compared to 2023.
China secured its position as Changi’s leading source market, experiencing an impressive 50% year-on-year increase in passenger movements.
During this period, Changi’s top five markets were China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Thailand. These key markets contributed significantly to the airport’s strong recovery trajectory.
Major Cities Show Significant Growth
Shanghai maintained its position as the fastest-growing destination among Changi’s top 10 cities, with year-to-date traffic more than doubling compared to 2023.
Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Melbourne, and Tokyo also demonstrated remarkable performance, with each destination achieving double-digit growth rates during the quarter.
Cargo Operations Show Strong Recovery
The cargo sector also demonstrated significant improvement, with Changi handling 512,000 tonnes of airfreight during Q3.
This represents a 13.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The growth spread across all cargo flows, encompassing exports, imports, and transhipments.
Network Expansion and New Services
As of October 1, Changi Airport’s connectivity has reached impressive numbers, with 96 airlines in operation managing over 7,000 weekly scheduled flights. The airport now connects Singapore to 161 cities across 50 countries and territories worldwide.
The airport continues to expand its network with new services. Two new airlines are set to join Changi’s roster. AirAsia Cambodia will launch daily flights to Siem Reap starting November 9. Meanwhile, Japan’s Peach Aviation will commence daily flights to Osaka beginning December 5.
Looking Ahead
Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group, expressed optimism about the future prospects.
He highlighted the airport’s successful partnerships with Chinese carriers. This has resulted in the opening of new routes to Jieyang Chaoshan, Linyi, Quanzhou, and Taiyuan. The collaboration with Chinese airlines has also seen increased flights to major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Chongqing.
As one of Asia’s most connected international aviation hubs, Changi Airport links Singapore to some 160 cities globally. It now supports close to 100 airlines operating more than 7,000 flights weekly.
The world’s most awarded airport, Changi has won 680 accolades for its consistent and excellent airport staff service, passenger experience and safety standards.
With the year-end travel season approaching, Changi Airport is well-positioned to welcome an increasing number of travelers through its world-class facilities.
The airport’s continued network expansion and strong recovery in both passenger and cargo operations signal a positive outlook for Singapore’s aviation hub status.
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