Singapore Changi Airport continues to make remarkable strides in passenger and cargo operations, marking significant growth in the second quarter of 2024. With a notable recovery in passenger traffic and a surge in airfreight throughput, Changi Airport is solidifying its position as a crucial hub in global aviation.
From April to June 2024, Changi Airport handled 16.5 million passenger movements, a 13.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023, achieving 98.2% of the traffic observed in 2019.
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Aircraft movements, encompassing landings and take-offs, totalled 89,300 for the quarter, reflecting a 9.7% year-on-year increase and reaching 94.5% of 2019 levels. The top five passenger markets included Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Australia, and India, with China exhibiting the highest growth, doubling traffic from last year and surpassing pre-COVID numbers.
Changi Airport’s air cargo operations also experienced robust growth. In the second quarter of 2024, the airport recorded 486,000 tonnes of airfreight throughput, a 16% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth spanned all cargo flows – exports, imports, and transhipments. The leading air cargo markets for this period were Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, and the United States. Notably, strong cargo flows between Singapore and China, as well as the USA, played a crucial role in this surge.
Changi Airport’s Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development, Mr. Lim Ching Kiat, highlighted the airport’s expanding global network. In the second quarter, new destinations such as Broome, Brussels, Quanzhou, and Vancouver were added, alongside increased connectivity to popular cities like Tokyo and London. As of July 1st, Changi Airport hosts 94 airlines operating over 6,900 weekly scheduled flights, connecting Singapore to 158 cities across 50 countries and territories.
Changi Airport welcomed several new and reinstated services, enhancing its connectivity. Shandong Airlines commenced thrice-weekly services between Jinan and Singapore on April 19, and Air Japan launched five-times-weekly services between Tokyo Narita Airport and Singapore on April 26. Emirates extended one of its daily Dubai-Singapore services to Phnom Penh on May 1. Scoot’s new Embraer E190-E2 started flights from Changi to Krabi and Hat Yai on May 7, and Singapore Airlines introduced non-stop services between London Gatwick and Singapore on June 22. Jetstar began twice-weekly seasonal flights to Broome in Western Australia on June 25. Additionally, Spring Airlines resumed four-times-weekly services to Jieyang Chaoshan (China) on March 31, and Xiamen Airlines launched four-times-weekly services to Quanzhou (China) on June 24.
