Operating indicators for March 2012

Singapore Changi Airport managed 4.28 million passenger movements in March 2012, representing the highest number of passengers ever handled at Changi during the month of March.  Passenger traffic for the month increased 15.3% year-on-year, in tandem with the increase in aircraft movements which grew 10.6% to 27,000.  Airfreight movements decreased 1.8% to 163,000 tonnes during the month.

In the first three months of this year, Changi Airport recorded 12.3 million passenger movements, an increase of 12.9% compared to the corresponding period in 2011.  Traffic growth was underpinned by strong travel demand to and from Europe, Middle East, South Asia, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, regions which saw double-digit growth. 

Changi Airport handled 79,500 aircraft movements from January to March this year, up 12.9% year-on-year.  Despite a slight dip in cargo movements to and from Europe and South Asia, cargo movements at Changi remained relatively stable buoyed by an increase in movements to and from Southwest Pacific and Southeast Asia.  Some 443,900 tonnes of cargo passed through Changi during the period, an increase of 0.6%.

As at 1 April 2012, Changi Airport serves some 100 airlines operating 6,200 weekly flights connecting Singapore to more than 220 destinations in 60 countries.

Changi Airport’s traffic statistics are available at http://www.changiairportgroup.com/cag/html/the-group/air_traffic_statistics.html

Other highlights

Northern Summer 2012 schedule – Changi Airport welcomed Air France’s A380 operations last month.  The French flag-carrier is the fourth airline to operate the superjumbo at Changi, thus strengthening Singapore’s long haul connectivity to Europe.

Beginning April 2012, China Eastern Airlines and SilkAir have each launched thrice weekly direct flights connecting Singapore to Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei Province.  Hainan Airlines will also begin a new service to Taiyuan via Haikou from 11 May 2012.  With these additions, Changi Airport will be linked to 26 Chinese cities, cementing its position as the most connected point to China from Southeast Asia.

Singapore Airlines’ new long haul low-cost carrier, Scoot, will commence daily flights to Sydney and five-weekly operations to Gold Coast from June 2012.  Gold Coast will be a new city link for Changi Airport.

New Outlets – Changi Airport welcomed the opening of three new outlets in the public area of Terminal 3 Level 3.  Planet Traveller has launched a 13,000 square feet lifestyle travel store, offering shoppers a wide range of merchandise including travel accessories, lifestyle bags, travel books & maps, outdoor gear and winter wear.  In addition, Dian Xiao Er Chinese restaurant and Sanrio Gift Gate have opened outlets in the same area.  Sanrio Gift Gate offers a wide variety of products, including exclusive souvenirs, plush toys as well as travel necessities. 

Over in the transit area, Bakerzin has opened an outlet in Terminal 1 while Bonia opened its third Changi Airport outlet in Terminal 2.  March 2012 also saw the full opening of DFS Fashion Avenue in Terminal 3’s Transit Mall.