Singapore Changi Airport Reports Q2 2024 Traffic

Dark/Light Mode (29/07/24)  Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) handled 16.5 million passenger movements between the beginning of April and the end of June 2024, an increase of 13.4% compared to a year ago and 98.2% of passenger movements for Q2 2019.

Aircraft movements, including landings and take-offs, totalled 89,300 for the quarter, up 9.7% year-on-year and 94.5% compared to Q2 2019.

Changi’s top five markets for the quarter were, in alphabetical order, Australia, China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, with China having the highest growth among the top markets with traffic doubling compared to the same period last year, surpassing pre-Covid numbers.

For the quarter, North Asia was the fastest growing region, registering a 40.8% increase year-on-year, also exceeding pre-Covid levels.

The airport registered 486,000 tonnes of airfreight throughput, surpassing Q2 2023 by 16%. Growth was registered across all cargo flows – exports, imports and transhipments, led by strong cargo flows between Singapore and China, as well as the United States of America.

Singapore Airlines A350 reg: 9V-SMR at Changi Airport in Singapore. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

During the quarter, Changi’s top five air cargo markets were Australia, China, Hong Kong, India and United States of America.

As at 1 July, 94 airlines operate over 6,900 weekly scheduled flights at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to 158 cities in 50 countries and territories worldwide.

“Changi Airport continues to expand its global network, having added more flights in the second quarter,” said Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group’s Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development. “Travellers can now explore more destinations with Changi’s connectivity to cities such as Broome, Brussels, Quanzhou and Vancouver, and enjoy more options to evergreen favourites like Tokyo and London. Together with our airline partners, we are striving towards full travel recovery by the end of this year.”

During Q2 2024, Changi Airport welcomed Shandong Airlines which started thrice weekly services between Jinan and Singapore on 19 April, and Air Japan which commenced five flights per week between Tokyo Narita Airport and Singapore on 26 April.

On 1 May, Emirates extended one of its four daily Dubai-Singapore service to Phnom Penh. Scoot’s new Embraer E190-E2 made its inaugural flight from Changi to Krabi and Hat Yai on 7 May, and will offer passengers more options within Southeast Asia including new-to-airline city links Koh Samui and Sibu.

For longer-haul markets, Singapore Airlines launched non-stop services between London Gatwick and Singapore on 22 June, adding 5 flights per week to the existing 49 weekly services between Singapore and London Heathrow. Jetstar began twice weekly seasonal flights to Broome in Western Australia on 25 June, enhancing Changi Airport’s position as the most connected international gateway to Australia.

Changi also resumed its link to Jieyang Chaoshan (China), with the launch of Spring Airlines’ four flights per week from 31 March, as well as to Quanzhou (China), with the launch of Xiamen Airlines’ four flights per week from 24 June.

The second quarter saw more than 20 new stores and F&B outlets open or refurbished at Changi’s four terminals.

In the public areas, new-to-Changi brands have been introduced, like Chopstix & Rice at Terminal 2 (T2), known for its Indonesian Nasi Padang (rice with various dishes), and Taiwan Culture (T2), providing a variety of well-loved Formosa delights to diners. Ritazza at Terminal 3 (T3), a cafe which made its comeback to Changi, offers a range of coffee, pastries, and other quick bites. Popular Asian eateries such as Papparich and GO Noodle House have opened at T4 as well. Among these, Papparich is a halal restaurant while Chopstix & Rice and Taiwan Culture are pending their halal certifications. Together, they add more halal options to Changi Airport’s landside offerings.

In the transit areas, Kering Eyewear, a luxury eyewear retailer, carrying eyewear from brands such as Gucci, Cartier and Saint Laurent, and luxury fashion brand Marc Jacobs have opened their first Changi boutique at T2.

Pop-ups of two popular brands have also been set up at T3: sporting goods giant – Decathlon, and homegrown confectionary-maker, Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie, each with its own Changi-exclusive goods. Decathlon features hiking backpacks, t-shirts and more, while Mr. Bucket boasts locally-inspired chocolate flavours like Kaya (coconut jam) Toast, Salted Egg Potato Chip, amongst others.

At Jewel Changi Airport, 15 new shops and restaurants were added to its line-up, including first-in-Singapore outlets like Ipoh Town, serving authentic Ipoh cuisine, Royal Host, a Japanese chain restaurant offering Japanese-Western dishes, as well as Naixue, which specialises in premium tea beverages. Diners can also satisfy their sweet cravings with Cinnabon's delectable cinnamon, try Chow Zan Dessert's comforting traditional desserts, and savour made-to-order grilled toasts and sliders at Twenty Loaf Toasties.

Jewel’s retail scene has also seen a vibrant refresh with new additions like Bimba Y Lola's largest store in Singapore spanning over 1,600 square feet, Weston Corp | New Era with its football merchandise, iconic baseball caps and unique customisation services, and Singapore’s first Satellite Paris store offering costume jewellery designed and crafted in Paris. In addition to Pokemon Center and ActionCity, new stores Otaku House, POP MART and Simply Toys (another outlet has also opened at T3) now offer a wider range of collectibles and toys. Other new shops include Birkenstock, Le Petit Society and Sasa.

See also: Singapore Changi Airport - HD Video Interview with Peh Ke-Wei, VP of Passenger and Air Hub Development, CAG

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