Changi Q1 and 12-month traffic outperformed pre-COVID levels

Singapore Changi Airport handled 17.2 million passenger movements from January to March 2025 (Q1), exceeding 2024 levels for the same period by 4.3%. This is 4.8% more than what was recorded in the first quarter of 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic in Q1 2020. On a rolling 12-month basis, Changi Airport’s passenger traffic surpassed pre-Covid levels, reaching an all-time one-year high of 68.4 million passenger movements, an increase of 9.5% compared to the previous 12 months. For the quarter, aircraft movements, which include landings and takeoffs, totalled 94,000, representing an increase of 5.2% compared to last year. Among the regions, North America registered the highest growth with a year-on-year (yoy) increase of 15.8% for Q1. Changi Airport’s top five markets for the quarter were China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Thailand. Continuing the growth momentum from last year, traffic between Singapore and China posted a 10% yoy increase. Among Changi’s top markets, Japan also saw a strong performance in Q1, recording a 16% increase yoy. From January to March 2025, Changi Airport registered 480,000 tonnes of airfreight throughput, a 1.0% increase compared to the same period last year. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, Changi registered growth in imports, with a slight decline in exports. For this quarter, Changi’s top five air cargo markets were China, Australia, the United States, Hong Kong and India. Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group’s Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development said, “Changi Airport’s 12-month passenger traffic surpassed pre-Covid levels for the first time, reflecting positive trends in air travel and continued appeal of Changi as a key air hub. We are seeing encouraging growth across all regions and key markets, supported by the collective effort of our airline partners. In recent months, we have expanded Changi Airport’s connectivity with more flights to cities in China and Indonesia, and we are excited to welcome direct services to Vienna in June, operated by Scoot. We will work closely with our current and potential airline partners to expand Changi’s network, both regionally and on long-haul routes.” New and reinstated services During the quarter, Changi Airport welcomed several new city links, offering travellers even more destination choices. Three new China cities were added to Changi’s network – Harbin, operated by Shenzhen Airlines with 3x weekly services, Lanzhou, operated by Hainan Airlines with 4x weekly services, and Yichang, operated by Hainan Airlines with 3x weekly services. Services to Ningbo and Shantou also resumed during the quarter. Changi’s connectivity to Indonesia was further strengthened with the launch of new services to Padang and Labuan Bajo. Scoot has introduced 4x weekly services to Padang operated by its Embraer E190-E2 fleet, while Jetstar commenced 2x weekly flights to Labuan Bajo – with the latter representing a first-time link for Changi. Firefly began operating flights to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport) from Changi Airport on 24 March, enhancing travel options between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Qantas also expanded its Australia-Singapore network with the launch of 4x weekly flights to Darwin on 30 March, making it the fifth Australian city directly connected to Changi by the carrier. As at 1 April, some 100 airlines operate over 7,200 weekly scheduled flights at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to about 170 cities in 49 countries and territories worldwide. Changi Airport Group names IndiGo as ‘Partner of the Year’ (PHOTO: Changi) Changi Airport Group (CAG) has accorded IndiGo its Partner of the Year award at the 18th edition of the Changi Airline Awards (CAA) held at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. The annual event honours airline and aviation partners that have contributed to the development of the Changi air hub. The accolade presented to IndiGo is in recognition of the airline’s remarkable growth at Changi Airport since its commencement of Singapore services in 2011. During this time, IndiGo has risen to become Changi’s fifth largest foreign carrier by passenger traffic.  As a key partner, IndiGo has collaborated closely with CAG and contributed significantly to boosting traffic between India and Singapore. IndiGo now operates 75 weekly services between India and Singapore, which is 53% more compared to pre-Covid levels. Besides direct services to Singapore, IndiGo has, through its codeshare partnership with Qantas, facilitated seamless connectivity between India and Australia via Changi, registering a nine-fold increase in transfer traffic in the last year. IndiGo also partnered CAG on a joint marketing campaign to promote its new Coimbatore-Singapore route, as well as the Singapore Tourism Board to promote Singapore as a destination to India travellers through trade engagement and marketing efforts. Mr Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo said, “At IndiGo, we are truly humbled to receive the ‘Partner of the Year’ award at Changi Airline Awards 2025. This recognition validates our dedication to growth and partnership with Changi Airport Group. Since 2011, we’ve expanded significantly, now operating over 70 weekly flights connecting Singapore to nine cities in India. Our collaboration with Changi Airport has been pivotal in boosting traffic not only between India and Singapore but also beyond, with our codeshare partnerships offering convenient connections to our customers via Changi Airport. IndiGo is committed to strengthening this partnership with Changi Airport even further, delivering hassle-free travel experiences to our customers.” Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of CAG, Mr Yam Kum Weng, highlighted the challenges and opportunities for Changi Airport as travel demand rises amid global uncertainties. He cited key projects that will strengthen the airport’s operational resilience and support airlines’ growth, while enhancing passenger travel experience. “The One Aviation community is jointly implementing ‘Aircraft 360’, a new concept for aircraft turnaround management. Using computer vision and AI to monitor aircraft turnaround activities and predict potential delays in flight departures, resources can be deployed promptly to mitigate any delays. When it is fully scaled up in all terminals, Changi can accommodate 12 more flights a day using the contact gates during peak hours.” However, Mr Yam said that even with the effort to maximise the use of contact gates, it will still not be sufficient to meet the high demand during peak periods because airlines prefer to operate more flights during these times. Hence, more remote bussing during peak hours in the morning and evening is to be expected. “To improve the experience for passengers on such flights, particularly in wet weather conditions, CAG is planning to construct fully sheltered satellite gates where passengers will board or disembark the aircraft using gently sloped ramps that are connected seamlessly to aerobridges. We plan to complete construction of the first satellite gate before the end of the year and aim to build more of these around the airport. At the same time, we are also trialling mobile boarding ramps at remote stands where it is not possible to build the satellite gates.  With both the satellite gates and mobile boarding ramps, we will provide a seamless experience for passengers travelling between the terminal buildings and remote stands, rain or shine.” he added. Honouring top carriers and partners at Changi At the awards ceremony, a total of 25 awards were presented across several key categories, including Top Airlines by Passenger Carriage and Cargo Carriage, Top Airlines by Absolute Passenger Growth and Absolute Cargo Growth, Best Airline Marketing, and Partner of the Year. These awards celebrate the airline partners whose performance has driven the growth of both passenger and air freight traffic at Changi Airport. A Special Recognition (Industry Partner) Award was also presented to SAAA@Singapore (formerly the Singapore Aircargo Agents Association) in recognition of its longstanding partnership with CAG. Since 2017, SAAA@Singapore has supported CAG in expanding the IATA Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in the Pharma and Fresh communities and enhancing Changi’s operational excellence in special cargo handling. More recently, it played a key role in transitioning the Changi air freight forwarding and trucking communities to the Truck Dock Slot Booking system, improving efficiency and productivity at the airfreight terminals. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]