Through the year 2023, Changi Airport, located in the middle of Singapore’s busy economy, has shown signs of extraordinary improvement. There were 58.9 million passengers via the airport, which is 86% higher than its busy days before the epidemic. It is a testament to the airport’s resilience that it has managed to recover despite the difficult global economic climate.
Aircraft Movements and Cargo Throughput
The year saw Changi Airport accommodating 328,000 aircraft movements. While shy of the 382,000 in 2019, this number is a beacon of progress. The airfreight throughput, amidst the ebb and flow of global economic tides, stood resilient at 1.74 million tonnes, marking a slight 6% dip from the previous year.
Fourth Quarter Surge: A Glimpse of Hope
As 2023 drew to a close, Changi Airport’s corridors buzzed with life, reaching over 90% of its pre-Covid passenger traffic. December shone as the busiest month, with 5.8 million travelers, mirroring the vibrancy of December 2019. The 22nd of December, a day marked by festive anticipation, saw a remarkable 203,000 passengers, showcasing Changi’s capability to handle a sea of humanity with grace.
2023-Year-in-review-infographicGlobal Traffic Trends
The year was marked by robust growth across various continents. North America, in a show of resilience, surpassed its 2019 traffic levels by more than 25%. Europe, the Southwest Pacific, and South Asia were hot on its heels, achieving over 90% of their former glory. Northeast Asia, led by a surge in China-Singapore travel, and Southeast Asia also displayed commendable year-on-year growth.
Leading Markets and Bustling Routes
Changi’s top passenger markets painted a diverse picture, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, and India leading the charge. China, Japan, and South Korea emerged as the fastest-growing markets, with South Korea notably surpassing its pre-pandemic levels by 36%. The Kuala Lumpur route, a hive of activity, emerged as the world’s busiest international route by seat capacity.
Cargo Operations Amidst Economic Currents
Despite the swirling winds of global economic challenges, Changi Airport’s cargo operations stood firm. The leading cargo markets – China, Australia, Hong Kong, the USA, and India – reflected Changi’s pivotal role in the tapestry of global trade.
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Insights from Changi Airport Group’s Executive
Mr. Lim Ching Kiat, the Executive Vice President of Changi Airport Group, shared his reflections, “2023 was an invigorating year, as we witnessed the resounding resumption of travel across the world, as well as the full reopening of Changi Airport’s Terminal 2. The upswing in travel was fuelled by strong outbound travel demand, as well as growing inbound travel. The growth in passenger traffic was especially strong in Asia, with an acceleration seen in the last quarter. Changi Airport also resumed connections to more than 10 cities this year, including Addis Ababa, Changsha, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, and Okinawa. We have restored almost 90% of our pre-Covid city links to date, with Changi Airport now the 5th busiest airport in the world by seat capacity. We step into 2024 hopeful of making a full recovery back to Changi Airport’s pre-Covid connectivity and traffic levels. As more travellers around the world rekindle their wanderlust, we will continue to work with our airline partners to bring exciting destinations and new travel experiences to travellers.”
Expanding Global Reach
The year 2023 was a milestone for Changi Airport, welcoming new airlines and establishing new routes, thus weaving a more connected global network. The addition of Air Macau, Firefly, and TransNusa, along with new city links to Bhubaneswar and Sanya, marked significant strides. The return of Air Canada and the introduction of new services by Singapore Airlines to Brussels and London Gatwick added to the airport’s growing tapestry of connections.
Forward into the Future
As of January 2024, Changi Airport stands as a bustling crossroads of the world, served by 93 airlines with over 6,700 weekly flights, connecting Singapore to 154 cities across 49 countries. This robust network underscores Changi’s pivotal role in the global aviation landscape, poised for a future of complete recovery and continued expansion.
For a deeper dive into Changi Airport’s traffic statistics, visit Changi Airport’s Traffic Statistics.
[1] OAG’s 2023 Busiest Airports
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