Singapore Changi airport recorded in excess of 50 million passengers in 2012 with Indonesia remaining Changi Airport’s top market, accounting for 13.4% of total traffic handled at Changi from January to November 2012.

 

During this period some 6.2 million passenger movements to and from Indonesia were registered, representing a healthy 8.6% growth for the market on a year-on-year basis.

 

[Above right: Yam Kum Weng, CAG’s Executive Vice President of Air Hub Development presenting Ms Inkarani with S$10,000 worth of Changi Dollar Vouchers.]

 

There is strong connectivity between Indonesia and Singapore, with a wide network of air links to 16 Indonesian cities via 1,000 weekly flights operated by 16 airlines.

 

January to November 2012, there were 3.7 million passenger movements on the Jakarta-Singapore route, making the Indonesian capital Changi’s busiest city link out of a total of over 230 cities links worldwide.

 

 

‘STRONG PRESENCE IN SINGAPORE’

As the national carrier of Indonesia, Garuda Indonesia has been a long time partner of Changi Airport, playing a significant role in growing traffic between Singapore and Indonesia.

 

The airline’s first flight to Singapore was in 1966 to then Paya Lebar Airport, from Jakarta. Its operations moved to Changi Airport when the latter opened in 1981.

 

Nicodemus Lampe, Vice President, Area Asia, Garuda Indonesia said, “Garuda Indonesia has had a strong presence in Singapore, with our operations dating as far back as the early days of the country’s independence Singapore is an important market for Garuda Indonesia and also the largest international destination in our global network.

 

Today, we operate more than 130 weekly flights to and from Changi to Jakarta, Bali, Balikpapan and Makassar with more destinations to follow in 2013.

 

“We are honoured to be part of Changi Airport’s 50-million passengers’ celebration today. Going forward, we will continue to work closely with CAG to achieve growth together, as we capitalise on the opportunities presented within the Asia Pacific region.”

 

LOW COST TRAVEL

Changi airport says that in the past two years, passenger traffic at Changi Airport has continued to grow strongly due to an increasing number of low cost travel options and domestic travel.

 

The number of passengers departing from, arriving at and transiting through Changi Airport rose 10.7% in 2011 and increased 11 months of 2012.

 

Changi airport celebrated reaching the traffic milestone with the arrival of Flight GA824 from Jakarta to Singapore, the second busiest international air route in the world.

 

CELEBRATIONS

Around 200 members of the airport community and travel industry partners gave a warm welcome at Terminal 3 to the more than 160 passengers on board the flight.

 

Each passenger received a special gift pack containing shopping vouch souvenirs, as well as a commemorative certificate of the occasion.

 

Five passengers were also selected to take part in a game show at Changi Airport’s Departure Transit area. Inkarani, a 24 year-old lawyer from Jakarta, walked away with the top prize of S$50,000 worth of shopping vouchers and retail products from Changi Airport, as well as a pair of Singapore-Jakarta

Executive Class air tickets sponsored by Garuda Indonesia.

 

The other four passengers each received S$1,000 in Changi Dollar Vouchers.

 

[Above: Prayanto Inkarani walked away with the top prize of S$50,000 worth of retail products and shopping vouchers from Changi Airport]

 

46.3M PAX BETWEEN JANUARY AND NOVEMBER

Changi Airport handled 46.3 million passengers from January to November 2012. This 11-month figure is already close to the 46.5 million passenger movements achieved for the whole of 2011.

 

Robust double-digit growth in travel to and from Northeast Asia and South Asia contributed to the increase in passenger traffic since the start of the year.

 

Traditionally strong markets such as Southeast Asia, Southwest Pacific and Europe also continued to grow healthily, accentuating Changi’s status as a major air hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

In the month of November alone, 4.37 million passenger movements were registered, a 12.2% increase year-on-year.

 

‘STRONG AIRLINE PARTNERSHIPS’

As at 1 December 2012, Changi Airport serves 109 airlines operating some 6,400 weekly scheduled flights to and from more than 230 cities in 60 countries and territories worldwide.

 

Growth made possible by strong airline partnerships Lee Seow Hiang, CAG’s Chief Executive Officer, said “Despite a sluggish global economy and an uncertain outlook for air travel, Changi Airport has risen against the challenges to deliver another record breaking year in 2012.

 

“This is the outcome of our strong partnerships with airlines like Garuda and concerted proactive efforts with them to grow air links and increase flight frequencies.

 

“We thank our many airline partners, the airport community and the tens of millions of passengers who have given us their solid support this past year. CAG will continue to invest in infrastructure at Changi Airport to ensure that we keep pace with future growth and that we continually provide passengers with a first class Changi Experience.”