Singapore Changi Airport saw stable airfreight movements, with 1.85 million tonnes during 2013.
Meanwhile, the airport handled a record 53.7 million passengers.
Changi Airport’s total cargo throughput for the year was stable, increasing 0.8 percent, as stronger imports outweighed slower exports and transshipment volumes. There were also some bright spots in niche cargo segments such as perishables and pharmaceuticals, which continued to grow in 2013.
The recovery of the global airfreight industry remains fragile and potential growth in cargo volumes, if any, will be amidst a challenging environment as global consumer demand and cargo yields continue to remain depressed.
In light of this, Changi Airport Group (CAG) will continue to extend support to its air cargo partners through the Changi Airport Growth Initiative for the financial year ending March 31, 2015. All scheduled freighter flights at Changi Airport will receive a 50 percent landing fee rebate and cargo tenants leasing CAG cargo facilities at the Changi Airfreight Centre will receive rebates based on cargo tonnage handled, up to 20 percent of their rentals.
Together with other growth incentives available to freighter airlines, CAG’s support package for the cargo industry will amount to S$18 million for fiscal year 2014/2015.
“2013 has been another good year for us,” Lee Seow Hiang, CEO at Changi Airport Group, said. “In the near-term, traffic growth at Changi Airport is not expected to be as robust as what we had experienced in the recovery following the global financial crisis in 2008/09. However, we will continue to work with current and potential airline partners to explore market opportunities to ensure sustainable growth over the long-term.”
Changi Airport’s passenger traffic growth in 2013 was driven by strong travel demand within the Asia Pacific region. During the year, Changi added seven new Chinese city links (Guilin, Jinan, Lijiang, Nanchang, Nanning, Ningbo and Wuxi) to its network, bringing the total to 31.
Five new carriers began operations at the airport in 2013: Ethiopian Airlines, SWISS, Golden Myanmar Airlines, Bangladeshi carrier United Airways and
Regent Airways.
“Our focus and commitment to maintain Changi Airport’s position as a premier air hub serving the world remains steadfast,” Hiang said.