SINGAPORE. Changi Airport Group has warned of “downside risks” in the regional aviation market as traffic growth continues to slow. The airport company noted the impact of high fuel prices and weak prospects for the global economy as key factors affecting aviation growth.
In April, Singapore Changi Airport handled 4.24 million passengers, an increase of +0.8% over the same period in 2012. Flight movements increased by +4.3% to 27,500.
Compared to April 2012, passenger traffic to Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East grew. This was offset by a decline in traffic to and from Africa and Europe. Traffic to South Asia and Southwest Pacific was little changed. Overall, traffic was also affected slightly by the difference in timing of the Good Friday holiday which this year fell in March compared to April last year.
Passenger traffic at the airport climbed by +4.8% year-on-year in the first four months of 2013, hitting 17.3 million. Aircraft movements grew in the period by +4.0% to 110,100.
The airport company said: “After three years of double-digit increases from 2010 to 2012, traffic growth at Changi Airport has eased in recent months and continued downside risks are expected. The near-term outlook for aviation remains cloudy with external threats such as high fuel prices, depressing cargo volumes and weak economic prospects for the global economy.
“With some airlines operating at Changi reporting forward passenger bookings to be flat, the number of passenger movements in the coming months may be volatile.”
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The airport welcomed several new airline services in April. Golden Myanmar Airlines began operating daily services connecting Singapore via Yangon to Mandalay, a new city link for Changi Airport.
In addition, Sichuan Airlines commenced twice-weekly services connecting Singapore to Nanning in China last month. Changi Airport is currently the most connected point to China in Southeast Asia with connections to 24 Chinese cities.
