Changi Airport reports 86% traffic recovery in 2023, with significant growth in passenger movements, indicating a global travel rebound.
Singapore Changi Airport handled 58.9 million passenger movements in 2023, representing 86% of the traffic recorded 2019. Aircraft movements, which include landings and take-offs, totalled 328,000, as compared to 382,000 in 2019. Against a volatile global economic environment, airfreight throughput stood at 1.74 million tonnes for 2023, a year-on-year decline of 6%.
For the fourth quarter from October to December 2023, passenger traffic at Changi crossed a 90% recovery with 16.1 million passenger movements recorded. December 2023 was the busiest month for Changi, registering 5.8 million passenger movements, or 91% of traffic in December 2019. The busiest day of the year was 22 December 2023 – the Friday before Christmas – where 203,000 passengers passed through Changi’s terminals. Aircraft movements for the month totalled 30,400, reaching 91% of 2019 levels. Airfreight throughput stood at 150,000 tonnes, a 1.5% decline compared to December 2022.
Traffic recovery
Compared to pre-Covid passenger traffic, the North American region posted the strongest growth in 2023, exceeding 2019 levels by more than 25%, while Europe, Southwest Pacific, and South Asia are close to full recovery, registering over 90% of 2019 traffic.
Throughout the year, all regions continued to register strong recovery. Northeast Asia was the forerunner, with passenger traffic increasing more than four times that of 2022, largely due to a significant increase in travel between China and Singapore. Southeast Asia posted the second strongest growth during the year, registering a 72% year-on-year growth.
Changi Airport’s top five passenger markets for the year were Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, and India. Among Changi’s top 10 markets, China, Japan, and South Korea were the fastest growing compared to 2022. With the easing of travel restrictions, China regained its spot in Changi’s top 10 markets, closing the year at No. 6 with nearly four million passenger movements. Passenger traffic between Japan and Singapore tripled compared to 2022, while South Korean traffic exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 36%, making it the market with the strongest rebound compared to pre-Covid traffic.
Throughout the year, all regions continued to register strong recovery. Northeast Asia was the forerunner, with passenger traffic increasing more than four times that of 2022, largely due to a significant increase in travel between China and Singapore. Southeast Asia posted the second strongest growth during the year, registering a 72% year-on-year growth.
Changi Airport’s top five passenger markets for the year were Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, and India. Among Changi’s top 10 markets, China, Japan, and South Korea were the fastest growing compared to 2022. With the easing of travel restrictions, China regained its spot in Changi’s top 10 markets, closing the year at No. 6 with nearly four million passenger movements. Passenger traffic between Japan and Singapore tripled compared to 2022, while South Korean traffic exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 36%, making it the market with the strongest rebound compared to pre-Covid traffic.
