Singapore’s aviation hub records 17.2 million passengers in Q1, bolstered by new routes and regional demand.
SINGAPORE – Singapore’s Changi Airport has reported a significant milestone in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, handling 17.2 million passenger movements in the first quarter of 2025. This figure not only surpasses the same period in 2024 by 4.3% but also exceeds the pre-pandemic levels of Q1 2019 by 4.8%.
Over a rolling twelve-month period, Changi’s passenger traffic reached an unprecedented high of 68.4 million, marking a 9.5% increase compared to the previous year. Aircraft movements, encompassing both landings and takeoffs, totalled 94,000 for the quarter, reflecting a 5.2% rise year-on-year.
The resurgence is attributed to robust growth across various regions, with North America leading at a 15.8% year-on-year increase. China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Thailand emerged as Changi’s top five markets in Q1. Notably, traffic between Singapore and China experienced a 10% uptick, while Japan recorded a 16% increase compared to the previous year.
Mr Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group, stated, “Changi Airport’s 12-month passenger traffic surpassed pre-Covid levels for the first time, reflecting positive trends in air travel and continued appeal of Changi as a key air hub. We are seeing encouraging growth across all regions and key markets, supported by the collective effort of our airline partners.”
In Q1 2025, Changi Airport expanded its connectivity by introducing new city links. Three Chinese cities—Harbin, Lanzhou, and Yichang—were added to its network, operated by Shenzhen Airlines and Hainan Airlines. Services to Ningbo and Shantou also resumed during this period. Connectivity to Indonesia was enhanced with new services to Padang and Labuan Bajo, operated by Scoot and Jetstar respectively. Additionally, Firefly commenced flights to Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur, and Qantas launched services to Darwin, marking its fifth Australian city connected to Changi.
As of April 1, approximately 100 airlines operate over 7,200 weekly scheduled flights at Changi Airport, linking Singapore to around 170 cities across 49 countries and territories.
Source: Changi Airport
