Changi passenger traffic remains low despite Singapore-China green lane, restarting of transit flights

The opening of the Singapore-China green lane and the restarting of transit flights helped to boost passenger movements at Changi Airport last month, but not much.

The number - 48,200 - is still 99.2 per cent below what it was in the same period last year, data released by Changi Airport Group (CAG) showed yesterday.

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has reported a similar plunge in passenger numbers, with the 17,700 passengers it carried in June a 99.5 per cent drop from last year.

CAG told The Straits Times that it handled more than 10,000 transit passenger movements since the gradual reopening to transit flights from June 2, "though these still remain at very low levels compared to pre-Covid-19".

Currently, only flights by the SIA Group - comprising SIA, SilkAir and Scoot - from selected cities are allowed to transit at Changi.

CAG added that it is handling about 300 scheduled passenger flights per week this month, compared with around 170 per week in April, the first month after the ban on short-term visitors to Singapore kicked in.

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SIA told The Straits Times that the pandemic continues to have a severe impact on international air travel.

"Progress towards a global lifting of border controls and travel restrictions, which could facilitate or result in the easier movement of travellers between countries, is slower than earlier expected," said SIA.

"Consequently, for now, passenger traffic remains low."

GROUNDED

As a result, about 140 of the SIA Group's total fleet of about 200 planes remain grounded.

While still a tiny percentage of what they were previously, flights operated by SIA, SilkAir and Scoot have also been gradually increasing after hitting rock bottom in April.

SIA and SilkAir will operate a total of 546 passenger flights this month, compared to 308 in April. Scoot will operate more than 100 flights this month, doubling the number from April.

Meanwhile, budget carrier Jetstar Asia has suspended the majority of its flights until the end of this month, with the exception of some flights to Bangkok, Manila and Kuala Lumpur.

It has removed five Airbus A320 aircraft from its fleet of 18 planes and cut 180 jobs in line with the reduced fleet. The majority of its workforce are on furlough until at least the end of the year.

Mr Brendan Sobie from Sobie Aviation said it could take several more months for passenger traffic in Singapore to start recording significant improvements.

"Everybody knew it was going to be a very long and tough recovery for Singapore because there is no domestic market but right now the slow pace in reopening the international market across Asia is making the outlook for the rest of the year even bleaker than expected a few months ago," he said.