Budget passengers up 26 % at Changi

And they now account for a quarter of the airport’s traffic.

It was a good performance and Singapore Changi Airport registered more than 3.73 million passenger movements. The growth in passenger traffic was in line with a 13.9% increase in aircraft movements to 24,270 flights.

Passenger traffic from most regions enjoyed double-digit growth compared to April 2010. Eastern Europe registered the strongest year-on-year growth of 23%, followed by Southeast Asia (18%) and Western Europe (17%). Passenger traffic to Northeast Asia increased 10%, even as traffic to and from Tokyo and all of Japan declined by 34% and 28% respectively. More passengers were carried between Singapore and points such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Melbourne and London.

Low cost carriers, which account for about a quarter of Changi Airport’s passenger traffic, continued to be the growth driver, carrying 26% more passengers compared to a year ago. Full service carriers also enjoyed double-digit growth in passenger traffic of 10%. As at 1 May 2011, Changi serves some 100 airlines operating more than 5,600 flights to 200 cities in 60 countries and territories.

Buoyed by double-digit growth in cargo transshipments, airfreight movements at Changi Airport grew 6.1% to 155,812 tonnes in April 2011.