Distress call: Changi’s Thailand passenger traffic crashes over ongoing conflict

Overall passenger volume also slips slightly in May.

Singaporeans continue to be wary of traveling to besieged Thailand, as evidenced by the decline in passenger volume to and from the country in May.

According to data released by CAG, travel to and from Thailand decreased by 17% yoy in May, with Bangkok and Phuket traffic dropping by 24% and 7% respectively

As a whole, Changi Airport’s passenger volume also experienced a modest month-on-month decline in May.

Changi Airport handled 4.37 million passenger movements in May 2014, a slight slip from last month’s 4.38 million. However, this figure still represents 2.0% yoy growth compared to May 2013’s 4,240 passengers.

Flight movements also increased by 1.7% yoy to 28,930. There were also 157,500 tonnes of airfreight that were processed at Changi, a 3.5% yoy increase.

“The growth in passenger traffic was supported by an increase in air travel between Singapore and Northeast Asia, South Asia and Southwest Pacific, offset by weaker performance on some Southeast Asian routes. Among Changi Airport’s top 10 country markets, Hong Kong and Vietnam registered double-digit increases.,” the release stated.

Here’s more from CAG:
For the period of January to May 2014, 21.95 million passenger movements were recorded at Changi, 1.8% more than the corresponding period in 2013. Aircraft landings and take-offs grew by 3.6% to 143,550. Cargo shipments increased by 0.8% to 755,400 tonnes for the same period.

As at 1 June 2014, more than 100 airlines operate at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to 290 cities in some 75 countries and territories worldwide. With more than 6,600 weekly scheduled flights, an aircraft takes off or lands at Changi roughly once every 90 seconds.