Summary:

Our analysis this week explores Singapore’s air travel competitiveness by examining passenger movements over the past five years, highlighting its consistent appeal as a leading transit and business hub. Southeast Asia continues to be the largest source of passenger air travel to Singapore, with Indonesia being the top country of origin for air travelers worldwide. Notably, China stands as the second largest source of air travelers among all countries, underscoring its significant role in regional travel dynamics.

While travel volumes have mostly rebounded from pandemic lows, indicating a strong recovery for most regions, mainland China and Hong Kong SAR are still struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels. This slower recovery is likely due to the severe economic fallout from the stringent lockdown measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if these economies experience substantial recovery, travel from these areas is expected to normalize, potentially restoring their pre-pandemic traffic volumes and further enhancing Singapore’s status as a key global transit hub.

Highlights:

• Southeast Asia remains the largest source of passenger air travel to Singapore, with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand leading the way.
• Travel volumes have largely rebounded from pandemic lows, indicating a strong recovery trajectory for most regions.
• Air travel from China and Hong Kong SAR is struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels but could recover if these economies rebound.

Article By YAP, Russell

Graphic By GE, Yixuan