Airline partners heralded for contributions to Changi Airport

SINGAPORE, 7 May 2013 – Changi Airport Group (CAG) honoured its top airline partners this evening at the Changi Airline Awards 2013, where a total of 34 awards were presented to the airline community for contributing to Changi Airport’s development as a vibrant and world-class air hub for the past year.  The annual awards event, into its eighth year, was graced by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport, at the Regent Hotel.

Awards were presented in five categories, namely:

-  Top airlines by passenger and cargo carriage;

-  Strongest growing carriers for passengers and cargo; and

-  Partner of the Year

This year’s Partner of the Year award was presented to FedEx Express, in recognition of its strong partnership with CAG to grow and strengthen Changi Airport's air hub status, as well as to enhance Changi’s express cargo handling capability and capacity. 

In October 2012, FedEx opened its South Pacific Regional Hub at Changi Airport. The 282,700-square feet hub is the first and only express transportation facility in Singapore and the largest FedEx consolidated cargo facility in Asia Pacific that houses air and ground operations, as well as security clearance under one roof.  With this new hub, FedEx is able to sort up to 12,000 packages in an hour, increasing throughput by 100%.  This, together with other collaborations with CAG --such as the incorporation of Customs clearance within the facility -- has enabled FedEx to strengthen its leading position in the express freight business, in turn boosting Changi’s express cargo handling capability.   

FedEx – the world’s largest express transportation company with delivery capabilities to more than 220 countries and territories – has enhanced Changi Airport’s airfreight connectivity with its 34 weekly flights in and out of Singapore to nine destinations in Asia and the United States.  This is the highest number of dedicated flights for any international express company operating its own aircraft fleet.  More importantly, FedEx uses Singapore as the transshipment point for its Asia Pacific shipments in and out of Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asian countries.  This contributed strongly to FedEx’s tonnage growth in 2012 despite the challenges faced by the airfreight industry. 

Mr Khoo Seng Thiam, Managing Director, FedEx Express Singapore, said, “FedEx is honoured to be recognised as Changi Airport’s Partner of the Year.  This award reflects the close collaborative efforts between FedEx and CAG to support Singapore’s aim to be a leading air cargo hub in the region, and underscores FedEx long-term commitment to Singapore.”

Top carriers at Changi

FedEx Express was the second largest cargo carrier at Changi in 2012, up from its third spot a year ago.  The other cargo carriers in the top ten spots remained largely unchanged, with Singapore Airlines Cargo continuing to head the list. 

For passenger carriers, the list of top 10 airlines at Changi Airport in 2012 saw a new entrant with PT Lion Mentari Airlines coming in at the eighth spot.  While the top four spots were maintained by Singapore Airlines, Tiger Airways Singapore, SilkAir and Jetstar Asia respectively, AirAsia Berhad climbed two spots to become the fifth largest airline by passenger carriage for the year. 

Airlines which registered the strongest growth in passenger traffic by region were also recognised for their contributions.  These were Singapore Airlines (Singapore), AirAsia Berhad (Southeast Asia), Cathay Pacific Airways (Northeast Asia), Jet Airways (South Asia), Jetstar Airways (Southwest Pacific), Qatar Airways (Middle East), British Airways (Europe) and Delta Air Lines (Americas).  Cathay Pacific, AirAsia and Jet Airways were repeat winners in their respective categories.

Partnerships for a new chapter of growth

Changi Airport saw steady passenger traffic growth in the first quarter of 2013.  A total of 13.05 million passengers passed through its gates from January to March 2013, an increase of 6.2% over the same period in 2012.  Airfreight movements however had experienced a 2.2% dip for the first three months, with 434,000 tonnes of cargo handled.    

Speaking at the event, Mr Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of Changi Airport Group, thanked CAG’s airline partners who have been instrumental in the steady growth of Changi Airport.  “The Changi Airline Awards were launched in 2005 when Changi Airport handled only 32 million passenger movements.  Eight years on, Changi Airport has grown to become a thriving air hub and an important gateway to the rest of the world, and is one of just seven airports in the world handling more than 50 million international passengers each year.  You, our partners, gathered here today have been instrumental to this success.  We are extremely grateful to our airline partners who have supported us over the years.  Your unyielding support has made Changi what it is today.”

Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport, in rallying the aviation community to form tighter collaborations to achieve greater heights, said, “The annual Changi Airline Awards celebrates the strong partnership between Changi Airport and its airline partners, without which Changi’s success as a leading aviation hub would not be possible.”

“I would like to encourage all aviation partners to continue to work closely together in the year ahead, so that we can build on the success of 2012 and continue to make Changi Airport the hub of choice for airlines and air travellers,” he added. 

Changi Airport is the world’s seventh busiest airport for international passenger traffic.  As at 1 April 2013, Changi serves more than 100 airlines operating over 6,500 weekly scheduled flights to more than 250 cities in some 60 countries and territories.