Cargo excellence puts Changi Airport in the AFSCA hall of fame

SINGAPORE, 9 May 2013 – For the 27^th consecutive year, Singapore Changi Airport was voted by Cargonews Asia readers as the Best Airport in Asia at the annual Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards (AFSCA) Ceremony held at the Conrad Beijing this evening. To mark its unprecedented achievement of winning for 27 consecutive years, Changi Airport Group, who owns and manages Singapore Changi Airport, was also inducted into Cargonews Asia’s Hall of Fame.

“Winning the Hall of Fame trophy is recognition of Changi Airport's status as one of the great airfreight hubs of Asia. It is an outstanding accomplishment and evidence that a sustained commitment to service and efficiency will always yield great results,” said Greg Knowler, Editor and Publisher of Cargonews Asia.

Presented with the Hall of Fame trophy, Changi Airport Group’s (CAG) Assistant Vice President for Cargo and Logistics Development, James Fong, said, “This is a significant milestone for Changi Airport and we are truly honoured. Winning the Best Airport in Asia award 27 consecutive times in our short 32-year history is strong affirmation of the consistent service quality that has been the cornerstone of Changi Airport’s success. These awards are further testament to the hard work and commitment of the cargo and logistics community to enhance Changi’s reputation as a trusted, innovative and well-connected cargo hub. ”

Started in 1987, the AFSCA awards are designed to honour organisations for demonstrating leadership as well as consistency in service quality, innovation, customer relationship management and reliability. The results are determined by votes from readers and authenticated by an independent auditor.

In the first quarter of 2013, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that Asia-Pacific carriers experienced weak air freight volumes as major trade partners in European markets continue to be hampered by weak economic growth and susceptibility to sovereign debt problems.[1] Reflective of the tough operating environment faced by the cargo industry, Changi Airport handled 434,000 tonnes of airfreight movements from January to March 2013, a 2.2% decrease compared to the same period last year.

To ride through these challenging times, CAG extended its support to air cargo partners and announced a $17-million support package in March 2013. For the next 12 months, all scheduled freighter flights at Changi Airport enjoy landing fee rebates and cargo tenants leasing CAG cargo facilities at the Changi Airfreight Centre will enjoy up to 20% rental rebates, based on cargo tonnage handled.

“In the long term, we expect cargo volumes at Changi Airport to grow beyond current levels in tandem with the recovery and growth of the global economy. Better supply chain planning, for instance, will likely spur airfreight growth. CAG remains committed to collaborate with our partners to innovate and enhance our service offerings and efficiency,” added Mr Fong.

The double success at AFSCA reaffirms Changi Airport’s position as the World’s Best Airport, with more than 430 Best Airport awards since 1981. 

[1] http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2013-04-30-01.aspx