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Flights handled by Changi Airport likely to reach 80 per cent of pre-Covid levels by end-2022: Iswaran

SINGAPORE — During the year-end northern hemisphere winter travel period, the number of flights going through Changi Airport is projected to rise to about 80 per cent of what it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, up from 64 per cent now. 

A scene from Changi Airport's Terminal 4 on Aug 30, 2022. The airport is undergoing trials to test its operational readiness after more than two years of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A scene from Changi Airport's Terminal 4 on Aug 30, 2022. The airport is undergoing trials to test its operational readiness after more than two years of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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  • Towards end-2022, the number of flights at Changi Airport is expected to go up to about 80 per cent of what it was before the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Terminal 4 is now preparing to reopen on Sept 13
  • Transport Minister S Iswaran said the manpower crunch in the aviation sector still has to be addressed
  • There were 4,000 new hires for the sector in the first half of 2022 
  • About 3,500 to 4,000 more hires are expected moving forward

SINGAPORE — During the year-end northern hemisphere winter travel period, the number of flights going through Changi Airport is projected to rise to about 80 per cent of what it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, up from 64 per cent now. 

As for passenger traffic, it is now at 58 per cent of pre-pandemic numbers, up from the 55 per cent announced earlier this month. Before the pandemic, the airport was handling 70 million passengers a year.

Transport Minister S Iswaran gave these updates to reporters on Tuesday (Aug 30) at Changi Airport’s Terminal 4, where he was overseeing the operational-readiness trials that the airport was conducting in preparation for its reopening on Sept 13.

The terminal had suspended operations since May 2020, when the pandemic caused a steep decline in air travel. 

Commenting on the expected increase in flight numbers, Mr Iswaran said: "It's important that we are organised to meet the rise in demand, and that's why the next phase of our effort is really (to) focus on ensuring that Changi Airport... is geared to manage passenger volume that is at about the level before Covid, which is about 70 million passengers." 

Changi Airport Group (CAG) said in a statement on Tuesday that the reopening of the terminal will ensure that the air hub can meet “the increasing demand for air travel as the year-end travel peak approaches”.

Terminal 4 has a capacity of 16 million passengers a year, and this will support various airlines’ plans to launch more flights. 

The reopening of Terminal 4 will be closely followed by the reopening of the southern wing of Terminal 2’s departure hall in October. 

Operations at Terminal 2 were also suspended in May 2020 for upgrading works. It had reopened in phases starting from May this year. 

TACKLING MANPOWER NEEDS

Mr Iswaran said that other than reopening terminals, the manpower crunch in the aviation sector has to be addressed as well.

He said that the sector had seen "significant" attrition during the pandemic, with manpower numbers for the "broader aviation community" down from pre-Covid levels of 35,000. 

Our aim is to recruit another 3,500 to 4,000 more employees for the aviation community.
Transport Minister S Iswaran

Mr Iswaran said earlier this month that about 4,000 workers had joined the sector in the first half of the year, and laid out plans on Tuesday to further increase employment figures. 

"The important thing now is, in the next stage, to be able to ramp up to meet the anticipated increase in flight and passenger volumes... Our aim is to recruit another 3,500 to 4,000 more employees for the aviation community."

He added that this will be "no mean feat" because it involves an increase in about 8,000 employees this year. 

"It's a ramp-up not just in terms of numbers but also because we need to make sure that the people who come in need to be trained up and be prepared for the operational requirements," he said.

"So this is a major exercise and all the stakeholders in the aviation community are very focused on this." 

ON JETSTAR’S REFUSAL TO MOVE TO TERMINAL 4

Mr Iswaran also touched on a dispute between airline company Jetstar Group and CAG, saying that both parties are still in "important discussions" on how to best meet the needs of the passengers. 

The Jetstar Group said last month that the airline has “no intention” of moving to Terminal 4 when it reopens in September, despite an earlier announcement made by CAG that it would be doing so.

CAG said previously that 16 airlines — including Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and airlines in the AirAsia Group — will move to Terminal 4 in stages beginning in September and October. It also said then that Jetstar will make the move on Oct 25.

After that, Jetstar, which mainly operates from Terminal 1, said that CAG had chosen to “unilaterally announce a plan” to relocate the firm’s operations to Terminal 4 “before any agreement has been reached”.

Mr Iswaran said on Tuesday that both parties are working out the issues. 

"At the end of the day, the airport has to work with all the airlines to ensure that the airline experience and the passenger experience remains intact, and that is the objective with which both parties are now engaged in important discussions," he added.

Asked when a decision will be made, Mr Iswaran said that it would be better if Jetstar and CAG made that announcement. 

"We should be very clear (that) it is important to do this well, rather than do it fast," he added.

"So, if it means taking a bit more time, but making sure that all the key elements are taken care of well to the reasonable satisfaction of all the parties involved, then I think that should be our priority." 

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Changi Airport S Iswaran travel flights Terminal 4 CAG Jetstar aviation manpower

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