SINGAPORE — The airline industry's most prominent trade body said it objects to any attempt by Singapore to charge travellers to help fund the construction of its new Changi Airport Terminal 5.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is "strongly against any pre-financing of any infrastructure", IATA chief executive Alexandre de Juniac told a media roundtable as part of the Singapore Airshow on Monday (Feb 5). "We shouldn't pay first without having the infrastructure ready to be operated and used by airlines and by the users."

Passengers flying out of Changi Airport may have to pay S$10 to S$15 extra as part of a new tax being considered to help pay for the hub's expansion, including the building of Terminal 5, The Straits Times reported last month. Charges for airlines, including parking and landing fees, are expected to rise by about 30 per cent, according to the report.

Changi Airport is one of the key hubs for international flights in Asia.

IATA's Mr de Juniac also said:

- Low-cost carriers need traffic growth of 6 per cent to 9 per cent to fill aircraft to be delivered in the next five to seven years.

- Air cargo traffic is forecast to rise 4.5 per cent this year, compared with a 9 per cent gain in 2017; slower inventory increase will lead to smaller but solid growth for air cargo.

- China needs more airspace for civil aviation, and to modernise its air-traffic control system for long-term traffic growth.

- China's M503 route for flights between the mainland and Taiwan is safe and efficient. BLOOMBERG