Changi Airport Rebounds: 67.7 Million Passengers in 2024, Nearing Pre-Pandemic Levels

Singapore Changi Airport closed 2024 on a high, handling 67.7 million passenger movements, a 14.8% year-on-year increase and reaching 99.1% of 2019 levels, signaling a near-complete recovery from the pandemic. Aircraft movements totaled 366,000, an 11.5% increase, while airfreight throughput rose 14.6% to 1.99 million tonnes, driven by strong trade flows and e-commerce demand.

A Stellar Fourth Quarter and a Record-Breaking December

In Q4 2024, Changi handled 17.8 million passenger movements, marking full recovery to pre-pandemic Q4 2019 levels with a 10.7% year-on-year growth. Aircraft movements for the quarter hit 95,300, while airfreight throughput reached 521,000 tonnes, up 15%.

December 2024 was a standout month with 6.4 million passengers, the busiest since December 2019. The peak day, 21 December 2024, saw a staggering 226,000 passengers—a new daily record.

Regional Growth and Top Markets

The North Asia region led growth with a 40% increase in traffic. China emerged as the largest market, with passenger traffic doubling from 2023 and surpassing pre-Covid levels by 6%. Other notable markets included Hong Kong and Japan, which recorded over 20% growth.

Changi’s top five passenger markets for 2024 were China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Thailand, with busy routes connecting to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali), and Hong Kong. Shanghai reentered the top 10 city list for the first time since 2011, with a remarkable 94% growth.

Cargo Excellence

Changi’s air cargo segment saw significant growth across exports, imports, and transshipments. This was driven by strong demand for electronics exports, e-commerce shipments, and a modal shift from sea to air freight. The top five cargo markets were China, Australia, the United States, Hong Kong, and India.

Connectivity Milestones

Changi Airport expanded its global reach in 2024, welcoming eight new passenger airlines, including Aero Dili, Air Canada, AirAsia Cambodia, and Air Japan. The airport added 11 new city links, including Brussels, Broome, Phu Quoc, Vancouver, and Quanzhou, while enhancing connections to London Gatwick and Subang Airport.

Looking ahead, exciting routes to Labuan Bajo (March) and Vienna (June) will debut in 2025. The freighter network also grew with new airlines Shandong Airlines and Air Incheon, connecting Singapore to Haikou and Nagoya.

Looking Ahead

As of January 2025, Changi Airport operates over 7,400 weekly flights, connecting Singapore to 163 cities in 49 countries through 100 airlines. The airport’s impressive recovery and expansion highlight its position as a premier global hub.

Stay updated on Changi Airport’s traffic statistics here.