Singapore’s Changi Airport Group (CAG) is eyeing new destinations such as Jaipur and Lucknow in India to boost passenger traffic, signaling optimism amid recovery efforts post-pandemic. Lim Ching Kiat, CAG’s executive vice president for air hub and cargo development, highlighted India’s significance as a bright spot for Changi Airport. He mentioned plans to collaborate with airlines to enhance capacities on high-demand routes, aiming to increase frequencies or deploy larger aircraft.
New Horizons: Jaipur and Lucknow
In an interview with The Straits Times, Lim expressed interest in exploring new routes to cities like Jaipur and Lucknow, recognizing potential demand in these emerging markets.
Recovery and Growth Strategies
Lim emphasized the importance of addressing evolving demands, including the robust travel interests from South Korea and the ongoing recovery efforts in China. CAG is actively considering adding direct links, particularly to provincial capitals such as Guiyang and Harbin in China.
Regional Aviation Dynamics
Subhas Menon, director-general of the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines, emphasized the resilience of markets like ASEAN, India, and South Korea. He anticipates these regions to significantly contribute to the Asia-Pacific region’s recovery, potentially offsetting some of the losses experienced due to the pandemic-related challenges in China.
Airport Performance Metrics
While highlighting the recovery progress, the report mentions the notable performance of airports like Indira Gandhi International Airport and Singapore’s Changi Airport. Despite challenges, these airports have shown resilience, with Delhi’s airport almost reaching pre-pandemic passenger levels and Changi Airport achieving significant recovery strides.
Regional Comparison
According to data sourced from Sobie Aviation, a Singapore-based consulting firm, leading Asian airports have witnessed varying degrees of recovery. While some airports like Haneda Airport in Japan have achieved commendable progress, others like Hong Kong International Airport still face significant challenges in restoring pre-pandemic traffic levels.
(With PTI Inputs)