2007 marked another year of records for Singapore Changi Airport. Passenger traffic hit an all-time high of 36.7 million in 2007. This represents a 4.8% growth over 2006. The traditional peak travel month of December 2007 also set a record for the highest monthly traffic at Changi Airport. More than 3.5 million passengers went through the airport, a 3% increase compared to 3.42 million passengers handled in the previous year. The third record set is the number of passengers processed in a day. 125,000 passengers passed through Changi Airport on 15 December 2007, surpassing the previous record of 121,680 passengers handled on 16 December 2006.

The increase in passenger traffic can be attributed to the continued strong growth from key markets such as China, which registered 12.6% growth, and India, with a 15.6% increase. Emerging markets such as Vietnam, Russia and South Africa also saw double digit growth in traffic at 24.4%, 27.7% and 15.1% respectively.

Changi Airport continued to win Best Airport awards in 2007, garnering 19 last year. This takes the total number of Best Airport awards won to more than 280 since 1987. The 2007 accolades include Business Traveller (UK/Europe) “Best Airport in the World” award, which Changi won for the 20th consecutive time, and the Asian Freight & Supply Chain Awards for “Best Airport – Asia” for the 21st consecutive time.The Budget Terminal also won the “Best Low Cost Airport” award last year at the World Low Cost Airline Congress.

Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, CAAS, Mr Lim Kim Choon said, “2007 was a good year for Changi Airport, marked by exciting developments like the world’s first A380 commercial flight taking off from Changi Airport. Five new airlines, including Jett8 Airlines Cargo, Etihad Airways and Mihin Lanka, joined the Changi family last year.”

Mr Lim added, “We got off to a good start in 2008, with the opening of Terminal 3. Changi Airport is in good stead to tap on the strong demand for air travel. Even as we handle an increasing number of passengers, our priority is still to deliver our exceptional ‘Changi Experience’ to our passengers.”

As at 1 January 2008, Changi Airport is served by 81 airlines operating more than 4,310 weekly scheduled flights to 190 cities in 60 countries.