Despite the quarterly dip, passenger traffic in the first half of 2026 edged up 0.4% year-on-year to 34.8 million, The Straits Times reported citing data from Changi Airport Group.
Airport officials attributed the weaker second-quarter performance to reduced flight frequencies, with passenger traffic on Southeast Asian routes falling 5%, AsiaOne reported.
Changi Airport in Singapore. Photo by AFP |
The airport operator described the period as a “dynamic operating environment,” saying airlines faced rising operating costs driven by elevated jet fuel prices and fuel supply constraints.
The decline was partly offset by stronger demand on longer-haul routes.
Passenger traffic to and from Europe rose 8.7% during the quarter, while traffic on Southwest Pacific routes increased 3% as airlines added capacity between Changi Airport and those regions to optimize operations.
Australia, China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia were Changi Airport’s five largest passenger markets during the period.
Changi Airport was named the world’s best airport in 2026 by London-based aviation consultancy Skytrax, based on passenger satisfaction surveys assessing experiences across a range of airport service and product performance indicators, from check-in, arrivals and transfers to shopping, security, immigration and departure procedures at the gate.
Changi Airport had a record 69.98 million passengers in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and 3.4% higher than 2024.
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