OREANDA-NEWS. Singapore Changi Airport registered 5.0 million passenger movements in May, 4.6% higher than in the same period last year. Aircraft movements rose 3.2% to 31,200 landings and takeoffs, while cargo shipments saw strong double-digit year-on-year increase of 12.6% to reach 177,340 tonnes.

For the month of May, passenger traffic was boosted by a robust 17% growth in South Asia traffic. Among Changi’s top 10 country markets, India led the gainers with a 21% year-on-year growth; with traffic to and from Mumbai and Chennai rising by more than 20%. Another major market, China, also registered double-digit growth of 11%, with more than half a million passengers in May, or about one in ten passengers at Changi during the month.

Cargo shipments increased by double digits for the second month this year, with improvements broad-based across exports, imports and transhipments. With stable recovery of industrial activity in the USA, Germany and Japan, airfreight to and from these markets saw particularly strong growth.

As at 1 June 2017, more than 100 airlines operate at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to some 380 cities in about 90 countries and territories worldwide.With more than 7,000 weekly scheduled flights, an aircraft takes off or lands at Changi roughly once every 90 seconds.

Other highlights at Changi

New Services –Singapore Airlines increased its Singapore-Moscow services from 4x to 5x weekly on 30 May, and concurrently launched new 5x weekly services to Stockholm as an extension of its Moscow route. The airline also launched two additional weekly services to Sydney, bringing the total to 33x a week. Ethiopian Airlines, a returning airline, began 5x weekly non-stop services to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city on 1 June.

New Restaurants & Stores – In the transit areas, Irvins Salted Egg has opened their first Changi Airport kiosk at Terminal 2 (T2), offering a range of freshly made salted egg snacks. Also in T2, Tunglok Tea House has opened its first restaurant at the airport, offering an exquisite range of traditional Chinese favourites including dim sum and a selection of Teochew dishes. Over at Terminal 1, Starbucks has opened their seventh Changi Airport outlet.

In the public areas, The Little Shop has opened at Terminal 3 (T3) Basement 2, offering a wide selection of baby and toddler products. Bee Cheng Hiang and Fragrance Bak Kwa, selling bak kwa (traditional barbecued and dried meat), also opened new outlets in T2 and T3’s Departure Check-in Hall respectively.

Singaporeans and travellers looking for a late-night meal now have two new food options at the airport. Indian vegetarian restaurant Bikanervala opened their first 24-hour airport outlet in the public areas of T3, serving a wide range of North and South Indian cuisine, as well as freshly made Indian sweet and savoury snacks. Bakery Cuisine, serving freshly baked bread, pastries and waffles round the clock, has also opened at T2’s Departure Check-in Hall.