Foreign air carriers are now gradually growing their capacity on Changi and should ultimately close the space with SIA.
General capacity will also at some point catch up with demand, resulting in more normal air flow fares, although this could take several months.
The boosts in capacity are usually possible as manpower and terminal restrictions gradually ease.
Changi’s terminal capacity will increase with the reopening of Airport terminal 4 in September plus half of the Terminal 2 departure hall in October. A few of the Terminal 2 arrival hall has already reopened but departures are currently limited to Terminal one and Terminal a few, impacting Changi’s ability to add flights, especially during peak hrs.
The particular peak year-end take a trip season could lead to an additional surge in demand, but capacity by then must be significantly higher. With increased flights added before the holiday season, Changi traffic could reach up to seventy per cent of 2019 levels in December.
Changi should have the distinction of being the largest international airport in Asia Pacific with regard to 2022 with visitors for the year on 50 to 60 per cent of 2019 levels, but its spot in the global ranks will be well beneath where it was pre-pandemic due to the faster recovery in other regions.
In 2019, Changi was the 7th largest international airport on the planet and the third biggest in Asia Pacific behind Hong Kong International Airport and Seoul Incheon. In 2021, Changi was not even in the top 20.
The outlook for your remainder of 2022 and 2023 is certainly bright, particularly within the Asia Pacific framework. However , Changi will never be able to recover completely without the reopening associated with China and will probably still be at close to 80 per cent associated with 2019 levels in 2023, while some of its peers in other locations have already reached or are now approaching one hundred per cent.
Brendan Sobie is the founder of Singapore-based independent aviation consulting and analysis firm Sobie Aviation.