Changi welcomes new business and more to come

Singapore’s Changi Airport continues to attract new cargo services and to enjoy further expansion in the gateway’s infrastructure.

In March this year,  DHL Express announced that it is to invest 140 million Singapore dollars ($100 million) in its new South Asia Hub at the Changi Airfreight Centre, which will increase its handling capacity by a factor of three and processing speed by a factor of six. The hub is expected to be ready for business in the first quarter of next year.

More recently, Polar Air Cargo  Worldwide commenced a weekly Cincinnati – Anchorage – Incheon – Singapore – Hong Kong service with a  747 Freighter, adding sizeable cargo capacity between Singapore and the US, while operator Changi Airport Group (CAG) also welcomed the inaugural flight from Moscow of a AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) (pictured) 747-8 Freighter at Changi Airport earlier this month (September).

The carrier is operating twice-weekly Moscow – Singapore – Hong Kong – Moscow services. ABC’s new services to Singapore established Moscow as a new freighter city link for Changi Airport, and have strengthened Changi Airport’s connectivity to Russia and beyond.

According to CAG assistant vice president for cargo and Logistics development, James Fong, over the course of the next few months, the airport is “expecting additional new services and freighter links from both existing and new airlines”

During the first seven months of 2015, cargo shipments reached one million tonnes – remaining fairly stable. But, “We have seen steady growth in pharmaceuticals and perishables, as well as express cargo, three of the niche cargo segments that Changi Airport is well equipped to handle,” Fong observes.

“We are confident traffic volume will grow in the long run as trade volume grows within and beyond the Association of South-east Asia  Nations (ASEAN). Furthermore, the shift of manufacturing from North to our hinterland ASEAN will spur air freight activities in the region which will be beneficial to Changi Airport,” he notes.

“Based on the feedback from our cargo partners, growth is expected at Changi Airport over 2015, mainly fuelled by North-East Asia and South-West Pacific markets.

We continue to be focused on expanding connectivity and forging partnerships with airlines to better manage the fragility of the industry. In addition, we will continue to work with partner to develop high-yield niche segments to lay the foundations for sustainable long-term growth,” Fong adds.