HONG KONG, 26 January 2024: Air Traffic at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued to recover in 2023 as passenger traffic and flight movements reached new post-pandemic heights in December, according to figures released by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) earlier this week.
Passenger traffic at HKIA is expected to fully recover to the pre-pandemic level by the end of 2024.
Photo credit: HKIA.
During 2023, HKIA handled 40 million passengers and 276,000 flight movements, representing increases of around 600% and 100%, respectively, compared to 2022. Total cargo throughput saw an annual growth of 3.2% to 4.3 million tonnes.
For December 2023, passenger volume increased 1.7 times to 4.3 million year-on-year. Daily passenger volume recovered to 80% of the pre-pandemic level during the Christmas peak. All passenger segments experienced significant growth compared to the same month last year, with traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China and Taiwan recording the most significant increases. Flight movements in December rose year-on-year by 89% to 30,000, exceeding 80% of the pre-pandemic level.
SINGAPORE, 26 January 2024: Singapore Changi Airport handled 58.9 million passenger movements in 2023, representing 86% of the traffic recorded in 2019.
Aircraft movements, including landings and take-offs, totalled 328,000, compared to 382,000 in 2019. Against a volatile global economic environment, airfreight throughput stood at 1.74 million tonnes for 2023, a year-on-year decline of 6%.
Photo credit: Changi Airport.
For the fourth quarter from October to December 2023, passenger traffic at Changi crossed the 90% recovery line with 16.1 million passenger movements recorded. December 2023 was the busiest month for Changi, registering 5.8 million passenger movements, or 91% of traffic measured in December 2019. The busiest day of the year was 22 December 2023 – the Friday before Christmas – when 203,000 passengers passed through Changi’s terminals. Aircraft movements for the month totalled 30,400, reaching 91% of 2019 levels. Airfreight throughput stood at 150,000 tonnes, a 1.5% decline compared to December 2022.
Traffic recovery
Compared to pre-Covid passenger traffic, the North American region posted the strongest growth in 2023, exceeding 2019 by more than 25%. Europe, Southwest Pacific and South Asia are nearly recovering, registering over 90% of 2019 traffic.
Throughout the year, all regions continued to register strong recovery. Northeast Asia was the forerunner, with passenger traffic increasing more than four times that of 2022, largely due to a significant increase in travel between China and Singapore. Southeast Asia posted the second strongest growth during the year, registering a 72% year-on-year growth.
Changi Airport’s top five passenger markets for the year were Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand and India. Among Changi’s top 10 markets, China, Japan and South Korea were the fastest growing compared to 2022. With the easing of travel restrictions, China regained its spot in Changi’s top 10 markets, closing the year in sixth place with almost 4 million passenger movements.
Passenger traffic between Japan and Singapore tripled compared to 2022, while South Korean traffic exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 36%, making it the market with the strongest rebound compared to pre-Covid traffic.
Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali) and Manila were Changi Airport’s busiest routes during the year, with the Kuala Lumpur route being the world’s busiest international route based on seat capacity.
Changi Airport Group’s Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development Lim Ching Kiat said: “2023 was an invigorating year, as we witnessed the resounding resumption of travel across the world, as well as the full reopening of Changi Airport’s Terminal 2. The upswing in travel was fuelled by strong outbound travel demand and growing inbound travel.
“The growth in passenger traffic was especially strong in Asia, with an acceleration seen in the last quarter. Changi Airport also resumed connections to more than 10 cities this year, including Addis Ababa, Changsha, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, and Okinawa. We have restored almost 90% of our pre-Covid city links, with Changi Airport now the fifth busiest airport in the world by seat capacity[1].
“We step into 2024 hopeful of recovering fully to Changi Airport’s pre-Covid connectivity and traffic levels. As more travellers worldwide rekindle their wanderlust, we will continue to work with our airline partners to bring exciting destinations and new travel experiences to travellers.”
Enhancing Connectivity
In 2023, Changi Airport welcomed three new airlines — Air Macau, Firefly and TransNusa. It added two new city links to its network — Bhubaneswar (India) and Sanya (China). Changi Airport also established its first link to Beijing Daxing Airport via China Eastern Airlines.
Through a three-year partnership between the Singapore Tourism Board, TUI Airways and Marella Cruises, Changi Airport will welcome fly-cruise passengers from the UK to Singapore during the December to April cruise season for three years until 2026. TUI Airways operates three weekly services from London-Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.
During the year, Air Canada announced its return to Changi Airport after more than 30 years and will commence its four weekly nonstop Vancouver-Singapore service in April 2024. Singapore Airlines will also launch new passenger services to Brussels and London Gatwick in April and June 2024.
As of January 2024, 93 airlines operate over 6,700 weekly flights at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to 154 cities in 49 countries and territories worldwide.
PHU QUOC, 25 January 2024: Vietjet is connecting the holiday island of Phu Quoc with daily flights to Taipei in Taiwan, China, ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday week starting 9 February.
Deploying an A321 on the route Flight VJ844 departs Phu Quoc at 0825 and arrives in Taipei, Taiwan at 1300.
Photo credit: Vietjet Air.
The return flight VJ845 departs Taipei at 1400 and arrives in Phu Quoc at 1650. Flight time is three hours and 35 minutes.
Vietjet enjoys an exclusive on the route for the time being. It started the flights on 17 January. During January, the average roundtrip fare on the route is USD582, rising to an average of USD672 in February. By June, the average roundtrip fare drops to USD262 for the month. The average for six months, January to June, is USD430.
To boost bookings on the new route, Vietjet offers passengers zero-dollar fares (excludes tax and fees) on sale every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday until 10 February 2024 when booking on the airline’s website or mobile app.
Meanwhile, Vietjet launched a daily flight from Phu Quoc to Busan in South Korea on 15 January using an A321 for the four-hour and 32-minute flight.
Flight VJ968 departs Phu Quoc and arrives in Busan at 0630 the following morning. The return flight VJ969 departs Busan at 0735 and arrives in Phu Quoc at 1105.
Vietjet also schedules twice daily flights on the Phu Quoc – Seoul (South Korea) route.
SINGAPORE, 25 January 2024: Millennial and Gen Z travellers in APAC declare shared experiences as their new love language; they are ready to splurge on 2024 travels, dedicating up to half their budget to shared experiences.
Klook’s latest Travel Pulse1 research released this week suggests nine out of 10 travellers in the Asia Pacific intend to pursue travel with their loved ones. It also shows that three in five travellers are set to splurge on 2024 adventures, dedicating up to half their budget to experiences and activities despite rising costs from global inflation.
The availability of distinctive experiences is among the top consideration factors for travellers when planning a holiday. Nature and outdoor adventures lead at 59%, followed by the thrill of theme parks (53%) and the cultural richness of museums and historical sites (51%).
The study shows that 65% of travellers pursue shared adventures through more frequent, shorter holidays rather than extended getaways to maximise creating core memories together. New destinations are also on the horizon for 70% of travellers in APAC, with the top destinations on the wishlist being Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore.
Spring inspires APAC travellers
For many travellers (65%), climate or season plays a huge part in the shared travel experience. Spring in the early part of the year is the most popular season across APAC, and nearly half of travellers have booked travel within the first three months of 2024. Nature and outdoor activities are among the top activity themes. Travellers from Malaysia and Indonesia most favour spring, while travellers from Australia and the Philippines want to embrace the warmth of summer. Taiwan and Korea share an affection for the vibrant hues of autumn, and winter claims the spotlight for travellers from India, Thailand, and Singapore.
The Klook Travel Pulse survey was conducted in November 2023 through Milieu with 2,600 respondents across 13 markets, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Mainland China, India, and Indonesia.
SINGAPORE, 25 January 2024: Pandaw is introducing its newest river odyssey itinerary in India, the ‘Full Brahmaputra’, exploring further than ever before on the iconic river.
Sailing 10 nights between Guwahati and the northern city of Dibrugarh, Pandaw ventures further than ever before along the Brahmaputra River, a trip made possible by Pandaw’s ultra-low draft vessels. It offers intrepid travellers a true adventure to the untouched upper reaches of Assam.
Setting sail in October 2024, the Pandaw cruise will visit the lesser-known Dibru Saikhowa National Park, which is rich in mammal life, including wild horses, explore the world’s largest river island of Majuli and its fascinating culture and enjoy sailing on one of the most scenic rivers in the world.
In all its majesty, the Brahmaputra River winds its way through several towns and cities, each with its unique charm and sights.
Popular cities along the river
Guwahati, Assam: The largest city in Assam, Guwahati is also the gateway to the Brahmaputra Valley. It’s a bustling metropolis with a rich history and culture. Some must-see sights here include the Kamakhya Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya; the Umananda Temple, situated on Peacock Island in the middle of the Brahmaputra; and the Assam State Museum, which houses a collection of artefacts from the region’s past.
Silghat, Assam: Located on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaon district, it is known for its scenic beauty and cultural heritage.
Biswanath Ghat: Also known as Gupta Kashi, this charming town and ghat (bathing steps) is situated on the Brahmaputra River’s northern bank in Assam’s Biswanath district. It’s known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. Biswanath Ghat boasts over 100 temples, some dating back centuries. The ruins of the ancient Biswanath Temple believed to be from the Gupta era, stand as a testament to the town’s long history. Across the Brahmaputra leads to Umatumuni Island, known for its 27 medieval temples and serene natural beauty.
Majuli, Assam: The world’s largest river island, Majuli is a unique cultural and ecological hotspot. The Mising people, an indigenous tribe, have their distinct way of life and traditions. The island is also home to several Satras, which are monasteries that serve as centres of Assamese culture.
Sibsagar, Assam: formerly known as Rangpur, the riverside town was once the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788. This rich history is evident in the numerous palaces and monuments scattered around the town. It’s a vibrant cultural centre with a rich tradition of Assamese music, dance, and theatre. The Sibsagar Sivadol Festival, held in February, is a major cultural event that attracts people from all over Assam.
Dibrugarh, Assam: Known as the “Tea City of India,” Dibrugarh is surrounded by sprawling tea plantations. The Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to diverse wildlife, including elephants, tigers, and rhinos. The Kaziranga National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage site, is nearby.
Following strong demand for its seven-night Mighty Brahmaputra expedition launched in 2023, this new adventure is set to be a popular choice for Pandaw members. The inaugural sailing will be offered as a members-only departure. Bookings are already open for Pandaw’s newest expedition in India. Visit pandaw.com or contact the Pandaw sales team at [email protected] for more information and bookings.
India: The Full Brahmaputra GUWAHATI TO DIBRUGARH 10 nights FROM USD5,495.00
Sailing further into the Assam valley than ever before, Pandaw’s new 10-night Full Brahmaputra expedition is a true adventure. Reaching the second largest city of Assam, Dibrugarh, some 450 km up the mighty Brahmaputra from Guwahati the river cruise explores several national parks in search of Assam’s abundant wildlife as well as discovering the diverse and unique cultures of the people who live along this vast river system.
TRANSFERS & JOINING
Day 1 Embark Guwahati Transfer from the hotel or airport in Guwahati to the Pandaw vessel. Flight arrival should be before 13.00.
Day 11 Dibrugarh disembark Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the hotel or Dibrugarh airport (15km / 30 minutes). The latest departure from the ship is at 1100.
DUBAI UAE, 25 January 2024: Emirates has announced a fifth frequency on its Dubai – Rio de Janeiro route, starting 7 December 2024.
The additional weekly flight on Saturdays will increase the seating capacity to the Brazilian city and will support the growing demand for travel on the route. Additionally, the linked service allows travellers to travel onwards to the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, more conveniently.
The additional weekly frequency between Dubai, Brazil and Argentina will operate as EK247 and EK248 in a two-class configuration. Bookings are already open on emirates.com, the Emirates App, and through travel agencies.
The airline’s boosted services to Brazil and Argentina are expected to facilitate additional connectivity for passengers travelling between these countries and other popular destinations in Emirates’ network, including the UAE, Japan, Thailand, Maldives, Egypt, mainland China and Hong Kong, Turkey, South Korea, India, Australia and Indonesia. With Brazil and Argentina home to Latin America’s two largest Lebanese communities, Emirates serves customers travelling to and from Beirut. Furthermore, nationals of Brazil and Argentina can also enjoy the convenience of visa-free travel to Dubai, making it a popular destination for holidays and short stopovers.
Top inbound markets for tourism into Brazil and Argentina include mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Russia, and the UAE.
Trade between Argentina, Brazil, and the rest of the world is also expected to be further facilitated with the additional weekly flights. Each Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft accommodates a cargo capacity of around 20 tons per flight to transport regional exports from Argentina and Brazil to consumers in the Middle East, Europe and other markets while supporting the import of essential goods, including pharmaceuticals.
Travellers flying with Emirates can enjoy the best experience in the sky with an unmatched culinary experience, thanks to regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs and a wide selection of premium beverages. With ice, Emirates ‘ award-winning inflight entertainment system, customers can relax with more than 6,500 channels of carefully curated global entertainment content featuring movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more.
Business Class passengers travelling between Rio de Janeiro and Dubai can enjoy complimentary chauffeur drive services before departure and on arrival in both cities while also having access to the Emirates Lounge in Dubai to relax and unwind or catch up on work before flights.*
Emirates’ codeshare partnerships with GOL Airlines and Azul Airlines and interline partnerships with LATAM Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas allow its customers to fly beyond Rio de Janeiro to an expansive network of domestic points Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Salvador, Curitiba, Recife, as well as regional cities Santiago and Panama City. Skywards members can earn and redeem Skywards Miles on codeshare flights in Brazil and South America.
*Complimentary chauffeur drive services are not applicable on itineraries with flights between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires only.
SYDNEY, 25 January 2024: Rising costs and flight cancellations will significantly impact the country’s travel economy, the Australian Travel Industry Association warns in its latest research released this week.
The comprehensive study, conducted by former Qantas economist Tony Webber, provides a detailed analysis over two decades, demonstrating a trend where airlines often cancel flights for purely commercial reasons, impacting both the travel industry and consumers.
“In the year to October 2023, assuming a 5% passenger drop due to cancellations, a staggering AUD405 million would be lost overnight,” said ATIA CEO Dean Long. “This number blows out to over AUD1.6 billion if 20% of passengers choose not to fly. The ripple effect is immense, severely damaging the overall tourism industry.”
Study takeaways
1. Flight Cancellations for Commercial Gain: Airlines have been found to cancel flights not just for operational or weather-related reasons but also to drive profits.
2. Impact on Travel Intermediaries: The primary cost for travel intermediaries is the time staff spend reorganising trips, which includes rebooking flights, accommodations, and other services. This results in lost opportunities and revenue.
3. Effect on Tourism Expenditure: A 5% decrease in travellers due to flight cancellations could lead to an estimated loss of AUD405 million in domestic tourism from Australia’s top ten airports annually. Sydney Airport’s cancellations alone could reduce domestic tourism expenditure by AUD143 million and AUD572 million annually.
4. Airports’ Revenue Losses: The top 10 Australian airports face an estimated annual loss of AUD4.8 million in aeronautical revenue and AUD1.5 million in non-aeronautical revenue per year, assuming a 5% passenger drop due to cancellations.
5. Passenger Inconveniences and Costs: Passengers bear out-of-pocket costs and lose valuable time due to cancellations. The opportunity cost for delayed passengers can be significant, particularly for business travellers. Cancellations also result in seats being withdrawn from the market, raising fares for those who have yet to book a flight.
Airport timeslots
Airlines can maintain the practice of cancellations without losing valuable airport access due to the 80/20 rule. Under the rule, airlines can keep a specific timeslot as long as they don’t cancel more than 20% of flights in that slot over the year.
“The 80-20 rule is not fit for purpose. A 95-5 rule would be more appropriate to encourage airlines to operate to schedule,” Long commented.
“This research highlights critical issues within our industry. It’s not just about the airports; it’s about understanding where the chokepoints are and addressing them,” he concluded.
SINGAPORE, 25 January 2024: International tourism should fully recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with initial estimates pointing to 2% growth above what was recorded in 2019, UNWTO forecast reported last week
UNWTO’s Tourism Recovery Tracker reported that international air capacity and passenger demand recovered about 90% of pre-pandemic levels through October 2023 (IATA). Global occupancy rates in accommodation establishments reached 65% in November, slightly above 62% in November 2022 (based on STR data).
Photo credit: UNWTO
However, the forecast by UNWTO remains subject to the pace of recovery in Asia and the evolution of existing economic and geopolitical downside risks.
UNWTO’s Tourism Confidence Index survey reflects a positive outlook based on a poll of tourism professionals. 67% of them indicated better or much better prospects for 2024 compared to 2023.
Some 28% expect similar performance, while only 6% expect tourism performance in 2024 to be worse than last year.
Key factors
The evolution of the Hamas-Israel conflict may disrupt travel in the Middle East and impact traveller confidence. Uncertainty derived from the Russian aggression against Ukraine and other mounting geopolitical tensions continues to weigh on confidence.
There is significant room for recovery across Asia. Reopening several source markets and destinations will boost regional and global recovery.
Chinese outbound and inbound tourism is expected to accelerate in 2024 due to visa facilitation and improved air capacity. China is applying for visa-free travel for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia for a year to 30 November 2024.
Visa and travel facilitation measures will promote travel to and around the Middle East and Africa with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to implement a unified tourist visa, similar to the Schengen visa, and measures to facilitate intra-African travel in Kenya and Rwanda.
Europe is expected to drive results again in 2024. Romania and Bulgaria will join the Schengen area of free movement in March, and Paris will host the Summer Olympics in July and August.
Strong travel from the US, backed by a strong US dollar, will continue to benefit destinations in the Americas and beyond. As in 2023, robust source markets in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East will continue to fuel tourism flows and spending worldwide.
Economic and geopolitical headwinds continue to pose significant challenges to the sustained recovery of international tourism and confidence levels.
Persisting inflation, high-interest rates, volatile oil prices, and disruptions to trade can continue to impact transport and accommodation costs in 2024.
Against this backdrop, tourists increasingly seek value for money and travel closer to home. Sustainable practices and adaptability will also play an increasing role in consumer choice.
Staff shortages remain a critical issue, as tourism businesses face a shortfall in labour to cope with high demand.
HONG KONG, 25 January 2024: Resorts World Cruises kicks start 2024 with the maiden voyage of the Resorts World One cruise ship to the Philippines on Tuesday.
As part of the ship’s inaugural five-night sailing from Hong Kong, the Resorts World One arrived at Manila Tuesday and was scheduled to arrive in Boracay on 24 January with over 2,700 guests and crew onboard.
With the Resorts World One homeport in Hong Kong year-round, the cruise ship offers itineraries to different destinations for two, three and five-night cruises, which include the Philippines for this special sailing, complementing current destinations to Sanya, Okinawa (Naha and Miyakojima), as well as to Danang and Nha Trang in Vietnam.
BANGKOK, 25 January 2024: AirAsia is introducing a new route from Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport to Visakhapatnam in India, starting 9 April 2024.
The low-cost airline schedules three weekly flights to the seaside city in India’s east with fares starting from THB 2,900 one-way.
With this new route, AirAsia will deliver the widest network connecting Thailand to India and introduce a new side of India as Visakhapatnam is a major port city and hub of commerce.
AirAsia Thailand chief executive officer Santisuk Klongchaiya said: “AirAsia plans to continue its expansion in India to tap on the market’s high tourism potential. We believe this new route will create an important opportunity for stimulating tourism and economic growth between both nations.”
AirAsia Thailand now flies 10 routes between India and Bangkok in Thailand, serving flights to Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Bangalore, Gaya, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Guwahati and latest addition Visakhapatnam. Indian travellers comprise 80 to 90% of passengers on the routes, maintaining an average load factor of 87%, indicating India is a robust and growing market responsive to AirAsia.
