Among those that have been added to the Changi route map in 2018 has been the well documented return of nonstop flights to Newark, the world's longest air route, but new flights have also been introduced to Berlin Tegel, Borjhar, Buluh Tumbang, Luang Prabang, Nanchang, Pune, Vijayawada and Warsaw, plus the return of services to Gullin in China.
This has seen the Changi network expand to over 160 nonstop markets. Speaking to CAPA TV on the sidelines of last month's CAPA - Centre for Aviation Low Cost Long Haul Global Summit in Seville, Ching Kiat Lim, managing director, air hub development, Changi Airport Group highlighted that there remain numerous white spots on its network that his team are actively working to colour.
In Europe its network currently encompasses 19 cities, but he identifies Madrid, the largest unserved O&D market from Changi, and Oslo, Brussels and Vienna as targets "top of the list in Europe". Looking wider, the airport does not have a direct link to Canada. "With new aircraft types coming along I think there are more options for a direct flight," he acknowledges.
Mr Lim also discussed how the Low Cost Long Haul sector could help the airport secure service to some of its strongest unserved markets. LCCs already account for one third of traffic at the major global hub and Low Cost Long Haul growth could grow that share in the future, in his opinion, subject to potential operational complexities.
LEARN MORE about the development plans of Changi Airport Group in this exclusive video interview recorded at the CAPA Low Cost Long Haul Global Summit in Oct-2018.