Singapore’s Changi Airport handled 17.2 million passengers in the first quarter of 2025, a 4.3% increase compared to the same period last year. This number is also nearly 5% higher than in the first quarter of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Straits Times.
China emerged as Changi’s largest market by passenger volume during this period, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Thailand.
Experts say the growth is partly due to a mutual 30-day visa-free travel agreement between Singapore and China that started in February 2024. More than 830,000 travelers from China visited Singapore in the first three months of the year, making it the top source of inbound visitors.
In 2024, Changi Airport served 67.7 million passengers, nearly reaching its record of 68.3 million set in 2019.
Known for its modern and efficient services, Changi offers automated check-ins and biometric systems for faster immigration clearance. It recently became one of the first airports in the world to implement passport-free immigration across all terminals. Travelers can now clear immigration in as little as 10 seconds.
Changi was also named the World’s Best Airport for 2025 at the World Airport Awards, hosted by UK-based aviation consultancy Skytrax. The airport reclaimed the title after losing it to Hamad International Airport in Qatar last year.
The rankings were based on feedback from over 13 million travelers from more than 100 countries. The survey was conducted between August 2024 and February 2025.
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