Singapore Changi Airport, ranked the World’s Best Airport seven consecutive times, has recorded a sharp decline in passenger traffic and aircraft arrivals and departures majorly due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In February 2020, Changi Airport handled only 3.45 million passengers movements in February, a 32.8% decrease compared to February 2019. Aircraft movements also declined by 12.3%. Despite the drop in aircraft traffic, Changi airfreight throughput rose by 7.6%.
As the outbreak continues to spread, many international flights to and from Changi have been cancelled.
Changi Airport Group (CAG) said: “Air travel demand continued to be impacted by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation. For the month of February, all regions except Africa recorded declines."
Singapore and many other nations have already imposed travel bans and restrictions on foreign visitors coming from several European and ASEAN countries. In Singapore, Singaporean Residents and long-term residents will be issued a 14-day stay home notice whilst foreign visitors from mainland China and several European countries are to be declined entry into Singapore.
As the situation worsens, Changi has already stepped up hygiene precautionary measures to reduce the risk of the virus spreading by implementing mandatory temperature screening of passengers on all arriving flights and placing more hand sanitisers throughout the airport and Jewel.
Besides Changi Airport, Singapore's national carrier, Singapore Airlines, instructed their crew to wear a face mask while on duty as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, SIA announced temporary flight cancellations and reductions to several destinations until May. Notable destinations affected include Frankfurt, Jakarta, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Paris, Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo.
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