ROUTES ASIA: Changi Welcomes Inaugural Zhengzhou – Singapore Service

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Changi Airport Group and the Henan Civil Aviation Development and Construction Committee in November 2010, the inaugural flight of Xiamen Airlines between Zhengzhou and Singapore, touched down at Changi International Airport yesterday (March 27). The route is being operated daily by a two-class, a 169-seat Boeing 737-800 with an intermediate stop in Xiamen in both directions.

Xiamen Airlines already has two daily services to Singapore – from Tianjin (via Xiamen) and Hangzhou (via Fuzhou) and the addition of this flight to Changi’s network brings to six the number of new city links to China established since January 2010, following Guilin, Shantou, Hefei, Qingdao and Nanning. Passenger traffic between Singapore and China has shown promising signs of growth. In 2010, some 3.38 million passengers travelled between the two countries, an increase of 16 per cent over 2009. In particular, traffic between Singapore and secondary cities in China (excluding Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai) grew 22 per cent over the same period. This summer there will be some 430 weekly scheduled flights between Changi and China, serving 26 different cities.

Speaking ahead of the arrival of the inaugural flight Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive Officer, Changi Airport Group said: “This would not have been possible without the strong support of The People’s Government of Henan Province, Xiamen Airlines and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport. We look forward to deepening our partnership with the Henan Civil Aviation Development and Construction Committee to promote sustainable traffic growth between Singapore and Henan.”

Besides establishing direct flights between Singapore and Henan, CAG and HCADCC will work together to support airlines and promote air routes. Both parties will also support their respective tourism authorities in promoting bilateral tourism flows and strengthening tourism links through joint marketing efforts. Apart from having one of the fastest growing economies among China's six Central Provinces (Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jianxi and Shanxi), Henan is home to attractions such as the Shaolin Temple and the Yellow River. "With the connection to Zhengzhou, Singaporeans will now have the opportunity to visit the Henan region, which is rich in cultural and tourism attractions," added Lee Seow Hiang.