• Jewel Changi Airport
    Singapore Changi Airport
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    SIN/WSSS
    Country:
    Singapore
    CEO:
    Lee Seow Hiang
    Passenger Count :
    3,053,000 (2021)
    Runways :
    02L/20R - 4,000m (13,123ft) | 02C/20C - 4,000m (13,123ft) | 02R/20L - 4,000m (13,123ft)
    Terminals:
    Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | Terminal 3 | Terminal 4 | JetQuay CIP Terminal
  • Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-941 (2)
    Singapore Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    SQ/SIA
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Singapore Changi Airport
    Year Founded:
    1972
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Goh Choon Phong
    Country:
    Singapore

This week, Singapore's Transport Minister S Iswaran told the national parliament that the aviation industry is looking to hire another 4,000 workers by the end of this year. If the industry reaches that hiring goal, Singapore will employ around 90% of its pre-pandemic workforce.When the minister talks about the aviation industry, he does not specify how broad the segment is, referring to "industry stakeholders." However, he does add that in the first half of 2002, the air transport sector recovered to about 80% of pre-Covid levels. Focusing on Singapore Changi Airport, in 2018, it processed 65.6 million passengers and grew that to 68.3 million passengers in 2019. As Covid took hold in 2020, the airport processed 11.8 million and reached its nadir last year with just 3.05 million passengers.

On the way back, even without China travelers

Changi Airport
Changi Airport is full of green space. Photo: Jewel Changi Airport

In the first two months of this year, the airport had 1.2 million passengers, but by the end of August, it had processed 16.5 million, adding 3.3 million in August. During the pandemic, terminals two and four were closed, but in September, Terminal 4 reopened, and half of terminal 2 is set to reopen in mid-October. When that happens, the airport will have the capacity to handle up to 100% of pre-pandemic levels.

The minister also told parliament that the number of flights operating at Changi Airport has recovered to "nearly two-thirds of pre-COVID levels." Iswaran added:

"As of the first week of September, average weekly passenger traffic at Changi Airport has recovered to about 60% of pre-COVID-19 levels, and it has held that level steadily. We expect [the number of flights] to increase further as airlines respond to demand from travelers, following the recent border easing announcements by key travel markets, such as Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan."

The rest of the year looks strong, even without the return of tourists from China. The number of flights that airlines have already filed to operate at Changi Airport by the end of the year is more than 80% of pre-Covid levels, leaving just that gap from one of its main markets. However, Iswaran cautioned that finding people is not going to be easy, and that is only part of the solution anyway, as they have to be trained to safely deliver for everyone, including themselves. In a reference perhaps aimed more broadly than Changi Airport, he pointed out that digitalization and sustainability are critical considerations for hiring new people. He said:

"And for this, we will need specific skill sets. So we either have to retrain those who are already in the industry, and that is happening as we speak, but at the same time, we also may need specific types of talent to come onboard to augment what we already have."

Enough staff to catch rhinoceros horn smuggler

Changi airport does not lack skills in enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). On Tuesday, its officers detected and seized 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns that were being smuggled through the airport. Hidden in two bags, the officers found 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns, weighing 34 kilograms (75 pounds) with an estimated (street value?) of SIN$1.2 million ($840,000). It was Singapore's largest ever seizure of rhino horns.

This joint effort was between Changi Airport Security and the National Parks Board (NParks). The bag's owner was traveling from South Africa to the Lao People's Democratic Republic and transiting through Changi when detected. NParks said:

"Genetic testing will be carried out at NParks Center for Wildlife Forensics to identify the rhinoceros species. The horns will subsequently be destroyed to prevent them from re-entering the market, disrupting the global supply chain of illegally traded rhinoceros horns."

That's undoubtedly one global supply chain that needs disruption. Under Singaporean law, the man faces a fine of up to SIN$50,000 ($35,000) per scheduled species up to SIN$500,000 ($351,000), up to two years in prison, or both.