Changi Airport Celebrates Major Award Win

Singapore’s Changi Airport has been crowned the Overall Winner at the Routes Asia 2025 Awards and also took top honors in the Over 20 Million Passengers category. The prestigious event, held during Routes Asia 2025 in Perth, Australia, recognized excellence in airport and destination marketing, with Changi’s outstanding performance setting it apart from global competitors. In 2024, Changi Airport handled an impressive 67.7 million passenger movements, marking a 15% increase year-over-year, while air freight throughput also grew by 15%. These gains were driven by the addition of 10 new airlines, including Air Canada, Air Japan, and Peach, as well as the launch of 20 new routes connecting travelers to destinations such as Brussels, London Gatwick, and Vancouver.

Changi Airport’s Vice President of Market Development, Peh Ke-Wei, expressed gratitude to the airline partners for their close collaboration, noting that this teamwork has been instrumental in taking passenger traffic to new heights. He explained that strategic partnerships have allowed the airport to expand its global connectivity and provide travelers with more options. This collaborative effort between the airport and its airline partners has contributed significantly to Changi’s impressive growth and its reputation as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs.

The Routes Asia 2025 Awards recognized several other winners. Cairns Airport was named the winner in the Under 5 Million Passengers category. Cairns, situated in one of Australia’s most aviation-dependent regions, has implemented a market-specific approach to route development. In 2024, the airport successfully secured new international services including China Eastern’s Lunar New Year flights, AirAsia Indonesia’s market entry, Fiji Airways’ direct Nadi service, and the return of Cathay Pacific. Meanwhile, Adelaide Airport claimed the award in the 5–20 Million Passengers category. The airport recorded record passenger traffic in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels with over 8.5 million travelers—a 10% increase year-over-year. Key route developments at Adelaide Airport included the return of Emirates’ daily service, China Southern Airlines’ relaunch, and a new route by Jetstar to the Whitsunday Coast. Additionally, QantasLink upgraded to DHC Dash 8-400 aircraft, further enhancing regional connectivity.

The Philippine Department of Tourism was honored with the Destination Award for its pivotal role in expanding air connectivity in the country. Through strategic marketing campaigns, innovative industry partnerships, and sustainable tourism initiatives, the department’s ‘Love the Philippines’ campaign has driven new route development. This has led to the introduction of new services to Cebu, Clark, and Davao, as well as notable successes such as Air France’s Paris-Manila route and Vietnam Airlines’ Hanoi-Manila flights.

Cebu Pacific was awarded the Airline category for its remarkable expansion in 2024. The low-cost carrier launched 31 new routes, including 19 domestic and 12 international services. To support its long-term growth strategy, Cebu Pacific placed the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history, committing to 152 Airbus aircraft in a $24 billion deal.

The winners in the Airport and Destination categories were evaluated by a panel of airline judges, while the Airline category was assessed by an editorial panel. The announcement of these awards highlights the dynamic progress and innovation occurring across the aviation and tourism industries, reinforcing the importance of strong partnerships and strategic development in driving future growth.

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