[SINGAPORE] With air passenger traffic reaching an all-time high of 68.4 million for the year ended March 2025, the Republic’s aviation industry remains a bright spot amid global turbulence and uncertainty, said Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on May 7.
Air cargo reached 2 million tons for the period, up 11 per cent year on year, he told reporters at a visit to the Airbus Singapore Campus.
“We are now looking at how to further build on this momentum,” he said.
He noted that the industry’s employment situation has been “quite positive”, with key companies such as Changi Airport Group, Singapore Airlines and Sats continuing to hire and expand across different jobs such as commercial roles, flight crew and ground handling.
The industry employs about 36,000 people in Singapore.
Noting the previously-announced S$1 billion set aside by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Chee said that the government will discuss with industry partners, “including Airbus and others”, on how this funding can be used to support their growth in Singapore.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
The fund covers connectivity, infrastructure, innovation and technology, and manpower.
Supporting other sectors and the region
Recapping how upcoming developments will increase cargo capacity and air connections, Chee added that the air hub is not just an important sector on its own, but is a “key enabler” that supports other sectors such as professional services, manufacturing and financial services.
The Republic’s aviation industry can also support the region. As global aviation growth boosts demand for training, Singapore wants to provide training capacity not just for its own needs, but to support the region, he said.
He added that while a manpower study is underway, the initial sense is that the industry will have to use technology and redesign jobs for greater productivity, especially as the workforce ages.
