Singapore's Changi passenger numbers hit pre-Covid levels for the first time

Passenger traffic at Singapore’s Changi Airport, one of Asia’s busiest, topped pre-Covid levels in February as Lunar New Year holidays sparked a surge in travel demand. The facility, frequently voted one of the world’s best for its futuristic feel and efficiency, recorded 5.35m passenger movements in February, a 34% increase year-on-year, and 4.3% higher than the same period in 2019, according to data released Wednesday. The airport is one of the first in Asia to exceed pre-pandemic traffic levels and signals a broader travel rebound is underway across the region. Singapore proved a popular destination for last month’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, while March may prove to be another bumper month due to a series of six Taylor Swift concerts. The singer performed in the city in an exclusive deal, angering Singapore’s Southeast Asian neighbors that missed out on the spending bump of such a visit. Swift’s popularity and the lack of shows elsewhere sparked an influx of foreign visitors to the city-state that prompted economists to upgrade their forecasts for the economy.<br/>