Singapore Airlines reports 99.3% decline in June passenger carriage

Singapore Airlines (SIA) reported a 99.3 per cent fall in overall passenger carriage in June, with a 95.1 per cent year-on-year passenger capacity decline. 

In a press statement, SIA attributed the decrease to the lower demand for air travel as border controls and travel restrictions remained in place around the world.

The national carrier also noted that its capacity was 94 per cent lower compared to 2019, with only a skeletal network of flights in operatoin, connecting Singapore to 24 metro cities. 

SIA's capacity was 94 per cent lower compared to last year's, with only a "skeletal network" of flights in operation, connecting Singapore to 24 metro cities.

Photo: Connected to India
Photo: Connected to India

Regional arm SilkAir's passenger carriage also saw a decline, plunging 99.7 per cent year-on-year against a 99.3 per cent cut in capacity, as it only operated flights to Chongqing, Kuala Lumpur and Medan.

Meanwhile, budget arm Scoot’s passenger carriage saw a 99.8 per cent year-on-year decline against a contraction in capacity of 97.5 per cent. Scoot had temporarily halted operations to West Asia and Europe in June, while continuing to maintain flights to Hong Kong and Perth, and adding flights to Ipoh, Penang, and Kuching.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a severe impact on international air travel,” SIA said in its press statement.

“Industry experts, including IATA (International Air Transport Association) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), have continued to revise downwards their projections for the recovery of global passenger traffic in the near term. Industry forecasts currently expect that it will take between two to four years for passenger traffic numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels.”