Singapore outlook Part 3: long-haul growth is unlikely. LCC-led transfer growth is what's needed

Singapore Changi Airport and CAAS are trying to promote new long-haul flights and more transit traffic in response to a significant slowdown in passenger growth. Singapore is eager to drum up new sources of traffic or growth as it invests significantly in airport expansion which will prove to be overly ambitious if growth cannot be restored.

Incentivising transit traffic is logical as a growth in transit numbers, long a staple under Singapore's hub strategy, could help offset a recent drop in inbound visitor numbers. Following Kuala Lumpur's example, Singapore will probably need to focus on enhancing LCC transit traffic, an increasingly important segment which Changi has barely scratched.

Long-haul transit traffic growth will be much harder to achieve, even with incentives. Changi's biggest growth opportunities are likely on medium-haul routes and connections within Asia-Pacific.