The Singapore Airlines Group, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost-carrier Scoot, reported strong passenger recovery in December 2022, with figures inching closer to pre-pandemic levels. The group carried 2.689 million passengers in December at a passenger load factor (PLF) of 89.7%, more than four times as many passengers as it carried in December 2021. However, in December 2019, the group carried 3.543 million passengers at a PLF of 87.6%, meaning that passenger numbers last month have only recovered to 76% of pre-COVID levels.
Cargo operations registered a load factor of 54.3% or 24.5%-points lower year-on-year. Loads (freight tonne-kilometres) declined by 18.9% year-on-year due to weaker cargo demand, while capacity expanded by 17.7% as increased passenger services resulted in higher belly hold capacity.
Scoot resumed flights to Zhengzhou in December 2022, while SIA restarted fortnightly passenger services from Singapore to Beijing from December 2022.
At the end of December 2022, the group’s covered 111 destinations in 36 countries and territories. SIA served 76 destinations, while Scoot served 57 destinations. The cargo network comprised 116 destinations in 38 countries and territories.