In the bustling travel period marking the end of 2023, the emblematic Singapore Airlines Group has reported significant increases in travel demand. The December operating results shine a spotlight on the airline’s capacity to attract passengers and meet cargo demand during this peak season.
The Group’s passenger load factor, a key indicator of efficiency in filling seats, reached an admirable 89.4%. Both the flagship Singapore Airlines and its low-cost counterpart, Scoot, demonstrated impressive load factors, clocking in at 88.7% and 91.7% respectively. This is in conjunction with a substantial 15.8% year-on-year growth in passenger traffic, complemented by a passenger capacity increment of 16.1%.
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | |
| SINGAPORE AIRLINES | |||
| Available seat-km (million) | 11,388.60 | 9,864.80 | 15.4 % |
| Revenue passenger-km (million) | 10,106.50 | 8,791.20 | 15.0 % |
| Passengers carried (thousand) | 2,224.70 | 1,769.20 | 25.7 % |
| Passenger load factor (%) | 88.7 | 89.1 | -0.4 pt |
| Load Factor by Route Region (%) | |||
| East Asia | 89 | 88.1 | 0.9 pt |
| The Americas | 88.7 | 86.3 | 2.4 pts |
| Europe | 86.4 | 88 | -1.6 pts |
| South West Pacific | 91.5 | 94.6 | -3.1 pts |
| West Asia and Africa | 87.2 | 89 | -1.8 pts |
| SCOOT | |||
| Available seat-km (million) | 3,274.60 | 2,766.80 | 18.4 % |
| Revenue passenger-km (million) | 3,003.50 | 2,534.80 | 18.5 % |
| Passengers carried (thousand) | 1,119.90 | 920.3 | 21.7 % |
| Passenger load factor (%) | 91.7 | 91.6 | 0.1 pt |
| Load Factor by Route Region (%) | |||
| East Asia | 90.6 | 89.7 | 0.9 pt |
| West Asia | 91.9 | 94 | -2.1 pts |
| Rest of the World | 94.8 | 93.9 | 0.9 pt |
| GROUP AIRLINES (PASSENGER) | |||
| Available seat-km (million) | 14,663.30 | 12,631.60 | 16.1 % |
| Revenue passenger-km (million) | 13,110.00 | 11,326.00 | 15.8 % |
| Passengers carried (thousand) | 3,344.60 | 2,689.50 | 24.4 % |
| Passenger load factor (%) | 89.4 | 89.7 | -0.3 pt |
| GROUP AIRLINES (CARGO) | |||
| Gross capacity (million tonne-km) | 862.6 | 842.7 | 2.4 % |
| Cargo load (million tonne-km) | 453.4 | 457.5 | -0.9 % |
| Cargo and mail carried (million kg) | 82.8 | 79.4 | 4.3 % |
| Cargo load factor (%) | 52.6 | 54.3 | -1.7 pts |
| Load Factor by Route Region (%) | |||
| East Asia | 47.1 | 52.6 | -5.5 pts |
| The Americas | 53.6 | 50.8 | 2.8 pts |
| Europe | 59.7 | 65.6 | -5.9 pts |
| South West Pacific | 45 | 44.7 | 0.3 pt |
| West Asia and Africa | 65.8 | 56 | 9.8 pts |
Glossary:
Available seat-km = Number of available seats x distance flown (in km)
Revenue passenger-km = Number of passengers carried x distance flown (in km)
Passenger load factor = Revenue passenger-km expressed as a percentage of available seat-km
Gross capacity = Cargo capacity production (in tonnes) x distance flown (in km)
Cargo load = Cargo and mail load carried (in tonnes) x distance flown (in km)
Cargo load factor = Cargo and mail load (in tonne-km) expressed as a percentage of gross capacity (in tonne-km)
A total of 3.3 million passengers were welcomed onboard the two carriers during December, marking a 24.4% surge from the previous year. This uptick in passenger volumes further illustrates the Group’s successful recovery and attractive positioning in the competitive airline market.
Cargo transport, fueled by a boost in e-commerce demand, witnessed a year-on-year growth of 4.3%. Despite this positive traction, the cargo load factor did experience a slight dip to 52.6%, falling by 1.7 percentage points. This reduction is attributed to the expansion of passenger services, which subsequently led to an increase in available belly hold capacity for cargo.
Additionally, Singapore Airlines celebrated the resumption of services to Xiamen within the month, exemplifying the Group’s ongoing efforts to expand and rejuvenate its network. At December’s close, the Group’s passenger network spanned 121 destinations across 35 countries and territories. Singapore Airlines flaunted connectivity to 76 destinations, with Scoot not far behind at 67 destinations. The cargo network also boasted an extensive reach, covering 126 destinations in 37 countries and territories.
Singapore Airlines Group’s December performance echoes its enduring dedication to expanding its global footprint and reinforcing its status as a foremost choice for international travelers and cargo shippers alike.
