Air travel between Singapore and China takes off again, but may need time to reach pre-COVID heights - CNA

Mr Lim said there are some second- or third-tier cities that Singapore used to be connected to, but currently does not have direct connections with.

“The key reason is the airlines, the airports, and the travel agents (are) still organising themselves for international flights, so they're not quite ready. But we are confident that the demand is there for both directions,” he added.

“For these second-tier and third-tier cities, the demand for outbound travel to Singapore (and) Southeast Asia is very strong. So the passengers are there (and) just waiting for the flights to come.”

Besides reconnecting previously established routes, the airport is looking to connect Singapore with Chinese cities that are less travelled.

In August, the top five cities by passenger movement were Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Hangzhou and Nanjing.

Many travellers from Singapore visit popular Chinese destinations such as Beijing and Shanghai, “but they are curious to go to new places like Xinjiang and Guiyang”, said Mr Lim.

“So we are confident that once the flights get started, there'll be passengers to fill up the (planes).”

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