OREANDA-NEWS. Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Xiamen Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly collaborate on initiatives to grow connectivity and passenger traffic between Singapore and China.

Effective until 31 March 2018, the MOU formalises the partnership to increase air services between the two countries, and to grow transit and transfer traffic from Southeast Asia, Southwest Pacific to and from China, via Singapore. CAG will also be working closely with Xiamen Airlines on exclusive offers and shopping promotions to enhance the retail and dining experience for its passengers at Changi Airport.

Mr Lee Seow Hiang, CAG’s Chief Executive Officer said, “The Chinese market holds enormous potential and in terms of passenger traffic, Xiamen is currently the fourth largest Chinese city for Changi Airport, just behind the key metros of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. CAG values the deep partnership we have established with Xiamen Airlines, who has been a supportive and active partner in joint marketing activities in and outside of China. The signing of this MOU is a strategic step to enhance our connectivity through the establishment of more direct air services to new secondary and third-tier cities in China.”

Over the past few years, Xiamen Airlines has achieved healthy growth at Changi Airport, registering a compounded annual growth rate of 9% in passenger traffic since 2009. Despite the decline in tourist arrivals from China to Singapore last year, Xiamen Airlines achieved positive growth of 5% in its passenger traffic between Singapore and China. Notably, the airline's traffic at Changi Airport has achieved a strong growth of 28% for the first five months in 2015 compared to the same period last year.

Xiamen Airlines Chairman & President, Mr Che Shanglun, said, “Southeast Asia, and in particular Singapore, is an important market for Xiamen Airlines. Ever since the first Xiamen-Singapore service was launched in 1986, the airline has continued to develop more services from Singapore to newer destinations in China. We are very happy to further our strategic partnership and look forward to continuing our close collaboration with CAG to provide a convenient and comfortable travel experience for more travellers in the future.”

As at 1 July 2015, Xiamen Airlines operates 28 weekly services from Singapore to seven cities in China – Dalian, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Xi’an and Zhengzhou. Of the above seven points, Xiamen Airlines is the only carrier operating flights to and from Dalian, Fuzhou and Zhengzhou.

About Changi Airport Group

Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CAG) was formed on 16 June 2009 and the corporatisation of Singapore Changi Airport (IATA: SIN, ICAO: WSSS) followed on 1 July 2009. As the company managing Changi Airport, CAG undertakes key functions focusing on airport operations and management, air hub development, commercial activities and airport emergency services. CAG also manages Seletar Airport (IATA: XSP, ICAO: WSSL) and through its subsidiary Changi Airports International, invests in and manages foreign airports.

Changi Airport is the world's sixth busiest airport for international traffic.  It served a record 54.1 million passengers from around the globe in 2014.  More than 350 retail stores and 160 F&B outlets are situated across three terminals to cater to passengers and visitors.With over 100 airlines providing connectivity to 320 cities worldwide, Changi Airport handles about 6,600 flights every week, or about one every 90 seconds.

About Xiamen Airlines

Founded in July 1984, Xiamen Airlines is a unique and premium airline in China. With the cost advantage of the all-Boeing fleet, Xiamen Airlines is on the way to achieving 29 consecutive years of profitability, the longest in the history of commercial aviation in China. Xiamen Airlines operates a fleet of 119 Boeing jets, which is the biggest all-Boeing fleet in China.

Xiamen Airlines is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance with “MF” as its IATA designator. The company now serves an extensive domestic and international flight network reaching over 60 cities in China, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. With more than 250 routes in operation, the number of passengers carried annually by Xiamen Airlines exceeds 20 million. By inaugurating the Xiamen-Amsterdam route in July 2015, the flight network of Xiamen Airlines extends into Europe for the first time.