Singapore minister fetes strides in civil aviation after a good year

SINGAPOREAN Transport Minister Raymond Lim expressed satisfaction at the glowing performance and prospects of Changi Airport in a recent speech at the Swissotel Merchant Court Hotel celebrating the 30th anniversary of the opening of Terminal 1 and the 100-year anniversary of start of civil aviation in the city state.

"When Terminal 1 opened in 1981, it served 8.1 million passengers. In the space of 30 years, Changi's traffic has increased fivefold. Indeed, Changi has grown to become more than just a gateway into Singapore - it is now also a major gateway to Asia, and one of the world's busiest international airports," said Mr Lim.

The annual airport celebration also marked the start of Singapore aviation. "In 1911, an aircraft piloted by Joseph Christiaens made a demonstration flight at the old race course - now Farrer Park. Though seemingly insignificant at that time, this event marked the birth of civil aviation in Singapore, and this year, we celebrate the first centennial of civil aviation in Singapore," he said.

Mr Lim said 2010 had been a good year for the aviation industry. Global passenger traffic rose in tandem with improving economic conditions, and airlines worldwide reported better bottom lines not seen for many years.

"Changi Airport also enjoyed its best showings in its history. In terms of passenger traffic, Changi handled a record number of passenger movements, surpassing the key milestone of 40 million for the first time," he said.
(Source:www.schednet.com)