Singapore has long been known to set the pace in most spheres of economic activities.
Have we lost the steam to set the trend and must be pushed to respond to events that have overtaken us ?
Changi Airport moves up to second-cheapest in Asia
Fighting travel slump with rate cuts, Changi becomes more attractive to airlines but is still trailing KL airport By Karamjit Kaur
CHANGI Airport is now cheaper for airlines to fly to and has narrowed the gap with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
RACE TO STAY AHEADWhat airports charge for a Boeing 747-400 with three-hour turnaround
(Table cannot be reproduced in correct tabulation - click to view directly from the site:
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,207882,00.html? )
A year ago, it was the third cheapest international airport in Asia, behind KL and Bangkok.
Changi is still behind KLIA, but is now the second cheapest in Asia.
Malaysia moved speedily last year to attract business to its new airport, which opened in 1998, by waiving all landing and parking fees for new airlines flying into KLIA for five years.
But the downturn in travel, sparked by the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in America, saw Changi fighting back with a $210-million Air Hub Development Fund last November.
The fund helps the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), which manages Changi, to offer competitive charges and some free landings.
It also came in handy when Sars caused a drastic drop in the number of flights and passengers this year.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) ranked 11 airports in the region in June, comparing the charges payable for a Boeing 747-400 with a three-hour turnaround time.
Charges at KLIA were the lowest at $1,018 - and that was $959 less than last year.
Changi charged $2,524, a sharp drop of $1,803.
Third-placed Jakarta charged $3,594, or just over $1,000 more than Changi.
The most expensive was Tokyo's Narita Airport, which charged $16,956.
Apart from lowered rates for landing and use of aerobridges, which passengers use to pass between plane and airport, Changi now offers free landing to new airlines and carriers flying new city links.
Among those which have benefited are three new airlines - Xiamen, Royal Nepal and Merpati Nusantara.
United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Singapore Airlines Cargo also touch down for free at Changi when they arrive from new destinations.
The concessions introduced in January will be in force for two years.
In addition, all airlines flying to Singapore now enjoy a 45 per cent rebate in landing fees. This will be cut to 15 per cent from Jan 1 next year and the new rates will be valid until the end of 2005.
Speaking to The Straits Times yesterday, Mr Lasantha Subasinghe, Iata's assistant director (user charges), said: 'Changi Airport offers airlines value for money. The facilities provided are good and yet the rates are very competitive.'
A CAAS spokesman said: 'Many have the impression that Changi's landing, parking and aerobridge charges are high. These figures indicate that is not the case.'
Industry analysts said CAAS efforts to cut costs for airlines were timely and in line with various measures to ensure Singapore companies remain competitive.