SINGAPORE, Jan 14: Flights arriving from India were unaffected by the adverse weather conditions in Singapore, despite 12 flights being redirected to regional airports due to heavy monsoon rains since Friday, according to statements from the airport operator on Tuesday.
The Changi Airport Group informed PTI that “the flights, operated by multiple airlines, originated from cities such as Bangkok, Jakarta, Phuket, and Shanghai.”
They added, “All redirected flights have successfully returned to Changi Airport as of yesterday afternoon.”
Since Friday evening, 12 flights headed for Changi Airport have been redirected to nearby airports including Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, and Batam, responding to a PTI inquiry.
Singapore has been experiencing a monsoon surge, which has been described as one of the longest and most intense weather events in recent years by the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).
This poor weather has disrupted air traffic at Changi Airport, known as one of the busiest civil aviation hubs worldwide.
Recognized as one of the top five busiest airports globally in 2023 by the Airports Council International World, Changi Airport connects Singapore to approximately 160 cities worldwide, with nearly 100 airlines operating over 6,900 flights weekly.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) continues to face delays and rescheduling for several flights due to the persistent adverse weather both in Singapore and the surrounding region, the airline reported on Sunday.
According to The Straits Times, a spokesperson from SIA indicated that over 50 flights had been delayed or rescheduled in the last 48 hours due to the ongoing weather issues.
The monsoon surge, which commenced on Friday and began to ease only on Monday, brought moderate to heavy rainfall interspersed with occasional thunderstorms, as reported by Channel News Asia, citing MSS.
A monsoon surge indicates an intensification of winds over the South China Sea, leading to the formation of extensive rain clouds across the region.
“On average, Singapore experiences between two to four monsoon surges annually, with each lasting from one to five days,” the meteorologists added.
From Friday to Saturday, Changi Airport recorded a total rainfall of 255.2mm, exceeding Singapore’s average monthly rainfall of 222.4mm for January, as reported by the national water agency Public Utilities Board. (PTI)
