With a steady growth in passenger traffic and connectivity in the first six months of the year, Changi Airport is headed for another record-setting year.

For the half of 2007, the airport received more than 17.7 million passengers - a 5.4 per cent increase over the same period last year. Last year, Changi Airport handled a record 35.03 million in passenger traffic.

"With the steady growth of passengers through Changi Airport in the first six months this year, we look forward to setting new records for passenger traffic in 2007," said Mr Lim Kim Choon, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

Passenger traffic peaked in the months of March and June this year, with some 3.1 million passengers passing through the airport in each month. During the June school holiday period, Changi Airport saw more than 100,000 passengers each day.

In the past six months, five new cities have also joined Changi Airport's growing network. Udon Thani in Thailand, Tiruchirapally in India, Atlanta in the United States, Nairobi in Kenya, and Budapest in Hungary have widened Singapore's global connectivity. Hungary and Kenya are also new country links for Changi Airport.

Mr Lim said: "The new city links bear testament to Singapore's growing connectivity and strengthening position as an air hub. Later this year, we also look forward to welcoming new carriers such as Etihad Airways to the Changi network."