Number of outbound departures Singaporean residents 2014-2023, by mode of transport

In 2023, Singaporean residents made about 7.87 million outbound departures by air. By comparison, there were around 1.52 million outbound departures by sea in that same year. With the proliferation of budget airlines and increasing disposable incomes, more Singaporeans were flying out of the country in the last eighteen years. This continuous increase in travelers, however, was halted when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, in which travel restrictions were put in place and resulting in the significantly low amount of departures made. 

Taking off to the skies on a budget

In the early 2000s, budget airlines such as AirAsia and Tiger Airways started introducing low-cost short-haul flights. This consequently enabled more people to fly and made regional destinations more accessible. In the financial year 2019-2020, Singapore Airlines’ budget carrier Scoot carried more than ten million passengers, compared to under two million in 2014. Regional holiday destinations popular with Singaporeans include Bali, Phuket, Bangkok, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

More budget for travel

In 2017, Singaporeans made an average of 3.51 trips per person. By 2021, Singaporeans would make close to 700 percent more trips than there were households. The increased mobility is reflective of an increase in disposable income, with more Singaporeans having the means to afford making more overseas trips. In 2022, the average monthly household income had increased by more than a thousand dollars compared to 2012. With higher incomes and more affordable flights, it seems more Singaporeans are escaping the busy city state for a quick trip nearby.