SINGAPORE - Changi Airport handled 15 million passengers in the first quarter of 2017, a 4.7 per cent jump compared to the corresponding period last year.

China accounted for about 10 per cent of total passenger movements during this period, Changi Airport Group (CAG) said in a media release on Monday (April 24).

Aircraft movements in the quarter rose 2 per cent year-on-year to 90,540, while airfreight movements increased by 6.2 per cent to a total of 494,180 tonnes.

The airport registered 5.11 million passengers in March, which was a 4.3 per cent year-on year increase.

Aircraft movements for that month were 2.6 per cent higher at 30,920 landings and take-offs, with cargo shipments registering a robust growth of 10.2 per cent to reach 188,630 tonnes.

According to CAG, March's passenger traffic was boosted by traffic growth across all regions.

Among Changi Airport's top 10 country markets, China and India led the gainers with double-digit growth.

Strong traffic growth was also observed between Singapore and Asian cities such as Denpasar, Guangzhou and Seoul.

As of April 1, more than 100 airlines operate at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to some 380 cities in about 90 countries and territories worldwide.

There are more than 7,000 weekly scheduled flights.

CAG also highlighted several new restaurant and store openings, among them Starbucks Reserve's first Asian airport outlet at Terminal 3's departure hall that boasts different coffee brewing methods and a premium line of coffees.