Singapore's Changi Airport says sees record passengers in 2015

People look at planes from a viewing gallery in Singapore's Changi Airport September 29, 2015. REUTERS/Edgar Su

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore Changi Airport bounced back from a weak start to the year to handle a record 55.4 million passengers in 2015, a 2.5 percent rise, helped by new carriers and growth in traffic from Thailand, Vietnam and China. Passenger movements in December last year were up 3.9 percent to 5.29 million, the highest monthly traffic for the airport ever since it started operations in 1981, it stated on Wednesday. Total cargo recorded was 1.85 million tonnes for the year. "Economic uncertainty in many markets may dampen travel demand in the near term," Lee Seow Hiang, CEO, Changi Airport Group, said in a statement. "However, low fuel prices should support airlines' profitability. The outlook for Changi is also bolstered by positive developments such as addition of new city links and airlines in the coming months," Lee added. (Reporting By Aradhana Aravindan; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)