Airport

Singapore passport is the world’s most powerful, replacing Japan

The most recent Henley Passport Index results offer fascinating insights into a world defined by remarkable upheaval and offer a compelling glimpse at what lies ahead as we begin a new year. According to the Henley Passport Index, Singapore beat out Japan to hold the title of the most powerful passport in the world. Singapore passport holders have visa-free access to 192 of the world’s 227 destinations.

The 20 most powerful passports of 2020 : Henley Passport Index(Opens in a new browser tab)

Spain, Italy, and Germany tied for the second position, with their inhabitants having access to 190 international locations. Japan, which topped the list last year, dropped to third place; as of 2022, just 189 countries are now visa-free for holders of the country’s passport. Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden are additional passports that tied with Japan for third place.

With 184 visa-free travel locations, the U.S. fared significantly lower on the index than Lithuania, coming in at eighth place (down one point from the previous year).

These are the world’s most powerful passports in 2023(Opens in a new browser tab)

Since 2014, when their passports were named No. 1 in the world, both the U.S. and the United Kingdom have been on a downward trajectory. Henley & Partners said that the U.S. has added 12 more places where citizens can travel without a visa over the past decade. But among the top 10 countries on the ranking, that represents the least gain.

Rank	Country	Visa-free travel to (out of 277 nations)
1	Singapore	192
2	Germany, Italy, Spain	190
3	Austria, Finland, France, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Sweden	189
4	Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, UK	188
5	Belgium, Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland	187
6	Australia, Hungary, Poland	186
7	Canada, Greece	185
8	Lithuania, US	184
9	Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia	183
10	Estonia, Iceland	182

Airport

Three Major UK Airports Up for Multi-Billion Pound Sale

Three major UK airports, including London City, Birmingham, and Bristol, are set to be sold in a multi-billion pound deal as their Canadian owner, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), seeks to capitalize on a booming air travel market.

The OTPP is in talks with minority shareholders about selling its stakes in these airports, as well as its holdings in Brussels and Copenhagen airports.

Current evaluations suggest the combined value of the five airports exceeds £10 billion, with OTPP owning between 25% and 70% stakes in each, potentially bringing the total sale to over £3.5 billion.

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The move comes as global aviation experiences a strong recovery, driving increased demand for air travel, particularly across Europe. The OTPP, which holds a significant portion of its portfolio in these airports, is in the process of offering its shares to co-investors with a 30-day “right of first refusal” period.

Analysts speculate that the sale could trigger a chain reaction, prompting other stakeholders to consider selling their shares, particularly if a new buyer seeks a controlling interest.

Bristol Airport, for example, has outlined an ambitious master plan to expand its capacity from 12 million passengers per year to 15 million by 2036, addressing the growing demand in the region.

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Meanwhile, London’s Heathrow and Stansted airports have seen record passenger traffic, further underscoring the sector’s recovery.

As the 30-day period progresses, the OTPP’s decision could spark a flurry of activity, with other investors such as Australian giant Macquarie reportedly showing interest in the airports.

This potential sale is set to reshape the future of UK airport ownership and investment, as the aviation industry continues to recover and grow.