Singapore Changi Airport
Encyclopedia
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about 17.2 kilometres (10.7 mi) north-east from the commercial centre in Changi
, on a 13 square kilometres (5 sq mi) site.
The airport, operated by the Changi Airport Group
, is the home base of Singapore Airlines
, Singapore Airlines Cargo
, SilkAir
, Tiger Airways
, Jetstar Asia Airways
, Valuair
, and Jett8 Airlines Cargo
. As of September 2010, Changi Airport serves more than 100 airlines flying off to some 200 cities in about 60 countries and territories worldwide. The airport is a secondary hub
for Qantas
, which uses Singapore as the main stopover point for flights on the Kangaroo Route
between Australia and Europe. Qantas is the largest foreign airline to operate from the airport, with over two million passengers annually. An important contributor to the Economy of Singapore
, more than 28,000 people are employed at the airport, which accounts for over S$4.5 billion in output.
In 2010, the airport handled 42,038,777 passengers, a 13% increase over the 2009 fiscal year. This made it the 18th busiest airport in the world
and the fifth busiest in Asia by passenger traffic in 2010. The airport breached the 40 million mark for the first time in its history on 15 December 2010, recorded its busiest month in December 2010 (4.06 million) and its busiest day on 18 December 2010 with 146,000 passengers handled. In addition to being an important passenger hub, the airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world
, handling 1,813,809 tonnes of cargo in 2010. The total number of commercial aircraft movements was 263,593 in 2010.
Incentives such as the Air Hub Development Fund, first introduced in 2003, have proven effective in attracting airlines. A new S$300 million fund to strengthen Changi's hub status began in 2007 when the previous S$210 million fund expired. A new S$1.75 billion Terminal 3 opened on 9 January 2008. Terminal 1 will be upgraded along the lines of the renovated Terminal 2, with the latter costing S$240 million. Changi has been courting both premium and budget travellers with the opening of a "commercially important persons terminal" by JetQuay and a S$45 million Budget Terminal in 2006.
Since its opening in 1981, the airport has made its mark in the aviation industry as a benchmark for service excellence, winning over 360 awards since 1981, including 27 'Best' awards in 2009 alone. Changi Airport's efforts to counter the onset of age include periodic physical upgrades to its existing terminals, building of new facilities and the provision of a high level of customer service.
, Singapore's third main civilian airport after Seletar Airport
(main airport from 1930–37) and Kallang Airport
(1937–55) opened in 1955 with a single runway
and a small passenger terminal
. With growth in global aviation transport, the airport was facing congestion problems. Its inability to cope with the rising traffic became critical by the 1970s; annual passenger numbers rose dramatically from 300,000 in 1955 to 1,700,000 in 1970 and to 4,000,000 in 1975.
The government had two options: expand the existing airport at Paya Lebar or build a new airport at another location. After extensive study, a decision was made in 1972 to keep the airport at Paya Lebar, as recommended by a British aviation consultant. Plans were made for the building of a second runway and an extensive redevelopment and expansion to the passenger terminal building. A year later, however, the plans were reviewed again as the pressure to expand the airport eased because of the 1973 oil crisis
.
Concerned that the existing airport was located in an area with potential for urban growth, which would physically hem it in on all sides, the government subsequently decided in 1975 to build a new airport at the eastern tip of the main island at Changi, at the existing site of Changi Air Base
, where the new airport would be easily expandable through land reclamation
. However, as there was an increase in traffic, the airport still had to be expanded at that time. In addition, aeroplanes could fly over the sea, avoiding noise pollution issues within residential areas like those at Paya Lebar and helping to avoid disastrous consequences on the ground in the event of an air mishap. The airport in Paya Lebar was subsequently converted for military use as the Paya Lebar Air Base.
The airport was one of the largest single development projects in Singapore's history. Led by PSA chairman Howe Yoon Chong
, land-reclamation works involving over 52000000 square metres (559,723,341.7 sq ft) of landfill
and seafill began in June 1975, even as the airport at Paya Lebar
was still in the midst of expansion works. About 2 km² (0.77220431718507 sq mi) of swamp land was cleared and filled with 12000000 m² (129,166,925 sq ft) of earth from the nearby hills, while another 40000000 m² (430,556,416.7 sq ft) of sand from the seabed were used to reclaim land
. The contractor was PentaOcean
Construction (五洋建設), a Japanese construction firm directly involved in numerous land reclamation projects in Singapore. Canals were built to drain water from three rivers, Sungei Tanah Merah Besar, Sungei Ayer Gemuroh and Sungei Mata Ikan. In total, 8.7 km² (3.4 sq mi) were reclaimed, raising the total site area to 13 km² (5 sq mi). Of this, landfill accounted for 2 km² (0.77220431718507 sq mi) while seafill represented 6.7 km² (2.6 sq mi). The construction also demolished 558 buildings, exhuming around 4,100 graves, a 38.1 centimetres (15 in) gun emplacement at Changi, and diverting the three streams to the western side of the former Royal Air Force
runway, which was to be used for the new 4000 metres (13,123.4 ft) runway. All of these works were completed in May 1977. From 1977 to 1979, it was used to pile-drive
the foundation of Terminal 1 and other buildings as well. The foundation stone
for Terminal 1 was laid in August 1979. The 78 m (255.9 ft) high control tower
is built on reclaimed land, with its design becoming an icon for the airport. The original name of the control tower was "Airtropolis", but was seldom used. The column-free hangar
with an area almost as large as the Padang
could hold three Boeing 747
s. Its roof was constructed in Batam
, and was shipped to Singapore in four separate sections by barge. A special jetty
was built on the coast to obtain fuel from the Western Islands
by shipping it round the coast. The fuel is pumped for a mile to the airport fuel station run by six oil companies on the north-eastern perimeter. The pipelines then leads to all the parking bays through a pipe some 5 m (16.4 ft) below ground level.
The first phase costing about S$1.3 billion opened on 1 July 1981 with the first flight, Singapore Airlines Flight 101, touching down at 0700 hours Zulu
with 140 passengers from Kuala Lumpur
. Officially opened with much fanfare five months later on 29 December 1981 by Howe Yoon Chong
, the airport had 34 airlines operating 1,200 scheduled flights each week connecting Singapore to 67 cities in 43 countries. It ended its first year operations with 8.1 million passengers, 193,000 tonnes of air freight handled and 63,100 aircraft movements.
Despite the airport opening in 1981, some sections were not completed. The big aircraft hangar was only completed in 1982, and the second runway was completed only in 1983. This was the year in which the now defunct government department, the Public Works Department decided to focus on the construction of the second runway on the reclaimed land east of the Terminal 1. The sections of phase 2 opened progressively over the next few years with the completion of a second runway as well as other facilities. In 1985, the construction work on Terminal 2 started, south of Terminal 1. Terminal 2 was completed in 1989, and was opened in November 1990 with its official opening on 1 June 1991 by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
. The opening of the second terminal was way ahead of passenger demand.
The airport has a development policy of always building years ahead of demand to help to avoid congestion problems common in major airports and maintain high service standards. While the original master plan detailed plans for two passenger terminals, provisions were made for further expansion, including the allocation of space for a third terminal planned to have a physical configuration mirroring that of Terminal 2.
Construction of this terminal, Terminal 3, began in 1999, at an estimated cost of about S$1.75 billion. Originally planned for completion in 2006, the date was postponed by two years after global terrorism concerns delayed growth of air traffic in the airport. On 30 May 2006, a topping out
ceremony for the terminal was conducted, and an open house was held from 12 November 2007 to 9 December 2007. Test flights were held from 12 November until 3 January where the baggage handling
, check-in
and ground handling systems were tested. The terminal became operational on 9 January 2008 with Singapore Airlines (SQ1) from San Francisco via Hong Kong being the first flight to arrive at the new terminal at 1156 local time
(0356 UTC) and SQ318 at 1315 local time (0515 UTC) being the first departing flight. The terminal increases the airport's maximum passenger capacity annually by 22 million, bringing the total annual capacity up to 70 million passengers. Also, there is a new full-service nine-story Crowne Plaza
Hotel immediately adjacent to Terminal 3.
Changing needs in the aviation industry led to reviews in the master plan, resulting in the decision to cater to the high-end as well as budget sectors of the air travel industry. Although the pioneering airport to conceptualise and construct a Budget Terminal in Asia, it became operational on 26 March 2006 a few days after the opening of a similar terminal in Kuala Lumpur
, and was officially opened on 31 October 2006. A dedicated stand-alone "Commercially Important Person" (CIP) terminal operated by JetQuay, started operations on 15 August 2006 and officially opened on 29 September 2006. It is the first luxury airport terminal in Asia.
Even as new terminals are being built, the airport continuously upgrades and expands its existing terminals. Terminal 1 went through its first major refurbishment in 1995 at a cost of S$170 million, prior to the commencement of expansion works 3 year later to add 14 aerobridges at a cost of S$420 million, which was completed in 1999. Terminal 2 was similarly expanded almost immediately after its opening in 1990, with the addition of two piers of aerobridges costing S$330 million and completed in 1996. In 2002, work commenced on the new Changi Airport Skytrain
as well as the Terminal 2 building, and on 13 September 2006, the airport marked the completion of an extensive upgrade costing S$240 million in Terminal 2, which included an updated glass-fronted facade, interior decor, and terminal layout modifications.
To prepare for the arrival of the Airbus A380
, the airport put into place modifications works costing S$60 million, which it has planned for since the late 1990s. These included the building of 19 gates capable of handling the large aircraft, eight of which are in Terminal 3. Baggage claim
carousels
, runways, and taxiway
s were expanded, and two new freighter aircraft stands and two remote aircraft parking stands built. Two aircraft taxiway bridges spanning Airport Boulevard leading to the terminals also had shields installed on either side to shield the road from the jet blast. On 11 November 2005, the airport became the first outside Europe to receive the A380 for airport compatibility verification tests, and was the first in the world to have an operational triple-passenger loading bridge fit for trials.
Extensive upgrading works in Terminal 1 similar in scale to the recently completed works at Terminal 2 commenced in September 2007. Resurfacing works costing S$50m on its dual runways and older taxiways will also be conducted. Terminal 3 was tested in 2007 to prepare for its 2008 opening. Changi Airport will also continue to improve the security systems of Changi Airport such as access controls and surveillance
systems to make the airport safer for travellers. Transport Minister
Raymond Lim
also added that the "software" of the airport had to be improved as well.
In 2006, a short runway (2750 metres (9,022.3 ft)) was opened for Changi Air Base (East) on the site, an interim measure in preparation for its eventual expansion for passenger flights. It will be the first element in what may double the area of the existing airport in the next few decades.
On 6 March 2008, Then Minister of State for Transport Lim Hwee Hua informed Parliament that Terminal 4 would be a confirmed expansion to Changi Airport. Details have not been released yet, but there is speculation that the new terminal could be located next to the airport's third runway, which is currently used for Republic of Singapore Air Force
jets. The budget terminal, which has a handling capacity of 2.9 million passengers since it first opened in March 2006, have expanded at a cost of S$10m, adding seven more check-in counters and three additional boarding gates.
Recently Changi International Airport has announced plans to reduce consumption of electricity and use recycled water at its terminal buildings over the next three years, as part of its contribution towards environmental sustainability. Currently, Changi Airport’s annual terminal building electricity consumption is about 450 million kWh. The target will see Changi Airport reducing its terminal buildings’ electricity usage by about 13.5 million kWh, generating savings of about S$2.4 million over the next three years.
Given limited land resources in Singapore, the airport was designed for both current and future needs as the country's primary airport. The airport was designed to be capable of doubling in size using reclaimed land with enough space for two more runways and at least two new passenger terminal buildings.
The master plan for the existing airport initially involved a dual-terminal and dual-runway configuration over two phases with provisions for another two passenger terminals in the near future. Phase 1 included the construction for the first passenger terminal, the first runway, 45 aircraft parking bays, support facilities and structures, including a large maintenance hangar, the first fire station, workshops and administrative offices, an airfreight complex, two cargo agents' buildings, in-flight catering kitchens and a 80 m (262.5 ft) control tower,. Construction for the second phase would commence immediately after the completion of Phase 1 and include the second runway, 23 additional aircraft parking bays, a second fire station and a third cargo agents' building.
of 740 m (2,427.8 ft) leaving the rest of the runway at 3260 m (10,695.5 ft) long. 02C/20C, formerly 02R/20L, was built completely on reclaimed land
and opened with phase 2, 1.6 km (0.994196378639691 mi) apart from 02L/20R. Four instrument landing system
s (ILS) are installed on the 2 runways to guide landing
aircraft safely under all weather conditions.
A new parallel runway 02R/20L (named 01/19 when opened in 2004) was built 1.8 km (1.1 mi) to the east of 02C/20C, currently used only by Republic of Singapore Air Force
aircraft as part of Changi Airbase (East). The new runway is expected to be extended and eventually be turned into a third runway for the airport in future expansion plans.
s and the skytrain system, although it is also possible to walk between the terminals on foot for landside visitors. Situated beside Terminal 2 is JetQuay, which has its own check-in facilities for premium passengers and where transportation to aircraft in any of the other terminals is by personal buggy. The Budget Terminal, purpose-built for low-cost carrier
s, is physically separated from the main terminals towards the south, where connections are possible via a zero-fare shuttle bus
service to Terminal 2.
Upgrading works are currently on-going, with its completion targeted for 2012. Costing S$500 million, it will be the terminals' biggest overhaul to date, involving works on its facade and halls under a theme called "Tropical City". Once completed, it will be the final Terminal to be upgraded to be on par with the newest Terminal 3, and the recently upgraded Terminal 2.
, Philippine Airlines
and Royal Brunei Airlines. They were joined by several airlines, some of which are allied to Singapore Airlines, in particular Lufthansa
, both fellow Star Alliance
members. Air France
was a former user before moving back to Terminal 1. Other former users include Air Canada
and Austrian Airlines
, which ceased operations to Changi in October 2006. Etihad Airways
was the latest airline to operate from Terminal 2 when it commenced flights in September 2007. All Nippon Airways
moved to Terminal 2 from 1 October 2008. Now Singapore Airlines flights departing for Southeast Asia, Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa use this terminal.
Terminal 2 is split into four sections with gate
numbers carrying the letter of their section. The terminal hosts a cinema and a Burger King
as well as countless number of shops. The centrepiece is the indoor garden. The terminal also has an outdoor rooftop garden
and a technology section showcasing the world's largest plasma screen
. The carpets are green and the gate information is displayed on LCD screens
. Security checks must be completed prior to entering the gate.
The fourth storey of the terminal houses the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
. In addition Terminal 2 houses the offices of the Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore
and Changi Airport Group
.
Designed by CPG Corporation
, with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
designing the roof feature and interior design by Woodhead Wilson, Terminal 3 departs from the largely utilitarian architecture in the first two terminals. Like other new airports in the region, it has a structure mainly made of glass, with big transparent spaces inside the terminal. However, unlike these newer airports, it incorporates "natural" features and "warm" tone extensively to balance the sterile feel of glass and steel. For example, the column is given a wood-like cladding and the floor of the terminal is mostly cream/ beige colour. The roof has been designed to allow natural light to enter the building, with 919 skylights. A 5 m (16.4 ft)-high "Green Wall" with hanging creepers and waterfall was incorporated to enhance the tropical feel. The Green Wall, designed by Singapore based Landscape Design firm Tierra Design, also helps to regulate the internal temperature of the terminal with the occasional misting. The interior architecture of Terminal 3 recently won the Honour Award from ASLA, bringing another coveted award to Changi Airport.
Singapore Airlines operated the first flights into Terminal 3 on 9 January 2008, with flight SQ001 from San Francisco via Hong Kong arriving at 1150 hours to a welcome ceremony by Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lim Siang Keat Raymond
and the chairman of CAG, Liew Mun Leong. The first departure flight, SQ318, took off at 1250 hours bound for London-Heathrow. Since then, its regional and long-haul flights
bound for North/South America, Europe, East Asia and Oceania depart from the new terminal while all other flights depart from Terminal 2, becoming the first and only airline to operate from multiple terminals in Changi Airport.
China Eastern Airlines
, Jet Airways
, Qatar Airways
and United Airlines
also moved operations to the terminal from 25 March 2008, while Kingfisher Airlines launched services to Singapore using T3 in 2009. Garuda Indonesia
moved operations to T3 from 22 February 2011.
is currently working on a masterplan on Terminal 4. Aviation experts estimate the terminal will be built in the next 10 to 15 years, although the government has not released any further details on the project.
. However, unlike the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, JetQuay is an elite, dedicated CIP (Commercially Important People) terminal that can be used by any passenger travelling in any class, on any airline, through any of the main terminals (T1, T2, or T3).
) to open a dedicated terminal catering to the budget traveller. The name of the Budget Terminal was decided as a result of a naming contest open to the public. The terminal is not included in the numbering scheme even though it is the third terminal to be opened and Terminal 3 is actually the fifth terminal opened at the airport.
In order to offer lower landing fee
s, handling fees and airport taxes
, it cuts back on amenities such as aerobridges, elaborate physical structures and decorations in the passenger terminal building. A range of duty-free shop
s and Food and Beverage
outlets, and free internet terminals are available. There is no transfer facility at the Budget Terminal. Passengers who need to make transfers need to clear immigration (and get the appropriate visas at their homecountry if applicable), collect their luggage, clear customs, make their way to the main terminal by taking the zero-fare shuttle buses and check-in again with the respective airline.
In September 2008, expansion works costing $10 million began and took seven months to complete. The terminal is now able to handle seven million passengers a year, up from originally 2.7 million. There are more boarding gates, check-in counters, shops and dining options. In addition, air-conditioning has been installed for arriving passengers.
spent S$
60 million in upgrading the two existing terminals and airport infrastructure, including enlarged gate holdrooms, new finger piers, and extended baggage belt carousels from the normal 70 m (229.7 ft) to 90 m (295.3 ft). With these new carousels in place, the airport does not expect embarking and disembarking passengers and baggage from the A380 to take longer than it does from a Boeing 747–400, which carries fewer passengers. On 16 August 2005, Changi Airport unveiled the first of 11 specially-built gates capable of handling the giant aircraft. Costing S$15 million, the gates or 'fingers' enable passengers to board the upper deck of the new 555-seater aircraft directly from the gate hold rooms. The hold rooms themselves have been enlarged and appointed to cater for the larger number of passengers aboard an A380. Beside the 11 new A380-capable gates at Terminals 1 and 2, eight more A380-capable gates were opened at Terminal 3 on 9 January 2008.
and Business Traveller
.
The airport has over 70000 m² (753,473.7 sq ft) of space spread between its three main terminals for shopping and eating outlets, with Terminal 3 having the largest amount of retail space at 20000 m² (215,278.2 sq ft). Extensive upgrading work on existing retail areas since 2004 in Terminals 1 and 2 has increased sales 13.3% in the first half of 2005 year-on-year over 2004, and as much as 67% compared to the same period in 2003, with brands such as Prada
, Gucci
, Bulgari
and Hermès
opening outlets during this period. The first FIFA
Official Store in the world was opened in Terminal 3, along with Asia's first Ferrari
travel retail shop.
From two different lounges with 24-hour napping areas, showers and spa facilities, to hotel and pool amenities, this airport also includes Singapore Tours (created for those in transit for up to 5 hours who are granted a special pass to leave the airport on one of four city tour options), Nature Trail (with six themed garden reserves) and comprehensive dining and entertainment options.
In terms of sales, the airport outstrips other shopping malls
in Singapore, including those in top tourist spot Orchard Road
. The Changi Airport Group derives 55% of its total annual revenue from non-aeronautical sources, such as office and warehouse rental. The airport derives the majority of its commercial revenue from the duty-free shopping, with the most popular items being liquor and tobacco, perfume and cosmetics, and luxury goods.
In addition to a wide array of duty-free shops and eating outlets, Changi Airport has six open-air garden areas. Open to customers of the airport, each garden represents a different group of plants: cacti
, bamboo
, heliconia
, sunflower
, fern
and orchid
. Changi Airport has numerous business centres located around the airport. Within the international transit area of the interconnected Terminals 1 and 2, internet and games facilities, prayer rooms, showers, spas, gym, swimming pool and a hotel are provided. Various lounge areas are provided, some including children's play areas or televisions showing news, movie and sport channels.
Ground handling services are handled by two companies: Singapore Airport Terminal Services
(SATS) and Dnata Singapore (dnata sg).SATS is the dominant player with close to 70% of the market in the airport. Dnata Sg(Formerly CIAS) was formed in 1977 by the Port of Singapore Authority
and five airlines (Air France, China Airlines
, Garuda Indonesia
, KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) and Lufthansa
). It handles the remaining market share.
In the early 2000s, the government decided to introduce competition into the market by offering an additional license. Swissair
's Swissport successfully won the license (valid for 10 years) and commenced operations on 2 March 2005.
As Swissair folded and was subsequently taken over by Swiss International Air Lines
, the latter became the company's first customer. Adam Air
chose Swissport as its ground handler in 2005, while Tiger Airways followed suit in 2006. Other customers of Swissport include Northwest Airlines
, Swiss World Cargo, Thai AirAsia
and Cardig Air
. Former customers of Swissport include Australian Airlines
. Swissport ceased operation on 31 March 2009 due to massive losses. Asia Pacific Star was launched on 1 April is a subsidiary of SATS is the new player concentrating mainly on budget carriers. It handles Tiger Airways
, South East Asian Airlines
, Jetstar Asia, Valuair
Lion Air
and possibly Lao Airlines
when the latter starts operation on 24 November 2011.
CIAS underwent restructuring when its shareholding was bought over by Dubai
's Dnata Group, being relaunched in September 2011 with a new branding. Its security services were amalgamated into the new Temasek-owned Aetos Security Management
.
US-based Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG) was granted a 10 years ground handling licence starting from January 2012, enabling it to provide passenger and cargo handling services to some 100 airlines operating at Changi Airport, although it has yet to secure any customer.
support by SIA Engineering Company
and ST Aviation Services Company. This includes a 20000 m² (215,278.2 sq ft) column-free hangar which was the world's largest when opened in 1981.
The Changi Airport Group manages the overall safety and security of the airport. The Airport Management Division of the CAG manages the airport's security, while the Aviation Security Division oversees the airport's compliance with aviation security
(AVSEC) policies, manages AVSEC-related projects, engages overseas partners and plans for business continuity in the event of a national emergency. Operationally, the airport's emergency and fire-fighting services are handled by the Airport Emergency Service Division of the CAG. The AES handles all instances of rescue and fire-fighting within the airport premises as well as in surrounding waters through its specialists operating from two main fire stations, a Fire Sub-Station and a Sea Rescue Base around the airport.
The airport's security comes under the purview of the Airport Police Division of the Singapore Police Force
. Assisting the state organisations are the auxiliary police
forces including Aetos Security Management
, Certis CISCO and SATS Security Services
, of which Aetos and SATS Security Services are affiliated to the ground handling companies of Changi International Airport Services and Singapore Airport Terminal Services respectively. These officers man check-in counters to screen luggage, control movements into restricted areas, and so forth. CAG has engaged the auxiliary police to enforce airside regulations since 8 February 2007, first engaging Certis CISCO followed by Aetos Security from 16 July 2007. CAAS has engaged the auxiliary police to enforce airside regulations since 8 February 2007, first engaging Certis CISCO followed by Aetos Security from 16 July 2007. On 29 April 2008, CAAS signed its biggest single security contract by engaging Certis CISCO to provide security services at Changi Airport, as well as Seletar Airport
, Changi Airfreight Centre, and the Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre. The $360 million five-year contract would commence from 1 April 2008 with an option to extend for another five years, and will involve the deployment of about 2,200 Certis Cisco personnel, including armed Auxiliary Police Officers and unarmed aviation security officers to perform taskes including scanning checked baggage, controlling access to restricted areas, and screening passengers before they board their aircraft.
Since the 11 September 2001 attacks and naming of the airport
as a terrorism target by the Jemaah Islamiyah
, the airport's security has been stepped up. Roving patrol teams consisting of two soldiers and a police officer, armed with assault rifles or sub-machine guns, patrol the terminals at random intervals. Officers from the Gurkha Contingent
are also deployed to patrol the transit areas of the terminal buildings. These measures come at a cost partly borne by travellers in the form of a "passenger security service charge," imposed since 2002. It is levied at S$8 on passengers in the three main terminals and the Budget Terminal. In 2005, it became the first airport outside the United States to win the Airport Security Report's "Excellence in Airport Security Award".
In 2005, an upgrade in screening technology and rising security concerns led to luggage-screening processes being conducted behind closed-doors, as opposed to them being done just before check-in previously within public view. Carry-on luggage and persons screening are conducted at the individual departure gates, while check-in luggage are screened in the backrooms and secured before loading. Plans are in place to install over 400 cameras around the airport to monitor passenger activity around the clock and check on suspicious parcels and activity. Tenders to incorporate such a system was called in late September 2005. A second perimeter fence
to prevent unauthorised persons is due for construction, to be completed by 2008. The Airport Police plans to introduce a biometric identification system for access into restricted areas.
In view of the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot
, security screening checks have been stepped up on passengers and their hand-carry luggage, as well as checked-in luggage on flights bound for destinations in the United Kingdom and the United States from Changi.
After recovering from a drop in passenger traffic as a result of the severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) epidemic in 2003, the airport saw rapid growth in traffic which hit the 30-million mark for the first time a year later in 2004. In March 2008 and prior to the full effect of the Financial crisis of 2007–2010 on the global economy, the airport predicted that it will handle 50 million passengers by 2012, with increases due to the opening of casino
s in Singapore, together with the phased liberalisation of the ASEAN aviation sector. While this target is now less likely, the airport reached the 40 million mark for the first time in its history on 15 December 2010.
For the last set of full-year figures published by the airport, it handled 42,038,777 passengers in 2010, a 13% increase over the 2009 fiscal year. The airport recorded its busiest month in December 2010 (4.06 million) and its busiest day on 18 December 2010 with 146,000 passengers handled. Key markets
The LCC market in the airport expanded rapidly since the opening of the Budget Terminal. The terminal handled about 657,000 passengers by 26 October 2006, six months after its opening in March, and constituted 11.3% of total flights in October 2006 compared to 9.6% in April the same year. The terminal handled its one-millionth passenger at the end of 2006. A monthly record of 3.83million passenger movements was registered in December 2009, which marks an increase of 9.7% compared to December 2008. On 19 December 2009, Changi has also set a new record of 140,000 passenger movements in the day. In 2010, LCCs accounted for 22.4% of passengers carried (compared to 19.1% in 2009) and 26.3% of flight movements (23.6% in 2009).
In 2010 Indonesia was the largest market for Singapore Changi Airport with 5 million passengers.
built and opened in tandem with the airport, providing a direct link to the city-centre. At a distance of about 20 km (12.4 mi), the expressway was built almost entirely on reclaimed land; thus, minimising disruptions to the existing road network in Singapore's East Coast.
While configured in a compact configuration such that the three main passenger terminal buildings are sited adjacent to each other, allowing for travellers to venture between terminals on foot, the Changi Airport Skytrain
people-mover system was added to facilitate quicker and more convenient transfers. The system was upgraded in 2007 to Mitsubishi technology, connecting to Terminal 3 and separating checked-in passengers from the general public on distinct tracks. This rail system does not cover the Budget Terminal, which is served by zero-fare shuttle buses.
operates between Terminals 1, 2 and 3, with a total of seven stations. The trains have separate cars for air-side (transit) and land-side (public) passengers. Initially built in the early 1990s as a shuttle between Terminals 1 and 2 using Bombardier CX-100 cars, the system was revamped to use the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover in 2006 and extended to Terminal 3 in 2007. The service is free of charge and operates between 5:30 am and 2:30 am daily. Transportation is also provided to passengers and visitors between Terminal 2 and the Budget Terminal in the form of zero-fare shuttle buses. zero-fare buses are also deployed to run every 20 minutes during the non-operational hours of the Skytrain; that is, from 0230 to 0530 hours between all three terminals.
The airport is connected to the Mass Rapid Transit
(MRT) network, with Changi Airport Station
located underground between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and directly accessible from both terminals. A direct, one-train service to the downtown and western parts of Singapore was initially in operation when the station opened on 8 February 2002 (then accessible only via Terminal 2). This was replaced by the current shuttle service between Changi Airport Station and Tanah Merah Station
on 22 July 2003, when it was found that few passengers actually use this route, compared to the number of commuters who need to travel from the city to Tampines
and Pasir Ris
. Cross-platform transfers are therefore necessary at Tanah Merah Station to connect to the rest of the network.
Buses were one of the main methods of transport for passengers and staff until the opening of the Changi Airport MRT Station. Services operated by SBS Transit
and SMRT Buses
use bus terminals in the basement level of the three main terminals, as well as a bus-stop along Airport Boulevard which is connected by a sheltered walkway to the Budget Terminal, making a loop starting from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1, 2, and then the Budget Terminal, and back to their destination of origin.
Taxi stands are within the arrival halls of the three main terminals and just outside the Budget Terminal.
Changi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
, on a 13 square kilometres (5 sq mi) site.
The airport, operated by the Changi Airport Group
Changi Airport Group
Changi Airport Group Pte. Ltd. was formed on 1 July 2009, and is currently the operator of Singapore Changi Airport. Its role was previously undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore or CAAS. The group's head office is in Terminal 2 of Changi Airport in Changi.-Profile:Changi Airport...
, is the home base of Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
, Singapore Airlines Cargo
Singapore Airlines Cargo
Singapore Airlines Cargo is a cargo airline based in Singapore. It is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and was incorporated in 2001. SIA Cargo operates 11 freighters and manages the bellyhold of all Singapore Airlines aircraft...
, SilkAir
SilkAir
SilkAir Private Limited is an airline based in Singapore. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and operates scheduled passenger services from Singapore to 31 cities in Southeast Asia, South Asia and China. It has its head office on the fifth storey of SIA Superhub 1...
, Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Singapore, is a low cost airline which commenced services on 25 March 2005. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
, Jetstar Asia Airways
Jetstar Asia Airways
Jetstar Asia Airways Private Limited , operating as Jetstar Asia, is a low-cost airline headquartered in Singapore. It is the Asian offshoot of Qantas Jetstar Airways...
, Valuair
Valuair
Valuair Limited is a Singapore-based low-cost carrier. It was launched in 2004, offering initial services to Bangkok and Hong Kong. It differentiates itself from other low-cost carriers in that it offers frills such as a baggage allowance of over 20 kg, in-flight food, allocated seats, and...
, and Jett8 Airlines Cargo
Jett8 Airlines Cargo
Jett8 Airlines Pte Ltd is a cargo airline based in Singapore which was incorporated on the 8th of March 2005. It is a privately-owned airline with strategic alliance partnerships with Nippon Cargo Airlines and NYK Line...
. As of September 2010, Changi Airport serves more than 100 airlines flying off to some 200 cities in about 60 countries and territories worldwide. The airport is a secondary hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
for Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
, which uses Singapore as the main stopover point for flights on the Kangaroo Route
Kangaroo route
The Kangaroo Route traditionally refers to air routes flown by Qantas between the countries of Australia and the United Kingdom, via the Eastern Hemisphere. The term is trademarked by Qantas, although it is used in the media and by airline competitors....
between Australia and Europe. Qantas is the largest foreign airline to operate from the airport, with over two million passengers annually. An important contributor to the Economy of Singapore
Economy of Singapore
Singapore has a highly developed state capitalist mixed economy; the state owns stakes in firms that comprise perhaps 60% of the GDP through entities such as the sovereign wealth fund Temasek...
, more than 28,000 people are employed at the airport, which accounts for over S$4.5 billion in output.
In 2010, the airport handled 42,038,777 passengers, a 13% increase over the 2009 fiscal year. This made it the 18th busiest airport in the world
World's busiest airports by passenger traffic
The world's busiest airports by passenger traffic are measured by number of total passengers . One passenger is described as someone who arrives in, departs from, or transfers through the airport on a given day...
and the fifth busiest in Asia by passenger traffic in 2010. The airport breached the 40 million mark for the first time in its history on 15 December 2010, recorded its busiest month in December 2010 (4.06 million) and its busiest day on 18 December 2010 with 146,000 passengers handled. In addition to being an important passenger hub, the airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world
World's busiest airports by cargo traffic
The world's thirty busiest airports by cargo traffic for various periods . Numbers listed refer to loaded and unloaded freight in metric tonnes.-2010 final statistics:...
, handling 1,813,809 tonnes of cargo in 2010. The total number of commercial aircraft movements was 263,593 in 2010.
Incentives such as the Air Hub Development Fund, first introduced in 2003, have proven effective in attracting airlines. A new S$300 million fund to strengthen Changi's hub status began in 2007 when the previous S$210 million fund expired. A new S$1.75 billion Terminal 3 opened on 9 January 2008. Terminal 1 will be upgraded along the lines of the renovated Terminal 2, with the latter costing S$240 million. Changi has been courting both premium and budget travellers with the opening of a "commercially important persons terminal" by JetQuay and a S$45 million Budget Terminal in 2006.
Since its opening in 1981, the airport has made its mark in the aviation industry as a benchmark for service excellence, winning over 360 awards since 1981, including 27 'Best' awards in 2009 alone. Changi Airport's efforts to counter the onset of age include periodic physical upgrades to its existing terminals, building of new facilities and the provision of a high level of customer service.
History
Singapore International Airport at Paya LebarPaya Lebar
Paya Lebar is an area in the north-eastern part of Singapore. It is served by Paya Lebar Station, on the East West Line of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit system. It is an urban planning area. The Singapore Post Centre is located there too....
, Singapore's third main civilian airport after Seletar Airport
Seletar Airport
"RAF Seletar" & "Seletar Airbase/Airfield" redirects here.Seletar Airport is a civilian airport located at Seletar, in the northeastern region of Singapore, and is managed by the Changi Airport Group...
(main airport from 1930–37) and Kallang Airport
Kallang Airport
The Kallang Airport , also known as the Kallang Aerodrome, Kallang Airfield and RAF Kallang, opened in 1937 as Singapore's first purpose-built civil airport, together with an anchorage for seaplanes. Land was reclaimed in the Kallang Basin to turn the swampy area into a circular-shaped airfield and...
(1937–55) opened in 1955 with a single runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
and a small passenger terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
. With growth in global aviation transport, the airport was facing congestion problems. Its inability to cope with the rising traffic became critical by the 1970s; annual passenger numbers rose dramatically from 300,000 in 1955 to 1,700,000 in 1970 and to 4,000,000 in 1975.
The government had two options: expand the existing airport at Paya Lebar or build a new airport at another location. After extensive study, a decision was made in 1972 to keep the airport at Paya Lebar, as recommended by a British aviation consultant. Plans were made for the building of a second runway and an extensive redevelopment and expansion to the passenger terminal building. A year later, however, the plans were reviewed again as the pressure to expand the airport eased because of the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
.
Concerned that the existing airport was located in an area with potential for urban growth, which would physically hem it in on all sides, the government subsequently decided in 1975 to build a new airport at the eastern tip of the main island at Changi, at the existing site of Changi Air Base
Changi Air Base
Changi Air Base or Changi Air Base ', formerly the RAF Changi, is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force located at Changi, in the eastern tip of Singapore...
, where the new airport would be easily expandable through land reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
. However, as there was an increase in traffic, the airport still had to be expanded at that time. In addition, aeroplanes could fly over the sea, avoiding noise pollution issues within residential areas like those at Paya Lebar and helping to avoid disastrous consequences on the ground in the event of an air mishap. The airport in Paya Lebar was subsequently converted for military use as the Paya Lebar Air Base.
Construction
Howe Yoon Chong
Howe Yoon Chong was a Minister in the Cabinet of Singapore and a Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir from 1979 to 1984. He was key in developing Singapore's infrastructural and financial framework, including the Mass Rapid Transit system, Singapore Changi Airport and public housing...
, land-reclamation works involving over 52000000 square metres (559,723,341.7 sq ft) of landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
and seafill began in June 1975, even as the airport at Paya Lebar
Paya Lebar
Paya Lebar is an area in the north-eastern part of Singapore. It is served by Paya Lebar Station, on the East West Line of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit system. It is an urban planning area. The Singapore Post Centre is located there too....
was still in the midst of expansion works. About 2 km² (0.77220431718507 sq mi) of swamp land was cleared and filled with 12000000 m² (129,166,925 sq ft) of earth from the nearby hills, while another 40000000 m² (430,556,416.7 sq ft) of sand from the seabed were used to reclaim land
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
. The contractor was PentaOcean
PentaOcean
is a major Japanese construction firm. It specializes in marine works and land reclamation. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Osaka Stock Exchange, and Nagoya Stock Exchange as ticker 1893.It originated from Mizuno Gumi in 1896 in Hiroshima Prefecture, and later renamed to the current...
Construction (五洋建設), a Japanese construction firm directly involved in numerous land reclamation projects in Singapore. Canals were built to drain water from three rivers, Sungei Tanah Merah Besar, Sungei Ayer Gemuroh and Sungei Mata Ikan. In total, 8.7 km² (3.4 sq mi) were reclaimed, raising the total site area to 13 km² (5 sq mi). Of this, landfill accounted for 2 km² (0.77220431718507 sq mi) while seafill represented 6.7 km² (2.6 sq mi). The construction also demolished 558 buildings, exhuming around 4,100 graves, a 38.1 centimetres (15 in) gun emplacement at Changi, and diverting the three streams to the western side of the former Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
runway, which was to be used for the new 4000 metres (13,123.4 ft) runway. All of these works were completed in May 1977. From 1977 to 1979, it was used to pile-drive
Pile driver
A pile driver is a mechanical device used to drive piles into soil to provide foundation support for buildings or other structures. The term is also used in reference to members of the construction crew that work with pile-driving rigs....
the foundation of Terminal 1 and other buildings as well. The foundation stone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
for Terminal 1 was laid in August 1979. The 78 m (255.9 ft) high control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
is built on reclaimed land, with its design becoming an icon for the airport. The original name of the control tower was "Airtropolis", but was seldom used. The column-free hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
with an area almost as large as the Padang
Padang, Singapore
The Padang is an open field located within the Downtown Core of the Central Area in Singapore, at the heart of Singapore's central business district. It was formerly known as the Padang Cricket Ground...
could hold three Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
s. Its roof was constructed in Batam
Batam
Batam is an island and city in Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, known for its free trade zone area as part of the Sijori Growth Triangle, is located off Singapore's south coast...
, and was shipped to Singapore in four separate sections by barge. A special jetty
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
was built on the coast to obtain fuel from the Western Islands
Western Islands Planning Area
The Western Islands compose an urban planning area in the West Region of Singapore, and comprise a few islands, namely Jurong, Bukum and Sudong Islands....
by shipping it round the coast. The fuel is pumped for a mile to the airport fuel station run by six oil companies on the north-eastern perimeter. The pipelines then leads to all the parking bays through a pipe some 5 m (16.4 ft) below ground level.
The first phase costing about S$1.3 billion opened on 1 July 1981 with the first flight, Singapore Airlines Flight 101, touching down at 0700 hours Zulu
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
with 140 passengers from Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. Officially opened with much fanfare five months later on 29 December 1981 by Howe Yoon Chong
Howe Yoon Chong
Howe Yoon Chong was a Minister in the Cabinet of Singapore and a Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir from 1979 to 1984. He was key in developing Singapore's infrastructural and financial framework, including the Mass Rapid Transit system, Singapore Changi Airport and public housing...
, the airport had 34 airlines operating 1,200 scheduled flights each week connecting Singapore to 67 cities in 43 countries. It ended its first year operations with 8.1 million passengers, 193,000 tonnes of air freight handled and 63,100 aircraft movements.
Despite the airport opening in 1981, some sections were not completed. The big aircraft hangar was only completed in 1982, and the second runway was completed only in 1983. This was the year in which the now defunct government department, the Public Works Department decided to focus on the construction of the second runway on the reclaimed land east of the Terminal 1. The sections of phase 2 opened progressively over the next few years with the completion of a second runway as well as other facilities. In 1985, the construction work on Terminal 2 started, south of Terminal 1. Terminal 2 was completed in 1989, and was opened in November 1990 with its official opening on 1 June 1991 by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
. The opening of the second terminal was way ahead of passenger demand.
Expansion
Construction of this terminal, Terminal 3, began in 1999, at an estimated cost of about S$1.75 billion. Originally planned for completion in 2006, the date was postponed by two years after global terrorism concerns delayed growth of air traffic in the airport. On 30 May 2006, a topping out
Topping out
In building construction, topping out is a ceremony held when the last beam is placed at the top of a building. The term may also refer to the overall completion of the building's structure, or an intermediate point, such as when the roof is dried in...
ceremony for the terminal was conducted, and an open house was held from 12 November 2007 to 9 December 2007. Test flights were held from 12 November until 3 January where the baggage handling
Baggage Handling System
A baggage handling system is a type of conveyor system installed in airports that transports checked luggage from ticket counters to areas where the bags can be loaded onto airplanes...
, check-in
Check-in
Check-in is the process of announcing your arrival at a hotel, airport, sea port or social network service.-Airlines and airports :Check-in desks are found in the majority of commercial airports. Their main function is to take in luggage that passengers wish to, or are required to, place within the...
and ground handling systems were tested. The terminal became operational on 9 January 2008 with Singapore Airlines (SQ1) from San Francisco via Hong Kong being the first flight to arrive at the new terminal at 1156 local time
Singapore Standard Time
Singapore Standard Time or Singapore Time based in Singapore uses a time zone eight hours in advance of UTC .- History :...
(0356 UTC) and SQ318 at 1315 local time (0515 UTC) being the first departing flight. The terminal increases the airport's maximum passenger capacity annually by 22 million, bringing the total annual capacity up to 70 million passengers. Also, there is a new full-service nine-story Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza is a chain of full service, upscale hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market. It forms part of the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands, which include InterContinental and Holiday Inn and operates in 52 countries, usually located in...
Hotel immediately adjacent to Terminal 3.
Changing needs in the aviation industry led to reviews in the master plan, resulting in the decision to cater to the high-end as well as budget sectors of the air travel industry. Although the pioneering airport to conceptualise and construct a Budget Terminal in Asia, it became operational on 26 March 2006 a few days after the opening of a similar terminal in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, and was officially opened on 31 October 2006. A dedicated stand-alone "Commercially Important Person" (CIP) terminal operated by JetQuay, started operations on 15 August 2006 and officially opened on 29 September 2006. It is the first luxury airport terminal in Asia.
Even as new terminals are being built, the airport continuously upgrades and expands its existing terminals. Terminal 1 went through its first major refurbishment in 1995 at a cost of S$170 million, prior to the commencement of expansion works 3 year later to add 14 aerobridges at a cost of S$420 million, which was completed in 1999. Terminal 2 was similarly expanded almost immediately after its opening in 1990, with the addition of two piers of aerobridges costing S$330 million and completed in 1996. In 2002, work commenced on the new Changi Airport Skytrain
Changi Airport Skytrain
The Changi Airport Skytrain is a people mover system that connects Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Singapore Changi Airport. Opened in 1990, it was the first auto-guided system in Asia. The Changi Airport Skytrain operates from 0500 to 0230 daily and operates at 1 to 2 minute intervals. Travel on the...
as well as the Terminal 2 building, and on 13 September 2006, the airport marked the completion of an extensive upgrade costing S$240 million in Terminal 2, which included an updated glass-fronted facade, interior decor, and terminal layout modifications.
To prepare for the arrival of the Airbus A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
, the airport put into place modifications works costing S$60 million, which it has planned for since the late 1990s. These included the building of 19 gates capable of handling the large aircraft, eight of which are in Terminal 3. Baggage claim
Baggage claim
In airport terminals, a baggage claim area is an area where arriving passengers claim checked-in baggage after disembarking from an airline flight. The alternative term baggage reclaim is used to mean the same thing at many airports outside the USA In airport terminals, a baggage claim area is an...
carousels
Baggage carousel
A baggage carousel is a device, generally at an airport, that delivers checked luggage to the passengers at the baggage claim area at their final destination. Not all airports use these devices...
, runways, and taxiway
Taxiway
A taxiway is a path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass....
s were expanded, and two new freighter aircraft stands and two remote aircraft parking stands built. Two aircraft taxiway bridges spanning Airport Boulevard leading to the terminals also had shields installed on either side to shield the road from the jet blast. On 11 November 2005, the airport became the first outside Europe to receive the A380 for airport compatibility verification tests, and was the first in the world to have an operational triple-passenger loading bridge fit for trials.
Extensive upgrading works in Terminal 1 similar in scale to the recently completed works at Terminal 2 commenced in September 2007. Resurfacing works costing S$50m on its dual runways and older taxiways will also be conducted. Terminal 3 was tested in 2007 to prepare for its 2008 opening. Changi Airport will also continue to improve the security systems of Changi Airport such as access controls and surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
systems to make the airport safer for travellers. Transport Minister
Ministry of Transport (Singapore)
The Ministry of Transport is a ministry in the Government of Singapore that administers and regulates land, sea and air transportation within the republic’s jurisdiction....
Raymond Lim
Lim Siang Keat Raymond
Raymond Lim Siang Keat is a politician from Singapore. He is currently a member of the governing People's Action Party and was previously the country's Minister for Transport....
also added that the "software" of the airport had to be improved as well.
In 2006, a short runway (2750 metres (9,022.3 ft)) was opened for Changi Air Base (East) on the site, an interim measure in preparation for its eventual expansion for passenger flights. It will be the first element in what may double the area of the existing airport in the next few decades.
On 6 March 2008, Then Minister of State for Transport Lim Hwee Hua informed Parliament that Terminal 4 would be a confirmed expansion to Changi Airport. Details have not been released yet, but there is speculation that the new terminal could be located next to the airport's third runway, which is currently used for Republic of Singapore Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
jets. The budget terminal, which has a handling capacity of 2.9 million passengers since it first opened in March 2006, have expanded at a cost of S$10m, adding seven more check-in counters and three additional boarding gates.
Recently Changi International Airport has announced plans to reduce consumption of electricity and use recycled water at its terminal buildings over the next three years, as part of its contribution towards environmental sustainability. Currently, Changi Airport’s annual terminal building electricity consumption is about 450 million kWh. The target will see Changi Airport reducing its terminal buildings’ electricity usage by about 13.5 million kWh, generating savings of about S$2.4 million over the next three years.
| Airlines | 1981 | 1990 | 2005/2006 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Movements | 8.1 million | 15.6 million | 32.4 million (2005) | 42.0 million |
| Airfreight Movements | 193,000 tonnes | 623,800 tonnes | 1.83 million tonnes (2005) | 1.81 million tonnes |
| Country Links | 43 | 53 | 57 (Jun 2006) | >60 |
| City Links | 67 | 111 | >180 (Jun 2006) | >200 |
| Scheduled Airlines | 34 | 52 | 82 (Jun 2006) | >100 |
| Weekly Scheduled Flights | About 1,200 | About 2,000 | >4,100 (Jun 2006) | >5,400 |
Accidents and incidents
- 26 March 1991: Singapore Airlines Flight 117Singapore Airlines Flight 117On March 26, 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked in flight by four male passengers who claimed to be Pakistanis. The aircraft landed at Singapore...
, an Airbus A310Airbus A310The Airbus A310 is a medium- to long-range twin-engine widebody jet airliner. Launched in July 1978, it was the second aircraft created by Airbus Industrie,a consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. the consortium of...
that departed from Kuala Lumpur, was hijackedAircraft hijackingAircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
by four men en route to Singapore. The hijackers wanted the plane refuelled so that they could fly to Australia. When the plane landed in Singapore, commandos stormed the flight, killing the four Pakistani hijackers, and leaving all other passengers and crew unhurt.
- 11 October 2007: A PalestinianPalestinian peopleThe Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
stowawayStowawayA stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....
, Osama R.M. Shublaq, fell out of the undercarriageUndercarriageThe undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
of Singapore Airlines Flight 119 from Kuala Lumpur. Airport police arrested him and deported him back to Malaysia a week later.
- 4 November 2010: Qantas Flight 32Qantas Flight 32Qantas Flight 32 was a Qantas passenger flight that on 4 November 2010 suffered an uncontained engine failure and was forced to make an emergency landing at Singapore Changi Airport. The failure was the first of its kind for the four-engined Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft...
, Airbus A380 "Nancy-Bird Walton", VH-OQA, suffered a serious failure of its left inboard engine(#2 engine). The flight landed safely, and all 440 passengers and 24 crew on board were unharmed. CowlingCowlingA cowling is the covering of a vehicle's engine, most often found on automobiles and aircraft.A cowling may be used:* for drag reduction* for engine cooling by directing airflow* as an air intake for jet engines* for decorative purposes...
parts of the failed engine fell on Batam Island.
Infrastructure
| Infrastructure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Taxiways | ||
| Length | 25300 m (83,005.2 ft) | |
| Width | 30 m (98.4 ft) | |
| Passenger terminal buildings | ||
| Total | ||
| Floor area | 1048220 m² (11,282,946.2 sq ft) | |
| Handling capacity | 73 million passengers | |
| Parking bays | 92 (aerobridge) 10 (contact) 42 (remote) |
|
| Terminal One | ||
| Opened | 1 July 1981 (operational) 29 December 1981 (official) |
|
| Floor area | 280020 m² (3,014,110.2 sq ft) | |
| Handling capacity | 21 million passengers | |
| Parking bays | 29 (aerobridge) 16 (remote) |
|
| Terminal Two | ||
| Opened | 22 November 1990 (operational) 1 June 1991 (official) |
|
| Floor area | 358000 m² (3,853,479.9 sq ft) | |
| Handling capacity | 23 million passengers | |
| Parking bays | 35 (aerobridge) 11 (remote) |
|
| Terminal Three | ||
| Opened | 9 January 2008 (operational) 25 July 2008 (official) |
|
| Floor area | 380000 m² (4,090,286 sq ft) | |
| Handling capacity | 22 million passengers | |
| Parking bays | 28 (aerobridge) | |
| Terminal Four | ||
| Opened | To Be Confirmed | |
| Floor area | To Be Confirmed | |
| Handling capacity | To Be Confirmed | |
| Parking bays | To Be Confirmed | |
| Budget Terminal | ||
| Opened | 26 March 2006 (operational) 31 October 2006 (official) |
|
| Floor area | 28200 m² (303,542.3 sq ft) | |
| Handling capacity | 7 million passengers | |
| Parking bays | 10 (contact) | |
| JetQuay (CIP Terminal) | ||
| Opened | 15 August 2006 (operational) 29 September 2006 (official) |
|
| Floor area | 2000 m² (21,527.8 sq ft) | |
| Handling capacity | NA | |
| Parking bays | 0 | |
Given limited land resources in Singapore, the airport was designed for both current and future needs as the country's primary airport. The airport was designed to be capable of doubling in size using reclaimed land with enough space for two more runways and at least two new passenger terminal buildings.
The master plan for the existing airport initially involved a dual-terminal and dual-runway configuration over two phases with provisions for another two passenger terminals in the near future. Phase 1 included the construction for the first passenger terminal, the first runway, 45 aircraft parking bays, support facilities and structures, including a large maintenance hangar, the first fire station, workshops and administrative offices, an airfreight complex, two cargo agents' buildings, in-flight catering kitchens and a 80 m (262.5 ft) control tower,. Construction for the second phase would commence immediately after the completion of Phase 1 and include the second runway, 23 additional aircraft parking bays, a second fire station and a third cargo agents' building.
Air traffic control tower
The Air traffic control tower (ATC) was constructed as part of Phase One of the Changi Airport redevelopment plan.Runways
Changi Airport has two parallel runways, 02L/20R and 02C/20C, each 60 m (196.9 ft) wide and 4000 m (13,123.4 ft) long. 02L/20R was completed and opened in 1981 as part of the airport's first phase. It has a displaced thresholdDisplaced threshold
A displaced threshold is a runway threshold located at a point other than the physical beginning or end of the runway. The portion of the runway so displaced may be used for takeoff but not for landing...
of 740 m (2,427.8 ft) leaving the rest of the runway at 3260 m (10,695.5 ft) long. 02C/20C, formerly 02R/20L, was built completely on reclaimed land
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
and opened with phase 2, 1.6 km (0.994196378639691 mi) apart from 02L/20R. Four instrument landing system
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
s (ILS) are installed on the 2 runways to guide landing
Landing
thumb|A [[Mute Swan]] alighting. Note the ruffled feathers on top of the wings indicate that the swan is flying at the [[Stall |stall]]ing speed...
aircraft safely under all weather conditions.
A new parallel runway 02R/20L (named 01/19 when opened in 2004) was built 1.8 km (1.1 mi) to the east of 02C/20C, currently used only by Republic of Singapore Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
aircraft as part of Changi Airbase (East). The new runway is expected to be extended and eventually be turned into a third runway for the airport in future expansion plans.
Passenger terminals
Changi Airport currently has five terminals, T1, T2, T3, JetQuay CIP Terminal and Budget Terminal, with a total handling capacity of 73 million. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are directly connected with a common transit area, with airside passengers being able to freely move between the terminals without going through immigration. Transport within and between these three terminals is provided by people moverPeople mover
A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...
s and the skytrain system, although it is also possible to walk between the terminals on foot for landside visitors. Situated beside Terminal 2 is JetQuay, which has its own check-in facilities for premium passengers and where transportation to aircraft in any of the other terminals is by personal buggy. The Budget Terminal, purpose-built for low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
s, is physically separated from the main terminals towards the south, where connections are possible via a zero-fare shuttle bus
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
service to Terminal 2.
Terminal 1
Singapore Changi Airport's oldest terminal operated as the sole terminal from its opening on 1 July 1981 right up until the opening of Terminal 2 nine years later. Configured in a H-shaped layout to maximise the number of aerobridges which may be built, it underwent two major upgrading works over its lifespan. A major refurbishment was completed in 1995 at a cost of S$170 million and work to extend two finger piers to add 14 aerobridges at a cost of S$420 million took place from 1996 to 1999. Today, the terminal spans an area of 280,020 m² and can accommodate a maximum passenger capacity of 21 million passengers a year.Upgrading works are currently on-going, with its completion targeted for 2012. Costing S$500 million, it will be the terminals' biggest overhaul to date, involving works on its facade and halls under a theme called "Tropical City". Once completed, it will be the final Terminal to be upgraded to be on par with the newest Terminal 3, and the recently upgraded Terminal 2.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 opened on 22 November 1990 as part of Phase II in the original airport masterplan. Deploying a linear configuration parallel to the runways, it is located adjacent to Terminal 1 towards the south, and heralded the opening of the original skytrain system linking the two terminals via the landside. All Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights moved to the new terminal when it opened, along with several Southeast Asian carriers including Malaysia AirlinesMalaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
, Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
and Royal Brunei Airlines. They were joined by several airlines, some of which are allied to Singapore Airlines, in particular Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
, both fellow Star Alliance
Star Alliance
Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines...
members. Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
was a former user before moving back to Terminal 1. Other former users include Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
and Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Austria, headquartered in Office Park 2 on the grounds of Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, Wien-Umgebung and a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Together with regional subsidiary Tyrolean Airways and charter arm Lauda Air, it operates...
, which ceased operations to Changi in October 2006. Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways is the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. Established in July 2003 and based at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad commenced operations in November 2003....
was the latest airline to operate from Terminal 2 when it commenced flights in September 2007. All Nippon Airways
All Nippon Airways
, also known as or ANA, is one of the largest airlines in Japan. It is headquartered at the Shiodome City Center in the Shiodome area in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It operates services to 49 destinations in Japan and 35 international routes and employed over 14,000 employees as of May 2009...
moved to Terminal 2 from 1 October 2008. Now Singapore Airlines flights departing for Southeast Asia, Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa use this terminal.
Terminal 2 is split into four sections with gate
Gate (airport)
A gate in aviation is a long, movable, "bridge" that allows passengers to embark and disembark their aircraft.* Jetway bridges* Air stairs, either built into the aircraft or from a mobile vehicle* Mobile lounges...
numbers carrying the letter of their section. The terminal hosts a cinema and a Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
as well as countless number of shops. The centrepiece is the indoor garden. The terminal also has an outdoor rooftop garden
Roof garden
A roof garden is any garden on the roof of a building. Besides the decorative benefit, roof plantings may provide food, temperature control, hydrological benefits, architectural enhancement, habitats or corridors for wildlife, and recreational opportunities....
and a technology section showcasing the world's largest plasma screen
Plasma display
A plasma display panel is a type of flat panel display common to large TV displays or larger. They are called "plasma" displays because the technology utilizes small cells containing electrically charged ionized gases, or what are in essence chambers more commonly known as fluorescent...
. The carpets are green and the gate information is displayed on LCD screens
Liquid crystal display television
Liquid-crystal display televisions are television sets that use LCD display technology to produce images. LCD televisions are thinner and lighter than cathode ray tube of similar display size, and are available in much larger sizes...
. Security checks must be completed prior to entering the gate.
The fourth storey of the terminal houses the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore is Singapore's Civil Aviation Authority and a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Singapore Government...
. In addition Terminal 2 houses the offices of the Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore
Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore
The Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore is a statutory board of the Ministry of Transport in Singapore. It is an investigation authority in Singapore for air accidents and serious incidents in the country for local and foreign civil aircraft...
and Changi Airport Group
Changi Airport Group
Changi Airport Group Pte. Ltd. was formed on 1 July 2009, and is currently the operator of Singapore Changi Airport. Its role was previously undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore or CAAS. The group's head office is in Terminal 2 of Changi Airport in Changi.-Profile:Changi Airport...
.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3, the fifth terminal to be opened at the airport, became operational on 9 January 2008, increasing the airport's annual passenger capacity by 22 million. The test flight out of Terminal 3 was a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to Perth. The flight departed T3 at 5:30 pm local time, landing in Perth International Airport at approximately 11:30 pm. The terminal has 28 aerobridge gates, with eight capable of handling the Airbus A380. While the other 2 terminals use separate waiting areas for different gates, Terminal 3 has common waiting areas for some of the gates.Designed by CPG Corporation
CPG Corporation
The CPG Corporation is a leading infrastructure and building development company in Singapore which constructs and maintain public infrastructure in Singapore such as government buildings, and many more.-History:...
, with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is an American architectural and engineering firm that was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill. They opened their first branch in New York City, New York in 1937. SOM is one of the largest...
designing the roof feature and interior design by Woodhead Wilson, Terminal 3 departs from the largely utilitarian architecture in the first two terminals. Like other new airports in the region, it has a structure mainly made of glass, with big transparent spaces inside the terminal. However, unlike these newer airports, it incorporates "natural" features and "warm" tone extensively to balance the sterile feel of glass and steel. For example, the column is given a wood-like cladding and the floor of the terminal is mostly cream/ beige colour. The roof has been designed to allow natural light to enter the building, with 919 skylights. A 5 m (16.4 ft)-high "Green Wall" with hanging creepers and waterfall was incorporated to enhance the tropical feel. The Green Wall, designed by Singapore based Landscape Design firm Tierra Design, also helps to regulate the internal temperature of the terminal with the occasional misting. The interior architecture of Terminal 3 recently won the Honour Award from ASLA, bringing another coveted award to Changi Airport.
Singapore Airlines operated the first flights into Terminal 3 on 9 January 2008, with flight SQ001 from San Francisco via Hong Kong arriving at 1150 hours to a welcome ceremony by Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lim Siang Keat Raymond
Lim Siang Keat Raymond
Raymond Lim Siang Keat is a politician from Singapore. He is currently a member of the governing People's Action Party and was previously the country's Minister for Transport....
and the chairman of CAG, Liew Mun Leong. The first departure flight, SQ318, took off at 1250 hours bound for London-Heathrow. Since then, its regional and long-haul flights
Flight length
In aviation, the flight length is defined as the time airborne during a flight.- Domestic :A short-haul domestic flight is commonly categorized into being no longer than 1.5 hours in length, meaning that all domestic flights within a country such as the United Kingdom are short-haul...
bound for North/South America, Europe, East Asia and Oceania depart from the new terminal while all other flights depart from Terminal 2, becoming the first and only airline to operate from multiple terminals in Changi Airport.
China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited is an airline headquartered on the grounds of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Changning District, Shanghai, China. It is a major Chinese airline operating international, domestic and regional routes. Its main hubs are at Shanghai Pudong...
, Jet Airways
Jet Airways
Jet Airways is a major Indian airline based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is India's largest airline and the market leader in the domestic sector. It operates over 400 flights daily to 76 destinations worldwide. Its main hub is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, with secondary hubs at Delhi,...
, Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. , operating as Qatar Airways, is the flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, it operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 100 international destinations from its base in Doha, using a fleet of over 100 aircraft...
and United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
also moved operations to the terminal from 25 March 2008, while Kingfisher Airlines launched services to Singapore using T3 in 2009. Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia
PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk , publicly known as Garuda Indonesia, is the flag carrier of Indonesia. It is named after the mystical giant bird Garuda of Hinduism and Buddhist mythology. It is headquartered at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia...
moved operations to T3 from 22 February 2011.
Terminal 4
The Singapore Ministry of TransportMinistry of Transport (Singapore)
The Ministry of Transport is a ministry in the Government of Singapore that administers and regulates land, sea and air transportation within the republic’s jurisdiction....
is currently working on a masterplan on Terminal 4. Aviation experts estimate the terminal will be built in the next 10 to 15 years, although the government has not released any further details on the project.
JetQuay CIP Terminal
JetQuay CIP Terminal is a privately run terminal, located next to T2. It was converted from the former VIP terminal that used to handle foreign dignitaries. JetQuay provides private check-in, baggage handling, and immigration clearance services. It is the second luxury airport terminal in world to open after the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt AirportFrankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Airport may refer to:Airports of Frankfurt, Germany:*Frankfurt Airport , the largest airport in Germany*Frankfurt Egelsbach Airport, a general aviation airport*Frankfurt-Hahn Airport , a converted U.S...
. However, unlike the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, JetQuay is an elite, dedicated CIP (Commercially Important People) terminal that can be used by any passenger travelling in any class, on any airline, through any of the main terminals (T1, T2, or T3).
Budget Terminal
Changi Airport was the second in Asia (after Kuala Lumpur International AirportKuala Lumpur International Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport , or KLIA serves the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is one of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It is also Malaysia's main international airport. It is situated in the Sepang district, in the south of the state of Selangor, about from Kuala Lumpur...
) to open a dedicated terminal catering to the budget traveller. The name of the Budget Terminal was decided as a result of a naming contest open to the public. The terminal is not included in the numbering scheme even though it is the third terminal to be opened and Terminal 3 is actually the fifth terminal opened at the airport.
In order to offer lower landing fee
Landing fee
A landing fee is a charge paid by an aircraft to an airport company for landing at a particular airport. Landing fees can vary greatly between airports, with congested airports, ones where most of the landing slots are held by airlines being able to charge premium prices because of supply and...
s, handling fees and airport taxes
Airport Improvement Fee
An Airport Improvement Fee or Embarkation Fee or Airport Tax or Service charge or Service fee is an additional fee charged to departing and connecting passengers at an airport. It is levied by government or an airport management corporation and the proceeds are usually intended for funding of major...
, it cuts back on amenities such as aerobridges, elaborate physical structures and decorations in the passenger terminal building. A range of duty-free shop
Duty-free shop
Duty-free shops are retail outlets that are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country...
s and Food and Beverage
Food and Beverage
F&B is a common abbreviation in the United States and Commonwealth countries, including Hong Kong. F&B is typically the widely accepted abbreviation for "Food and Beverage", which is the sector/industry that specializes in the conceptualization, the making of, and delivery of foods...
outlets, and free internet terminals are available. There is no transfer facility at the Budget Terminal. Passengers who need to make transfers need to clear immigration (and get the appropriate visas at their homecountry if applicable), collect their luggage, clear customs, make their way to the main terminal by taking the zero-fare shuttle buses and check-in again with the respective airline.
In September 2008, expansion works costing $10 million began and took seven months to complete. The terminal is now able to handle seven million passengers a year, up from originally 2.7 million. There are more boarding gates, check-in counters, shops and dining options. In addition, air-conditioning has been installed for arriving passengers.
Accommodating the Airbus A380
With Changi-based Singapore Airlines being the launch customer for the Airbus A380, works to ensure full capability in handling the large aircraft were given priority in time for its introduction in October 2007. The Civil Aviation Authority of SingaporeCivil Aviation Authority of Singapore
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore is Singapore's Civil Aviation Authority and a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Singapore Government...
spent S$
Singapore dollar
The Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
60 million in upgrading the two existing terminals and airport infrastructure, including enlarged gate holdrooms, new finger piers, and extended baggage belt carousels from the normal 70 m (229.7 ft) to 90 m (295.3 ft). With these new carousels in place, the airport does not expect embarking and disembarking passengers and baggage from the A380 to take longer than it does from a Boeing 747–400, which carries fewer passengers. On 16 August 2005, Changi Airport unveiled the first of 11 specially-built gates capable of handling the giant aircraft. Costing S$15 million, the gates or 'fingers' enable passengers to board the upper deck of the new 555-seater aircraft directly from the gate hold rooms. The hold rooms themselves have been enlarged and appointed to cater for the larger number of passengers aboard an A380. Beside the 11 new A380-capable gates at Terminals 1 and 2, eight more A380-capable gates were opened at Terminal 3 on 9 January 2008.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger airlines
Freight/Cargo Terminal
Services
Changi Airport is a top airport in terms of customer service and security and has won over 360 awards and accolades as best airport since its opening in 1981, from organisations such as SkytraxSkytrax
Skytrax is a United Kingdom-based consultancy, the public face of Inflight Research Services, which has the largest airline and airport review and ranking site. It conducts research for commercial airlines...
and Business Traveller
Business Traveller
Business Traveller is a CNN International monthly television program hosted by Richard Quest.-External links:*...
.
Passenger services
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
, Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
, Bulgari
Bulgari
Bulgari is an Italian jeweler and luxury goods retailer which has been owned by the French firm LVMH since October 2011. The trademark is usually written "BVLGARI" in the classical Latin alphabet , and is derived from the surname of the company's Greek founder, Sotirio Voulgaris...
and Hermès
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837, today specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear...
opening outlets during this period. The first FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
Official Store in the world was opened in Terminal 3, along with Asia's first Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
travel retail shop.
From two different lounges with 24-hour napping areas, showers and spa facilities, to hotel and pool amenities, this airport also includes Singapore Tours (created for those in transit for up to 5 hours who are granted a special pass to leave the airport on one of four city tour options), Nature Trail (with six themed garden reserves) and comprehensive dining and entertainment options.
In terms of sales, the airport outstrips other shopping malls
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in Singapore, including those in top tourist spot Orchard Road
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is a road in Singapore that is the retail and entertainment hub of the city-state. It is regularly frequented by the local population as well as being a major tourist attraction...
. The Changi Airport Group derives 55% of its total annual revenue from non-aeronautical sources, such as office and warehouse rental. The airport derives the majority of its commercial revenue from the duty-free shopping, with the most popular items being liquor and tobacco, perfume and cosmetics, and luxury goods.
In addition to a wide array of duty-free shops and eating outlets, Changi Airport has six open-air garden areas. Open to customers of the airport, each garden represents a different group of plants: cacti
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
, bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
, heliconia
Heliconia
Heliconia, derived from the Greek word helikonios, is a genus of about 100 to 200 species of flowering plants native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. Many species of Heliconia are found in rainforests or tropical wet forests of these regions...
, sunflower
Sunflower
Sunflower is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence . The sunflower got its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads...
, fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
and orchid
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
. Changi Airport has numerous business centres located around the airport. Within the international transit area of the interconnected Terminals 1 and 2, internet and games facilities, prayer rooms, showers, spas, gym, swimming pool and a hotel are provided. Various lounge areas are provided, some including children's play areas or televisions showing news, movie and sport channels.
Ground handling
Singapore Airport Terminal Services
SATS Ltd. , commonly abbreviated as SATS is the chief ground-handling and in-flight catering service provider at Singapore Changi Airport. SATS controls about 80% of Changi airport's ground handling and catering business....
(SATS) and Dnata Singapore (dnata sg).SATS is the dominant player with close to 70% of the market in the airport. Dnata Sg(Formerly CIAS) was formed in 1977 by the Port of Singapore Authority
PSA International
PSA International Pte Ltd, formerly Port of Singapore Authority is the second largest port operator in the world. The company's flagship operations are PSA Singapore Terminals, PSA HNN and PSA Marine...
and five airlines (Air France, China Airlines
China Airlines
China Airlines is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Republic of China . Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation...
, Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia
PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk , publicly known as Garuda Indonesia, is the flag carrier of Indonesia. It is named after the mystical giant bird Garuda of Hinduism and Buddhist mythology. It is headquartered at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia...
, KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) and Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
). It handles the remaining market share.
In the early 2000s, the government decided to introduce competition into the market by offering an additional license. Swissair
Swissair
Swissair AG was the former national airline of Switzerland.It was formed from a merger between Balair and Ad Astra Aero , in 1931...
's Swissport successfully won the license (valid for 10 years) and commenced operations on 2 March 2005.
As Swissair folded and was subsequently taken over by Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines AG is the principal airline of Switzerland operating scheduled services in Europe and to North America, South America, Africa and Asia. Its main hub is Zurich Airport...
, the latter became the company's first customer. Adam Air
Adam Air
Adam Air was a privately owned airline based in West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. It operated scheduled domestic services to over 20 cities and international services to Penang and Singapore...
chose Swissport as its ground handler in 2005, while Tiger Airways followed suit in 2006. Other customers of Swissport include Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
, Swiss World Cargo, Thai AirAsia
Thai AirAsia
Thai AirAsia is a joint venture of Malaysian low-fare airline AirAsia and Thailand's Asia Aviation. It serves AirAsia's regularly scheduled domestic and international flights from Bangkok and other cities in Thailand....
and Cardig Air
Cardig Air
Cardig Air is a cargo airline in Indonesia, based at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta. It operates cargo services within Indonesia and across Asia on a scheduled, contract and charter basis....
. Former customers of Swissport include Australian Airlines
Australian Airlines
Australian Airlines was a full-service airline based in Australia, servicing Australian and Asian destinations between 2002 and 2006. It was an all-economy, full-service international leisure carrier and was a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, although run independently of the mainline carrier...
. Swissport ceased operation on 31 March 2009 due to massive losses. Asia Pacific Star was launched on 1 April is a subsidiary of SATS is the new player concentrating mainly on budget carriers. It handles Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Singapore, is a low cost airline which commenced services on 25 March 2005. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
, South East Asian Airlines
South East Asian Airlines
Southeast Asian Airlines , Inc. operating as SEAir is an airline based in Pampanga, the Philippines. It operates domestic services and its main base is Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, with hubs at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, Malay, Aklan.- History :The airline was established in 1995...
, Jetstar Asia, Valuair
Valuair
Valuair Limited is a Singapore-based low-cost carrier. It was launched in 2004, offering initial services to Bangkok and Hong Kong. It differentiates itself from other low-cost carriers in that it offers frills such as a baggage allowance of over 20 kg, in-flight food, allocated seats, and...
Lion Air
Lion Air
Not to be confused with the Sri Lankan airline Lionair.PT Lion Mentari Airlines, operating as Lion Air, is Indonesia’s largest private carrier and Asia’s first hybrid carrier which offers both economy and business-class seating, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Lion Air also flies to Singapore,...
and possibly Lao Airlines
Lao Airlines
Lao Airlines is an airline based in Vientiane, Laos. It is the national airline of Laos, operating domestic services to ten destinations and international services to Cambodia, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. Its main base is Wattay International Airport, Vientiane.- History :The airline...
when the latter starts operation on 24 November 2011.
CIAS underwent restructuring when its shareholding was bought over by Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
's Dnata Group, being relaunched in September 2011 with a new branding. Its security services were amalgamated into the new Temasek-owned Aetos Security Management
Aetos Security Management
AETOS Security Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, provides security solutions to a diverse clientele.Established in 2004, AETOS commenced operations following the strategic merger of the Auxiliary Police Forces of PSA Corporation Ltd, Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd and...
.
US-based Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG) was granted a 10 years ground handling licence starting from January 2012, enabling it to provide passenger and cargo handling services to some 100 airlines operating at Changi Airport, although it has yet to secure any customer.
Aircraft maintenance
Five hangars house facilities to provide aircraft maintenanceAircraft maintenance
Aircraft maintenance is the overhaul, repair, inspection or modification of an aircraft or aircraft component.Maintenance includes the installation or removal of a component from an aircraft or aircraft subassembly, but does not include:...
support by SIA Engineering Company
SIA Engineering Company
SIA Engineering Company Limited , commonly abbreviated as SIAEC is a major provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services in the Asia-Pacific and is part of the Singapore Airlines Group. The Company has a client base of more than 80 international carriers and aerospace equipment...
and ST Aviation Services Company. This includes a 20000 m² (215,278.2 sq ft) column-free hangar which was the world's largest when opened in 1981.
Safety and security
Airport security
Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from crime.Large numbers of people pass through airports. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the number of people located in a particular location...
(AVSEC) policies, manages AVSEC-related projects, engages overseas partners and plans for business continuity in the event of a national emergency. Operationally, the airport's emergency and fire-fighting services are handled by the Airport Emergency Service Division of the CAG. The AES handles all instances of rescue and fire-fighting within the airport premises as well as in surrounding waters through its specialists operating from two main fire stations, a Fire Sub-Station and a Sea Rescue Base around the airport.
The airport's security comes under the purview of the Airport Police Division of the Singapore Police Force
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
. Assisting the state organisations are the auxiliary police
Auxiliary police
Auxiliary police or special constables in England) are usually the part-time reserves of a regular police force. They may be armed or unarmed. They may be unpaid volunteers or paid members of the police service with which they are affiliated...
forces including Aetos Security Management
Aetos Security Management
AETOS Security Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, provides security solutions to a diverse clientele.Established in 2004, AETOS commenced operations following the strategic merger of the Auxiliary Police Forces of PSA Corporation Ltd, Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd and...
, Certis CISCO and SATS Security Services
SATS Security Services
SATS Security Services Pte Ltd is a subsidiary of SATS Ltd, providing security services for aviation-related activities at the Singapore Changi Airport. It provides armed auxiliary police officers for mainly airline clients, one of three companies licensed to do so in Singapore...
, of which Aetos and SATS Security Services are affiliated to the ground handling companies of Changi International Airport Services and Singapore Airport Terminal Services respectively. These officers man check-in counters to screen luggage, control movements into restricted areas, and so forth. CAG has engaged the auxiliary police to enforce airside regulations since 8 February 2007, first engaging Certis CISCO followed by Aetos Security from 16 July 2007. CAAS has engaged the auxiliary police to enforce airside regulations since 8 February 2007, first engaging Certis CISCO followed by Aetos Security from 16 July 2007. On 29 April 2008, CAAS signed its biggest single security contract by engaging Certis CISCO to provide security services at Changi Airport, as well as Seletar Airport
Seletar Airport
"RAF Seletar" & "Seletar Airbase/Airfield" redirects here.Seletar Airport is a civilian airport located at Seletar, in the northeastern region of Singapore, and is managed by the Changi Airport Group...
, Changi Airfreight Centre, and the Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre. The $360 million five-year contract would commence from 1 April 2008 with an option to extend for another five years, and will involve the deployment of about 2,200 Certis Cisco personnel, including armed Auxiliary Police Officers and unarmed aviation security officers to perform taskes including scanning checked baggage, controlling access to restricted areas, and screening passengers before they board their aircraft.
Since the 11 September 2001 attacks and naming of the airport
Singapore embassies attack plot
The Singapore embassies attack plot was a plan in 2001 by Jemaah Islamiyah to bomb the diplomatic missions and attack personnel of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Israel based in Singapore. There were also several other targets. The plot was uncovered in December 2001 and as...
as a terrorism target by the Jemaah Islamiyah
Jemaah Islamiyah
Jemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
, the airport's security has been stepped up. Roving patrol teams consisting of two soldiers and a police officer, armed with assault rifles or sub-machine guns, patrol the terminals at random intervals. Officers from the Gurkha Contingent
Gurkha Contingent
The Gurkha Contingent is a line department of the Singapore Police Force. Members of the GC are trained to be highly-skilled and are selected for their display of strong discipline and dedication in their tasks...
are also deployed to patrol the transit areas of the terminal buildings. These measures come at a cost partly borne by travellers in the form of a "passenger security service charge," imposed since 2002. It is levied at S$8 on passengers in the three main terminals and the Budget Terminal. In 2005, it became the first airport outside the United States to win the Airport Security Report's "Excellence in Airport Security Award".
In 2005, an upgrade in screening technology and rising security concerns led to luggage-screening processes being conducted behind closed-doors, as opposed to them being done just before check-in previously within public view. Carry-on luggage and persons screening are conducted at the individual departure gates, while check-in luggage are screened in the backrooms and secured before loading. Plans are in place to install over 400 cameras around the airport to monitor passenger activity around the clock and check on suspicious parcels and activity. Tenders to incorporate such a system was called in late September 2005. A second perimeter fence
Perimeter fence
A perimeter fence is a structure that circles the perimeter of an area to prevent access. These fences are frequently made out of single vertical metal bars connected at the top and bottom with a horizontal bar. They often have spikes on the top to prevent climbing. Residential perimeter fences are...
to prevent unauthorised persons is due for construction, to be completed by 2008. The Airport Police plans to introduce a biometric identification system for access into restricted areas.
In view of the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot
2006 transatlantic aircraft plot
The 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot was a terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives carried on board at least 10 airliners travelling from the United Kingdom to the United States and Canada...
, security screening checks have been stepped up on passengers and their hand-carry luggage, as well as checked-in luggage on flights bound for destinations in the United Kingdom and the United States from Changi.
Operations
| Operational Statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Passenger movements |
Airfreight movements (tonnes) |
Aircraft movements |
| 1998 | 23,803,180 | 1,283,660 | 165,242 |
| 1999 | 26,064,645 | 1,500,393 | 165,961 |
| 2000 | 28,618,200 | 1,682,489 | 173,947 |
| 2001 | 28,093,759 | 1,507,062 | 179,359 |
| 2002 | 28,979,344 | 1,637,797 | 174,820 |
| 2003 | 24,664,137 | 1,611,407 | 154,346 |
| 2004 | 30,353,565 | 1,775,092 | 184,932 |
| 2005 | 32,430,856 | 1,833,721 | 204,138 |
| 2006 | 35,033,083 | 1,931,881 | 214,000 |
| 2007 | 36,701,556 | 1,918,159 | 221,000 |
| 2008 | 37,694,824 | 1,883,894 | 232,000 |
| 2009 | 37,203,978 | 1,633,791 | 240,360 |
| 2010 | 42,038,777 | 1,813,809 | 263,593 |
| Top destinations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| By flight frequencies (weekly one-way) | |||
| Rank | Destination | 02/08 | 06/10 |
| 1 |  Indonesia JakartaSoekarno-Hatta International Airport Soekarno–Hatta International Airport , popularly abbreviated SHIA or Soetta is the main airport serving the greater Jakarta area on the island of Java, Indonesia. The airport is named after the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno, and the first vice-president, Mohammad Hatta. The airport is... |
195 | 211 |
| 2 |  Malaysia Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur International Airport Kuala Lumpur International Airport , or KLIA serves the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is one of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It is also Malaysia's main international airport. It is situated in the Sepang district, in the south of the state of Selangor, about from Kuala Lumpur... |
133 | 201 |
| 3 |  Thailand BangkokSuvarnabhumi Airport Suvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September... |
161 | 131 |
| 4 |  Hong Kong Hong KongHong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial... |
106 | 95 |
| 5 |  Philippines ManilaNinoy Aquino International Airport The Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area... |
- | 85 |
| 6 | Indonesia Denpasar |
- | 68 |
| 7 |  Vietnam Ho Chi Minh CityTan Son Nhat International Airport Tan Son Nhat International Airport is Vietnam's largest international airport in terms of area . It has a handling capacity of 15-17 million passengers per year, compared with the capacity of Hanoi - Noi Bai airport of 8 million passengers and Da Nang's 2 million passengers... |
- | 67 |
| 8 | Malaysia Penang |
28 | 66 |
| 9 | Thailand Phuket Phuket International Airport Phuket International Airport is an airport serving the Phuket Province of Thailand. It is located in the north of Phuket Island, 32 kilometres from the centre of Phuket City. The airport plays a major role in Thailand's tourism industry, as Phuket Island is a popular resort destination... |
49 | 64 |
| 10 |  India ChennaiChennai International Airport Chennai International Airport , formerly known as Madras International Airport is located in Tirusulam, south of Chennai , India... |
49 | 60 |
| 11 |  People's Republic of China Shanghai PudongShanghai Pudong International Airport Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the primary international airport serving Shanghai, China, and a major aviation hub in Asia. The other major airport in Shanghai, Hongqiao, mainly serves domestic flights... |
60 | 56 |
| 12 |  United Kingdom London Heathrow |
- | 47 |
| By annual passengers carried | |||
| Rank | Destination | 2009 Rank |
2008 Rank |
| 1 | Indonesia Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Soekarno–Hatta International Airport , popularly abbreviated SHIA or Soetta is the main airport serving the greater Jakarta area on the island of Java, Indonesia. The airport is named after the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno, and the first vice-president, Mohammad Hatta. The airport is... |
1 | 2 |
| 2 | Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kuala Lumpur International Airport , or KLIA serves the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is one of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It is also Malaysia's main international airport. It is situated in the Sepang district, in the south of the state of Selangor, about from Kuala Lumpur... |
2 | 4 |
| 3 | Thailand Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Suvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September... |
3 | 1 |
| 4 | Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial... |
4 | 3 |
| 5 | Philippines Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport The Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area... |
5 | 7 |
| 6 | United Kingdom London Heathrow London Heathrow Airport London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe... |
6 | 5 |
| 7 |  Japan Tokyo NaritaNarita International Airport is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama.... |
7 | 6 |
| 8 |  Australia SydneySydney Airport Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada... |
8 | 9 |
| 9 | People's Republic of China Shanghai Pudong Shanghai Pudong International Airport Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the primary international airport serving Shanghai, China, and a major aviation hub in Asia. The other major airport in Shanghai, Hongqiao, mainly serves domestic flights... |
9 | 8 |
| 10 | Indonesia Denpasar |
10 | - |
| 11 | Australia Perth Perth Airport Perth Airport is an Australian domestic and international airport serving Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia. The airport itself is located in the suburb of Perth Airport.... |
11 | 10 |
Passenger operations
As all passenger traffic out of the airport is international in nature, the four major terminals in operation are equipped with immigration-processing facilities for international travel.After recovering from a drop in passenger traffic as a result of the severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus . Between November 2002 and July 2003 an outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong nearly became a pandemic, with 8,422 cases and 916 deaths worldwide according to the WHO...
(SARS) epidemic in 2003, the airport saw rapid growth in traffic which hit the 30-million mark for the first time a year later in 2004. In March 2008 and prior to the full effect of the Financial crisis of 2007–2010 on the global economy, the airport predicted that it will handle 50 million passengers by 2012, with increases due to the opening of casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s in Singapore, together with the phased liberalisation of the ASEAN aviation sector. While this target is now less likely, the airport reached the 40 million mark for the first time in its history on 15 December 2010.
For the last set of full-year figures published by the airport, it handled 42,038,777 passengers in 2010, a 13% increase over the 2009 fiscal year. The airport recorded its busiest month in December 2010 (4.06 million) and its busiest day on 18 December 2010 with 146,000 passengers handled. Key markets
The LCC market in the airport expanded rapidly since the opening of the Budget Terminal. The terminal handled about 657,000 passengers by 26 October 2006, six months after its opening in March, and constituted 11.3% of total flights in October 2006 compared to 9.6% in April the same year. The terminal handled its one-millionth passenger at the end of 2006. A monthly record of 3.83million passenger movements was registered in December 2009, which marks an increase of 9.7% compared to December 2008. On 19 December 2009, Changi has also set a new record of 140,000 passenger movements in the day. In 2010, LCCs accounted for 22.4% of passengers carried (compared to 19.1% in 2009) and 26.3% of flight movements (23.6% in 2009).
In 2010 Indonesia was the largest market for Singapore Changi Airport with 5 million passengers.
Cargo
The Air Cargo Division of the Changi Airport Group manages the Changi Airfreight Centre located in the north of the airport premises. Fueled by high economic growth in China, the airport handled 1,854,610 tonnes of air cargo in 2005, an increase of 3.3% over the 2004 fiscal year, making it the 10th-busiest airfreight hub in the world and the fifth-busiest in Asia. Due to Singapore's large electronics sector, electrical components constitute a significant part of the total cargo traffic handled at the airport, although it has initiated attempts to diversify into the perishable air cargo market.Ground transportation
Changi Airport was built with ground-transportation considerations in mind from the onset, with the East Coast ParkwayEast Coast Parkway
The East Coast Parkway is an expressway that runs along the southeastern coast of Singapore. The expressway is approximately in length, and connects Singapore Changi Airport in the east to the Benjamin Sheares Bridge in the south of the main island before it links with the Ayer Rajah Expressway...
built and opened in tandem with the airport, providing a direct link to the city-centre. At a distance of about 20 km (12.4 mi), the expressway was built almost entirely on reclaimed land; thus, minimising disruptions to the existing road network in Singapore's East Coast.
While configured in a compact configuration such that the three main passenger terminal buildings are sited adjacent to each other, allowing for travellers to venture between terminals on foot, the Changi Airport Skytrain
Changi Airport Skytrain
The Changi Airport Skytrain is a people mover system that connects Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Singapore Changi Airport. Opened in 1990, it was the first auto-guided system in Asia. The Changi Airport Skytrain operates from 0500 to 0230 daily and operates at 1 to 2 minute intervals. Travel on the...
people-mover system was added to facilitate quicker and more convenient transfers. The system was upgraded in 2007 to Mitsubishi technology, connecting to Terminal 3 and separating checked-in passengers from the general public on distinct tracks. This rail system does not cover the Budget Terminal, which is served by zero-fare shuttle buses.
Inter-terminal transportation
The Changi Airport SkytrainChangi Airport Skytrain
The Changi Airport Skytrain is a people mover system that connects Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Singapore Changi Airport. Opened in 1990, it was the first auto-guided system in Asia. The Changi Airport Skytrain operates from 0500 to 0230 daily and operates at 1 to 2 minute intervals. Travel on the...
operates between Terminals 1, 2 and 3, with a total of seven stations. The trains have separate cars for air-side (transit) and land-side (public) passengers. Initially built in the early 1990s as a shuttle between Terminals 1 and 2 using Bombardier CX-100 cars, the system was revamped to use the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover in 2006 and extended to Terminal 3 in 2007. The service is free of charge and operates between 5:30 am and 2:30 am daily. Transportation is also provided to passengers and visitors between Terminal 2 and the Budget Terminal in the form of zero-fare shuttle buses. zero-fare buses are also deployed to run every 20 minutes during the non-operational hours of the Skytrain; that is, from 0230 to 0530 hours between all three terminals.
External connections
Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
(MRT) network, with Changi Airport Station
Changi Airport MRT Station
Changi Airport MRT Station was opened on 8 February 2002 as one of the terminal Mass Rapid Transit stations for the East West Line, and located in between Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. This is one of the four MRT stations that have fare gates on the same level as the...
located underground between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and directly accessible from both terminals. A direct, one-train service to the downtown and western parts of Singapore was initially in operation when the station opened on 8 February 2002 (then accessible only via Terminal 2). This was replaced by the current shuttle service between Changi Airport Station and Tanah Merah Station
Tanah Merah MRT Station
Tanah Merah MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit station located in the heart of Tanah Merah, Singapore.The station is part of the East West Line and is between Simei and Bedok and is an interchange for trains going to Changi Airport and Expo...
on 22 July 2003, when it was found that few passengers actually use this route, compared to the number of commuters who need to travel from the city to Tampines
Tampines
Tampines is the largest residential area in the city-state of Singapore and is located in the East Region of the main island. The town is so named because in the 1900s a large forest of Tampines trees were there....
and Pasir Ris
Pasir Ris
Pasir Ris is primarily a residential area in Singapore comprising many high-rise residential dwelling blocks, mostly public housing built by the Housing and Development Board in Pasir Ris New Town. The town is located in the eastern part of Singapore....
. Cross-platform transfers are therefore necessary at Tanah Merah Station to connect to the rest of the network.
Buses were one of the main methods of transport for passengers and staff until the opening of the Changi Airport MRT Station. Services operated by SBS Transit
SBS Transit
SBS Transit Limited is a public transport operator in Singapore. Its major competitor in Singapore's duopoly transport system is SMRT Corporation, which also operates bus, rail, taxi and other transport services....
and SMRT Buses
SMRT Buses
SMRT Buses is a public bus transport operator in Singapore. Singapore currently hosts a duopoly transport system in which SMRT's only competitor is SBS Transit, which also operates bus services in Singapore...
use bus terminals in the basement level of the three main terminals, as well as a bus-stop along Airport Boulevard which is connected by a sheltered walkway to the Budget Terminal, making a loop starting from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1, 2, and then the Budget Terminal, and back to their destination of origin.
| Service | Destination | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBS Transit Trunk Services | |||
| 24 | Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 Bus Interchange is located in Ang Mo Kio Town Centre, Singapore. The interchange is presently within AMK Hub, a newly-built shopping centre which is in turn linked to the Ang Mo Kio MRT Station via a pedestrian underpass below Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8.The interchange is the third to be... |
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| 27 | Hougang Central Bus Interchange Hougang Central Bus Interchange The Hougang Central Bus Interchange is a bus interchange serving the town of Hougang. It is located directly above the Hougang MRT Station and is operated by SBS Transit.-Redevelopment:... |
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| 34 | Punggol Bus Interchange Punggol Bus Interchange Punggol Temporary Bus Interchange is a temporary bus interchange in Punggol New Town, located adjacent to the Punggol MRT/LRT Station. It was built to allow for easy dismantling when the site is redeveloped as part of a major commercial development when Punggol New Town is more developed.The... |
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| 36 | Tomlinson Road (Loop) | |
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| 53 | Bishan Bus Interchange Bishan Bus Interchange Bishan Bus Interchange is a bus station serving Bishan New Town in Singapore. The interchange commenced passenger service as Bishan Bus Terminal in 1988, serving 2 SBS services: 56 and 58. Located at Bishan Street 13, it is designed in a unique squarish configuration with the building wrapping... |
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| SMRT Buses Trunk Services | |||
| 858 | Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange was completed and opened along with the Woodlands extension of the North South MRT Line in 1996. It is the first underground bus interchange, and one of the biggest in Singapore... |
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Taxi stands are within the arrival halls of the three main terminals and just outside the Budget Terminal.