Since opening 25 years ago, Singapore's award-winning gateway has consistently invested in new facilities, anticipating future growth. Mike Toynbee reports Airports, by their very nature, are not generally popular with the public. Locals tend to object on environmental grounds, while travellers view them as an unavoidable means to an end: the starting, transit or finishing point to any journey.
To some extent, Singapore Changi, which opened in 1981, started to change those perceptions. Located at the eastern tip of Singapore, some 20 kilometres from the city centre and along the coastal line of the island, there is minimal noise pollution as flight paths are generally over the sea. From the outset, it was designed to be more than
just a passenger processing plant: an excellent shopping complex, cafes, bars and restaurants, and a wide range of entertaining distractions were seen as essential elements for success. So, too, were the in-terminal transit hotels to enable the weary to get their heads down between flights.
And successful it has been, consistently winning accolades from around the world, including, once again, best airport in OAG's Airline of the Year Awards 2006, recapturing the title after briefly ceding it to Dubai last year.
Since the initial ‘Aeropolis’ concept, Singapore Changi added a second terminal in 1990 and extended both Terminals 1 and 2 in the mid-Nineties, with an annual handling passenger throughput now running at around 32.4 million.
Earlier this year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore opened a Budget Terminal to accommodate the anticipated growth of low-cost carriers in the Asia/Pacific region, and work is now well advanced on Terminal 3, which is scheduled to open in early 2008. Costing S$1.75 billion (US$1.1 billion), it will increase Changi's handling
capacity to 64 million a year, which should be sufficient until 2020. The new facility will add 28 aerobridge gates to the existing 67, with up to eight designed to handle the new generation of Airbus A380 super-jumbos, of which Singapore Airlines has 10 on order and options for a further 15. The airport authority has already spent S$60
million (US$38 million) on preparing the existing two terminals to handle the A380, which is now expected to enter service early next year.
A key feature of the new Terminal 3 will be a S$121 million state-of-the-art baggage handling system, designed to enhance Changi's reputation as a major regional hub. Fully-automated, it will include high-speed inter-terminal transfer and early bag storage facilities. This will ensure that the baggage of those passengers with connecting
flights at different terminals will be transported individually through underground tunnels at a speed of 7m/second, taking around three minutes for a bag to be transferred from one terminal to the other. And there is an automated storage and retrieval system for bags that are checked-in early or those in transit with lengthy connection times.
The system will also be capable of automatically updating changes in passenger itineraries and to discharge bags to the right connecting flights.
Changi is currently served by more than 80 airlines flying to over 180 cities in 50 countries. In this anniversary year, it plans a series of celebratory events, including a 25-week long shopping festival now under way. To date, more than 30,000 passengers have walked away with prizes ranging from shopping vouchers worth between S$250 and S$25,000, to pens and limited edition airport souvenirs. At-a-glance guide
Location: 12.4 miles (20km) from the city centre
Transport links: direct MRT connection, every 6-12 minutes, with a journey time of 27 minutes (less than S$2); shared 6-seat MaxiCabs to various hotels, every 15 minutes (S$7); taxis take around 20 minutes (S$16-S$24, excluding surcharges); limo taxis (S$35 flat rate); buses to city centre and various other destinations (less than S$2)
Annual passenger throughput: 32.43 million
Minimum connecting time: 60 minutes
Executive lounges: located on Level 3. T1 Area A: JAL Sakura, SATS Premier, Thai Royal Orchid, British Airways/Qantas/SIA; Area B: Cathay Pacific, CIAS, Dynasty, EVA Air Evergreen, Fuji. Terminal 2, Area C: Air France Salon, MAS Golden, SIA Raffles Club, SIA Silver Kris; Area D: SATS Premier lounge; Plaza Premium
(S$30, pay on entry)
Facilities: business centres; airport-wide wireless LAN; 24-hour iConnect IT zone in T2 (free Xbox Live, free Internet with video and voice capabilities, Ethernet & dial-up; hi-tech Skyplex entertainment lounge, with more than 24 plasma and LCD screens, plus one giant (3m x4m) screen; movie theatre; swimming pool and Jacuzzi; showers, fitness centre; napping areas (beds and pillows); SMS/IR mobile entertainment corners; TV lounges; Explorer's lounge; indoor and outdoor gardens; medical centres; pharmacy; smoking rooms; prayer room;
hairdressing salons; parents' rest-rooms (for those with babies); more than 100 shops and extensive choice of food
and beverage outlets
Banks/cashpoints: exchange bureaux; ATMs
Airport hotels: transit hotels within both terminals; Changi Village hotel (free shuttle)
Ground Transportation Centre: Airport Shuttle, Limousine Taxis, car rental desks
Website: www.changiairport.com.sg
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