SINGAPORE. Construction of Singapore Changi Airport’s new mega terminal is slated to begin in the first half of 2025, according to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Wong made the announcement during the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) last week.
He highlighted the need for Singapore to enhance its competitive edge amid intensifying competition in the global aviation sector.
“The most important thing we are doing is to invest in Terminal 5,” he said. “We will break ground for the construction of T5 in the first half of next year. And T5 will add capacity for another 50 million passengers each year, on top of Changi’s current capacity of 90 million.
“So it will support more connectivity, transform the passenger experience, and create more jobs. Besides additional capacity, the government is also working closely with our international partners to further liberalise our air services agreements, so that airlines can mount more flights, and expand Changi’s network.
“We are already well connected, with almost 150 city links today. But we aim to grow this further, to over 200 links in the mid-2030s. This will bring more passengers to Changi and Singapore, and create demand for the services of our broader aviation ecosystem.”
Prefacing his comments on T5, Wong said: “While we celebrate these achievements, we cannot rest on our laurels. Competition is heating up.
The International Air Transport Association projects that post-COVID air passenger volume will double by 2040. And Asia Pacific, our region, will be a key engine of this increase.
“Countries in our region and beyond are making significant investments to expand and improve their airport infrastructure, to capture more of this traffic. Some have announced plans for mega airports that can handle more than 100 million passengers a year. So they are narrowing the gap with Singapore.
“Many airlines are also rapidly expanding their fleets and networks, including to serve more direct routes. Increasingly, flights that would have passed through Changi may no longer be needed.
“So we must continue to sharpen our competitive edge and develop new advantages to set us apart.” ✈
