Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Strange Nature Gin from New Zealand, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
SINGAPORE. Our selection of images today comes from Changi Airport as the Singapore hub launches the world’s largest sunflower display at an airport.
‘A Sunflower Sojourn’ features over 5,000 sunflowers in more than ten varieties at over 20 locations across all four terminals. The showcase extends outdoors to the Hub & Spoke Café. At Terminal 2 and 3 Departure Halls visitors are greeted with stunning floral displays, towering 5m and 8m respectively.
The airport’s first-ever flower-themed showcase – timed to coincide with school holidays and the Mid-Autumn Festival – will run until 30 September.
From the classic bright yellow ‘Sunrise’ to the rarer red and yellow ‘Florenza’ and the pastel pink ‘Strawberry Blonde’, all the flowers are grown in Changi Airport’s own plant nursery. Visitors are encouraged to discover the sunflower’s cultural significance, ecological importance and the diverse human uses of this remarkable plant.
Sunflowers have been a feature at Changi Airport since the opening of the Sunflower Garden – one of many at the airport – at the Terminal 2 departure transit area in 2002.
Changi Airport Group Senior Vice President of Airport Operations Development Ang Siew Min said: “Our lush gardens at Changi Airport have always been more than just a feature; they are an experience that embodies the warmth and hospitality of our airport. We are thrilled to unveil this vibrant Sunflower Sojourn display, as an extension of the Sunflower Garden to the other parts of the airport.
“The sunflower, a symbol of joy and cheerfulness, perfectly aligns with our service philosophy of delivering delightful and positively surprising experiences to all visitors.”
Airport visitors are also encouraged to delve into how sunflowers have inspired humans throughout history, impacting both art and agriculture. For centuries, the flower has held deep cultural significance, influencing poets, writers, and artists across various mediums and its radiant colours and lively presence have made it a symbol of warmth and vitality.
For over 3,000 years, in addition to its crucial role in the ecosystem, the sunflower has been a significant agricultural crop. Sunflowers are mainly grown for their seeds, which can be used as animal feed or enjoyed as a snack by humans. Sunflower seeds are also the primary source of sunflower oil, the fourth most widely produced vegetable oil.
Exclusive Sunflower Sojourn merchandise is available at Terminal 3 Departure Hall and through a sunflower-themed vending machine at Terminal 3 North. Products include a limited-edition Buddy Bear (S$35, US$50), pens (S$5, US$4), coasters (S$9, US$7), acrylic magnets (S$9, US$7) and pouches (S$13, US$10) featuring minimalist artwork inspired by Changi Airport’s Sunflower, Enchanted and Cactus gardens.
The airport is also offering sunflower-themed activities for transit passengers in Terminals 1 and 3 over two weekends – 30 August/1 September and 6-8 September – with the programme including free workshops on the art of paper sunflower-making and sunflower tattoo stickers.
In keeping with the theme, The Hub & spoke Café is serving sunflower-inspired dishes like soft-serve yogurt with sunflower-flavoured sauce and sunflower butter toast, available in limited quantities. ✈
