The Evolution of Changi Airport

Summary:

Changi Airport is Singapore’s international airport and has a rich history of development and expansion. It opened in 1955 with a single runway and a small passenger terminal but faced congestion due to increasing traffic. The decision was made to keep the airport at Paya Lebar and expand it, leading to construction of a second runway and an extensive redevelopment of the passenger terminal.

The construction of Changi Airport involved land reclamation, with large amounts of landfill and sea fill used to expand the site. The first phase of the airport, costing around S$1.3 billion, commenced operations in 1981 with the opening of the main passenger terminal. Subsequent phases saw the addition of Terminal 2 in 1990 and Terminal 3 in 2008. Plans for Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 are also underway to accommodate future growth.

Changi Airport has become known for its world-class facilities and services. It has been consistently ranked as one of the best airports globally by Skytrax. The airport features multiple passenger terminals connected by people movers and a SkyTrain system. It has two parallel runways and a control tower that provides aerodrome control services.

In addition to its infrastructure, Changi Airport offers various free amenities for passengers, including a Butterfly Garden, movie theatres, an Entertainment Deck with gaming consoles, free city tours, children’s playgrounds, reflection chairs, and The Social Tree photo booth. These amenities contribute to a pleasant travel experience for passengers.

Changi Airport continues to invest in expansion projects, including developing Jewel Changi Airport, a mixed-use complex featuring aviation and travel-related facilities, retail offerings, leisure attractions, and a hotel. The airport’s ongoing growth plans, such as Terminal 5 and runway expansions, aim to maintain its status as a leading international airport and cater to increasing passenger demand.

Excerpt:

The Evolution of Changi Airport

CHANGI AIRPORT

History of Changi Airport

Singapore’s International Airport at Paya Lebar, Singapore’s third principal regular citizen air terminal after Seletar Airport (fundamental air terminal from 1930 to 1937) and Kallang Airport (1937-55) opened in 1955 with a solitary runway and a little traveler terminal. With the development in worldwide avionics transport, the air terminal was confronting blockage issues.