Contributor - Middle East

Peter Shaw-Smith

Changi Airport Group (CAG) is to expand Singapore’s International Airport to a capacity of 135 million passengers per year by around 2025, cementing the island state’s status as one of Asia’s leading hubs. Plans for the expansion through construction of the new Terminal 5 (T5), to be built on an unused 1,080-hectare site at Changi East, were announced by Transport Minister Liu Tuck Yew in 2013. 
Much of the existing and new site is reclaimed land – Singapore has a policy of preparing land in advance to prevent infrastructure bottlenecks from hampering development. “Terminal 5 will increase Changi Airport’s total capacity to 135 million passengers per annum,” CAG said in a statement. “Set to be one of the largest terminals in the world, Terminal 5 will be capable of handling 50 million passengers per annum in its initial phase. It is scheduled for completion in the mid-2020s. There will be land for subsequent expansion,” it said. 
Terminal 5 will be connected to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to allow the expanded airport to be operated as a single, integrated facility for ease of transfer between different terminals, passenger convenience and airfield operational efficiency, the Transport Ministry said. “Terminal 5 will be built in two phases, with the pace of construction dependent on air traffic growth,” it said.
The airport will see the introduction of a third runway, situated to the southeast of the airport, and currently used by the military, which will be lengthened from 2.75 km to 4 km (from 9,000 to 13,000 ft). “Changi Airport’s three-runway system will be ready by around 2020,” CAG said. 
Current Changi capacity is 66 million, which will increase to 82 million in 2017 with the addition of Terminal 4 (T4), now under construction. “Construction for T4, our next terminal–to be completed in 2017–is progressing well and will enter into the operational testing stage sometime in 2016,” said Lee Ching Wern, CAG senior manager corporate communications.
Between January and October 2015, Changi Airport recorded 45.52 million passenger movements, 2.1 percent more than the year-earlier period. Cargo shipments were steady at 1.53 million metric tons while aircraft movements grew 1.2 percent to 286,980 for the same period. Changi was the 16th busiest airport in the world in 2014, with 54.09 million passengers, according to the Airports Council International. 
As of November 1, 2015, more than 100 airlines were operating at the airport, connecting Singapore to some 320 cities in about 80 countries and territories worldwide. Changi sees more than 6,700 scheduled flights a week. Ground handling and flight catering are handled by SATS, with around 80 percent of the business, and Dnata.
A mixed-use area, Jewel Changi Airport, a joint venture between CAG (51 percent) and CapitaLand (49 percent), is expected to open in 2018 adjacent to Terminal 1. The development, with retail space, a hotel and facilities for airport operations, will have a total gross floor area of about 134,000 square meters, and 10 floors, with five levels below ground for parking.
While much of Singapore’s MRO business is associated with the growing business aviation airport at Seletar, Changi’s MRO cluster is home to more than 100 companies, capturing upwards of 20 percent of the Asia Pacific market. 
Singapore Airlines’ MRO arm, SIA Engineering Co. (SIAEC), is the dominant player at Changi. Together with its 26 joint ventures and subsidiaries in nine countries, the SIAEC Group provides MRO services to the aircraft of more than 80 international airlines.
Group financial data showed 61 percent of revenue in repair and overhaul in the last full year, with 39 percent in line maintenance. In June, SIAEC renewed its maintenance contract with SilkAir for a further five years for its A319 and A320 fleet, a deal valued at US$139 million.
A major MRO facility, to be known as Changi East Industrial Zone, will be built to the northeast of the future T5. “To support the long-term growth of the logistics and aerospace industries, land will also be set aside to the north of T5 for air freight and air express operators as well as MRO activities,” CAG said.
Singapore’s previous civilian airport, at Paya Lebar, which replaced the original Kallang Airport in the city center, was converted to an airbase in 1981.

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Changi Airport Outlines Expansion Plans

New Terminal 4 expected by 2017 while Terminal 5 capacity will increase to 135 million by mid-2020s

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Infrastructure development ramps up as electric aviation builds momentum

Beta’s Aircraft Charging Network Doubled in 2024

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Autonomous eVTOL manufacturer continuous work on China's "low-altitude economy"

EHang Launches eVTOL Infrastructure Partnerships in China

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Helsinki city officials want to build housing on the historic site and nature reserve

Campaigners Push To Reopen Helsinki's Malmi Airport

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

Electric aircraft and ground vehicles can now charge at KBAF in western Massachusetts

Atlantic and Beta Add Aircraft Chargers in Massachusetts

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Airport ground vehicles create a memorable holiday light display

Czech Airport Lights Up with Holiday Spirit

Matt Thurber

ADS-B and computer vision enables system to detect landing and on-runway traffic

Purdue Polytechnic Patenting Runway Status Lights 

Galesburg's airport will be renamed for a hometown aviation legend

Illinois Airport To Honor Local Aviator, FBO Owner

AmyWilder

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

2016 Singapore Airshow

More In Airports