Singapore Changi Airport's New Passenger Terminal To Boost Capacity
On Jan. 9, 2008, Singapore Changi International Airport will unveil Terminal 3, a new 4-million-sq.-ft. passenger terminal located across from Terminal 2 that can accommodate more than 22 million passengers each year. The $1.75 billion project will have more than 100 retail, 40 food and beverage outlets and 20 service concessions.
"When the new Terminal 3 opens, it will boost Changi Airport's overall passenger handling capacity to 70 million passengers, further contributing to Singapore's standing as a regional air hub," said Kershing Goh, regional director, Singapore Tourism Board. "This further enhances Singapore's strategic location and accessibility, one of the key factors that encourage business travelers and meeting planners to choose Singapore as their venue."
The airport also will operate a fully automated, high-speed inter-terminal baggage transfer system and an automated early bag storage facility.
To complement the terminal, the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel will open in March with more than 350 rooms, a swimming pool, restaurants, meeting and conference rooms, spa lounges and a health and fitness club.
"Given the strong growth momentum of the tourism industry, the STB expects visitor arrivals to increase to 13 million to 14 million visitors in 2010 and 17 million in 2015," said Goh. "Terminal 3 will not only boost the passenger handling capacity of Changi Airport, but also help to cater to the expected increase in visitors."
The increased number of visitors also will be accommodated with the new automated people mover system—10 train services that link the airport's three terminals.
In addition to the design and construction of Terminal 3, the Civic Aviation Authority of Singapore, which operates Changi Airport, has spent more than $68 million preparing Changi's terminals 1 and 2 for Airbus' new A380 superjumbo passenger jet. "Terminal 3 will add another 28 aerobridge gates to Changi Airport, with up to eight that have been designed to handle the new generation of large aircraft, the A380," said a spokesperson from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
The work for the entire airport includes widening of runways' shoulders and runway-taxiway, taxiway-taxiway intersections, modification of taxiway bridges and gates, extension of baggage belt carousels, construction of two new freighter/remote stands and the purchase of new airport emergency equipment. CAAS has acquired four new ultra large foam tender vehicles to replace its older vehicles and two emergency evacuation air stairs. The stairs will enable firefighters to get to the upper decks of the A380s.
Aesthetically, the new terminal features natural lighting, extensive visual access, a unique roof architecture that has more than 900 skylights with reflector panels that adjust themselves to allow an amount of soft light into the building, while keeping out the heat. Another key attraction is a five-story high vertical garden, called "The Green Wall," which is covered with climbing plants and waterfalls. "Terminal 3 adopts a see-through layout concept, making it easier for travelers to orientate themselves," said a spokesperson for the Civic Aviation Authority of Singapore. "This is part of the four guiding principles adopted by the CAAS when designing Terminal 3—clarity, natural lighting, external views and maintainability."