The Singapore Airlines(SIA) group will be moving to the new Terminal 5 at Changi Airport when it opens, says Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, who was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for Terminal 5 on May 14. The SIA group is currently operating across three of the airport’s terminals. Other air carriers will also be able to expand their operations at Terminal 5 and at the airport’s other terminals, Changi Airport Group (CAG) adds.
The new terminal, which is expected to open in the mid-2030s and be linked to the airport's existing terminals, will be deemed a “mega terminal”, given that its land area is as big as all of Changi Airport’s existing terminals combined, says CAG. Terminal 5 will also add an annual passenger capacity of 50 million, expanding Changi Airport’s total passenger capacity by over 50%.
With the new terminal, CAG also hopes to increase the number of its city links to 200 from 170 currently.
Given that Asia Pacific is projected to be among the fastest-growing air travel markets over the next two decades, according to Airports Council International, the additional capacity at Terminal 5 will enable Singapore to ride on the aviation industry’s long-term growth in the region and beyond, CAG adds.
In addition to the East-West line on the MRT, Terminal 5 will see additional connectivity to Singapore’s city centre and other major hubs with the extension of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and the Cross Island Line (CRL) to the new terminal. Beyond the city centre, TEL will connect the airport to the Johor Bahru-Singapore rapid transit system (RTS) link, notes Wong.
Terminal 5 also offers the possibility of enhanced air and sea connectivity due to its close proximity to the existing Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, CAG adds.
See also: Terminal 5: Building for future growth
The new terminal will house a ground transportation centre that includes train, bus, taxi and other transport services. It will be powered by clean energy with a rooftop solar system that can potentially generate enough energy to power up to 20,000 four-room HDB flats for a year. Terminal 5 is also designed with the option to operate as smaller sub-terminals when needed.
Terminal 5 is located in Changi East, a 1,080-hectare development, which will include the Changi East Industrial Zone (CEIZ) and the Changi East Urban District (CEUD). The CEIZ will serve as an integrated logistics and air cargo hub in the region, while the CEUD will serve as a business and lifestyle destination. Changi East is designed to withstand extreme weather and climate change effects. According to CAG, the airfield is designed with an elevation of 5.5m above sea leavel.
