Singapore is set to commence construction of Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5) in the first half of 2025, as announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
By the mid-2030s, when the mega terminal is operational, the goal is for Singapore to expand its air connections to over 200 cities from the current nearly 150.
At a dinner celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on September 6, Mr. Wong emphasized the need for Singapore to enhance its competitiveness as global competition in air transport intensifies.
He observed that many countries are investing heavily in their airport infrastructure to attract more traffic, thereby closing the competitive gap with Singapore. “Some are planning mega airports with capacities exceeding 100 million passengers annually,” Mr. Wong noted.
“Many airlines are also rapidly expanding their fleets and networks, including to serve more direct routes. Increasingly, flights that would have passed through Changi may no longer be needed,” he added.
“Our success should not make us complacent,” he advised the 800 attendees at the Shangri-La Singapore hotel, including industry leaders, past and present CAAS employees, and senior government officials.
While Singapore’s airports currently connect to about 150 cities, Mr. Wong stressed the ambition to significantly increase this number, enhancing passenger inflow and boosting the local aviation sector.
With a capacity to handle 50 million passengers annually, T5 will augment Changi Airport’s existing capacity of 90 million, improving connectivity, revolutionizing the travel experience, and creating employment opportunities.
Mr. Wong mentioned ongoing efforts with international partners to relax air service agreements, enabling more frequent flights between Singapore and other nations.
This year, Singapore has signed a new air services agreement with Ukraine and updated agreements with the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.
Before the pandemic in 2019, Singapore boasted 175 city links serviced by 87 airlines. This number plummeted to 60 during the pandemic’s peak but had recovered to more than 140 by March 2023 as operations at Changi Airport and its airlines resumed.
In his address, Mr. Wong discussed several strategies to maintain Singapore’s lead in the aviation industry, including enhancing innovation in airspace management to cut flight times and fuel usage, and experimenting with autonomous baggage vehicles at Changi.
He also spoke about the new International Aviation Lab, which aims to develop more efficient methods for handling aircraft, passengers, and baggage.
With air passenger volumes expected to double by 2040, Mr. Wong underscored the importance of sustainable growth in the aviation sector and meaningful contributions to climate initiatives.
He praised the launch of the Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint by CAAS in February, designed to address aviation emissions, acknowledging the challenges ahead in its implementation.
Mr. Wong encouraged Singapore’s ongoing contribution to global aviation, referencing a $120 million upgrade to the Singapore Aviation Academy, which has trained over 160,000 aviation professionals from more than 200 countries.
Despite previous challenges, the industry has recovered, with the aviation workforce and passenger traffic at Changi nearly back to pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2024.
Looking forward, he expressed optimism about the benefits of Singapore’s aviation plans for all citizens and announced a public exhibition in 2025 to envision the future of the industry.
He concluded by inviting all Singaporeans to engage with and help shape the future of Singapore’s aviation narrative.
“We welcome all Singaporeans to get involved and participate in shaping our Singapore aviation story,” he added.
