Work on Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 resumed, expected to begin operations in mid-2030s
The new terminal will handle around 50 million passengers per year, the equivalent of T1 and T3 combined.
Work on Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 (T5) has resumed after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, with the new Terminal expected to handle about 50 million passengers per year.
This was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his National Day Rally 2022 speech on Sunday (Aug 28), where he gave updates on the 1,080ha Changi East development, which includes T5 and the Changi East Urban District.
Noting how the development is almost as big as the current land area of Changi Airport, PM Lee said: “In fact, we are building one more new Changi Airport. It is huge.”
Construction is expected to begin in about two years, and the terminal will be designed with the flexibility to be built in two phases, in line with traffic growth. It is expected to be operational in the mid-2030s.
The new terminal will have several features that help cement Changi Airport’s position as a national icon.
In line with sustainability efforts, T5 will make use of solar panels, smart building management systems, as well as district cooling combined with thermal energy storage to reduce its carbon footprint. Other efforts include T5 being ready for viable alternative fuels, including the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
It will also be a Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy Building, as certified by the Building and Construction Authority.
T5 will also incorporate technology such as autonomous vehicles and baggage handling robots to automate and digitalise airport operations
The terminal will also be designed to operate as smaller sub-terminals when needed, with spaces that can be converted for use in segregating high-risk passengers and testing operations. Along with enhanced ventilation systems and contactless systems, the airport will be better able to handle future pandemics.
Next to the terminal will be the Changi East Urban District (CEUD), a new business and lifestyle destination that will create more jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans.
“Now, with borders reopening, people are travelling again. Passenger traffic has already exceeded half of pre-COVID-19 levels,” said PM Lee.
“In the longer term, air travel will keep growing because of a fast-expanding middle class in our region. Hence we decided to go ahead and restart the T5 project.”
