With Prime Minister of Singapore and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony for Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5) just days ago, we’ve received more exciting news alongside it about the mega terminal that’s set to open in a few short years!
In case you’re not in the loop, here’s what we already know: powered by state-of-the-art airport systems and extensive automation, T5 will be seamlessly linked to existing terminals at Changi Airport, allowing the entire airport to operate as a single integrated air hub.
Even in its first phase alone, the terminal is designed to handle about 50 million passengers. And with the Asia-Pacific region being projected to be among the fastest-growing air travel markets over the next two decades, this added capacity positions Singapore to tap into—and lead—the long-term growth of aviation in the region and beyond.
So, with everything from the possibility of ferry services to even more lush greenery, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Changi Airport Terminal 5!
Enhanced Connectivity
For the first time, Terminal 5 will see Changi Airport house a ground transportation centre, bringing together rail, bus, and other transportation services. This new hub will enhance Changi’s connectivity to the rest of Singapore, making the airport accessible not just for travel, but also as a destination for residents to enjoy.
As an added bonus, aside from air travel, Terminal 5 will also offer the possibility of enhanced sea connectivity for more seamless passenger travel, such as convenient connections to both neighbouring local and international destinations via ferry.
Finally, to make it easier for passengers to get around the terminal, an automated people mover (APM) system similar to the Skytrain will be introduced in Terminal 5 to reduce walking distances. The APM network will also link T5 to Terminal 2, facilitating seamless transfers across every terminal.
T5 will also be designed to be intuitive for wayfinding, with paths that lead passengers either to their boarding gates or the APM station that’ll take them to said gates. No longer will passengers need to rely heavily on signage to find their way around the terminal, bridging both the language barrier and the travel experience between airport and plane.
Mega Yet Cosy
Moving onto the terminal’s design–inspired by Singapore’s unique blend of nature and city, T5’s design concept is characterised by a unique collection of overlapping curved roofs with varying heights.
The “roof leaves” break the mega terminal building into smaller, human-scale spaces which, combined with natural light and landscaping at appropriate spaces, will give the terminal that familiar cosy, yet uplifting, feel that Changi is known for!
To neatly sum it up, as Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airport Group Yam Kum Weng puts it: “T5 offers new possibilities and will bring new surprises. It will offer yet another vibrant space for families, friends and the airport community to gather and bond.”
Last but not least, the terminal will feature systems such as contactless touchpoints that can help to reduce disease transmission–a feature shaped by lessons learnt from the global pandemic, and one clean step towards safer, more resilient travel in the future.
More details are expected to roll out over the coming months as Terminal 5 officially kicks off construction. But in the meantime, do check out the Changi Airport website along with its Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates on the terminal of the future! And with that, happy travels!
Visuals Courtesy of Changi Airport Group.