Covering a large 1,080 hectares (similar to the world of over 660 football pitches), the Changi East project is Changi Airport’s largest investment in its history.
According to the official Changi Airport website, the inter-agency Changi 2036 Steering Committee was established in 2012 to develop a plan for this gigantic expansion of Changi Airport, which included the suggestion to construct fifth terminal, Terminal 5 (T5) .
As Changi is on course to maximise its existing capability at Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 before the top of the following decade, Singapore needs T5 to take care of its edge within the highly competitive race to develop into a top air hub, The Straits Times reported.
What about this mega-airport that is value at the very least knowing?
Here are some quick facts in regards to the terminal, which has been developing at a rapid pace throughout 2017:
(Note: compilation from Changi Airport Group official website and report by Channel NewsAsia Insider and The Straits Times)
# It shall be positioned on the Changi East Site, in regards to the size of Tampines New Town. It may also have a capability much like the combined capability of Terminals 1 through 3
# T5 may have an initial capability of fifty million passengers each year (mppa), which is able to increase Changi Airport’s total handling capability to 135 mppa by the top of the following decade
# It can be poised to tap the Asia-Pacific region, the world’s fastest-growing market, with passenger numbers by 2034 from China (1.3 billion), India (442 million) and Indonesia (242 million).
# The terminal is positioned on reclaimed land manufactured from soft marine clay with a toothpaste-like consistency. To increase soil strength before construction of recent airport facilities begins, ground improvement work is required on roughly one-third of the location.
# The investment is scheduled for completion around 2030, and the work shall be carried out in over 70 sub-stages over five to 6 years
# To ensure adequate runway capability for continued airport development beyond this decade, in addition to to support the long run T5, the present third runway (runway 3) utilized by the military shall be converted to joint military-civilian use.
# Runway 3 shall be prolonged from 2.7km to over 4km to accommodate Dream Jetliner and Airbus A380 flights
# Terminal 5 shall be built 5.5 meters above mean sea level of 100 meters. This is greater than within the case of other terminals
# Terminal 5 will definitely enhance the country’s status as a key aviation sector, complementing Jewel, soon to be accomplished in 2019, a way of life and retail hub expected to draw tourists and residents, and Terminal 4, which opened in October 2017 .and still developing
# The technology aspect may also be modernized in order that an aging workforce can do their job and travel becomes easier for all walks of life
# The terminal size will enable airlines so as to add more connections and flights, which not directly means providing higher connectivity for Singapore and making it easier for local businesses and SMEs expanding overseas
# The terminal shall be divided into sections and recent types of sky trains shall be introduced
# Tunnels shall be built to attach T5 with other terminals, making the megaterminal convenient and seamless
# In addition to a considerable amount of characteristic greenery, the terminal will concentrate on renewable energy sources
Source: Changi Airport Group official website, Channel NewsAsia Insider and The Straits Times
