Changi Airport's Jewel Takes Flight in 2019

Piling and structural works for Jewel Changi Airport's five basement and five above-ground levels are finished, with the S$1.7 billion mixed-use development set to open in 2019. Currently, 65% of the overall construction is complete, focusing on link bridges to Terminals 2 and 3, and installing the façade. Play attractions will be installed starting in the first quarter of 2018, followed by the Forest Valley's plant installation in the second quarter of 2018.

Jewel Changi Airport is expected to transform the passenger experience and draw local crowds, becoming a retail destination in itself. Terminal 1 is also undergoing expansion, aiming to increase its annual capacity to 24 million passengers by 2019 with more spacious halls and automated check-in systems.

Following Jewel's development, Terminal 4, which opened on October 31, has handled close to a million passengers, showcasing advanced self-service and automated systems. While operations are smooth, passengers may need time to adapt to the new technology, which gives Singapore a lead time over other regional airports.

Terminal 4, designed to handle up to 16 million passengers annually, will alleviate congestion in other terminals, providing more room for carriers. Testing new technologies here will inform the planning for the mega-Terminal 5, scheduled for the late 2020s. T5 will handle about 50 million passengers yearly and be larger than Terminals 1, 2, and 3 combined.

Analysts emphasize that competitiveness requires more than just larger terminals; efficient services and cost minimization for airlines are crucial to attract them. Attracting and training sufficient manpower for future operations is another challenge. To maintain its status as an aviation hub, Singapore must continue tapping new markets, including North Asia and China, and exploring long-haul budget travel.