A new big game-changing terminal arrives at Singapore Changi Airport

May 2025 OAG Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is listed as the fourth international airport in the world in Bauer Port, based on the capacity of international seats. In that month, the airport offered 3.6 million international seats, placing it in Dubai, London Heathrow Airport and Amsterdam, and ahead of Incheon and Istanbul, Seoul. In 2024, the airport received about 68 million passengers, making it one of the most important hubs in the region.

However, Singapore is building a sprawling new terminal called Pier 5which will increase annual capacity from 90 million passengers to 140 million passengers. The new terminal will break ground in May 2025 and is expected to begin operations in the mid-2030s. Here is knowledge about the sprawling new terminal currently under construction in Changi.

New Terminal 5 in Singapore

In Asia, most global aviation growth is expected to occur in the next decade or so. Singapore Changi Airport hopes to take advantage of this growth and use its new Terminal 5 as its main hub. Covering about 2,670 acres, the new terminal will be nearly twice the existing area of ​​the airport.

Changi often Doha Hamad International Airport for SkytraxThe “Best Airport in the World” award and won the championship again in 2025. Singapore is a small and wealthy island nation that relies heavily on global trade and wants to retain its status as a major transit center and destination. Airlines now accounts for 5% of Singapore’s GDP, and the industry employs about 200,000 people.

CNBC Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong quoted Lawrence Wong as saying at the groundbreaking ceremony that the program was targeting Terminal 5 to help Changi connect with 200 cities, up from 170 cities related to today. It is estimated that Asian airports need to be able to accommodate By 2043, passenger numbers increase forecast growth.

Larger Changi East Development

Terminal 5 is part of the airport's wider Changi East development. A wider range of projects include the construction of Terminal 5, commissioning of a third runway system, construction of tunnels and other underground systems, and onshore and aviation support facilities. Terminal 5 will be connected to other terminals of the hub, allowing the facility to operate as an integrated airport.

The third runway is based on the existing third runway. Previously, this was only for use by the military, but now it has changed from military to civilian use. The runway has expanded from its previous 2.75 km (1.7 miles) to 4 km (2.5 miles), allowing it to handle larger passenger aircraft. Nearly 40 km (25 miles) of new taxiways were also built to connect the runway to the rest of the airport, and the three-run system is expected to begin operations by the end of 2027.

It is not clear which passenger attractions will be included in Terminal 5, although Changi itself is already known for its appeal. The airport already has a dinosaur park, the world's largest indoor waterfall, a maze and a variety of other attractions. The airport wants to be part of people’s destination, not just a waypoint to the destination. Jewel Changi Airport opened in 2019 And it is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex that connects terminals 1, 2 and 4.

Designed for pandemics

The construction of the end 5 has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Engineers seized the opportunity provided by the suspension to redesign all aspects of the terminal, including building it to be able to operate in the future global health crisis. The design of the terminal has changed to make it more modular and enhance its resilience and sustainability, and make it more natural.

The terminal is designed to emphasize automated and contactless systems, including at passenger contact points. It has an enhanced ventilation system that can be activated during the pandemic. and terminal It is huge, and its design is flexible and can be operated as a smaller sub-terminal when needed. Its space can be converted to deal with unexpected events such as health testing operations and isolating high-risk passengers.

These and other special regulations are designed to reduce the spread of diseases so that they can even function in the pandemic. During Covid-19, Changi Airport had to close its doors to non-travelers for the first time in history after the virus's delta variant outbreak. It's just a question of when, not when, when, and when to be prepared again.

Focus on renewable technology

Solar energy has become the world's largest source of new power generation. In 2024, 58% of all new generations of new U.S. power generation is solar, up to 81% if new battery storage facilities are included for storage and distribution of (mostly solar) power. Now, solar energy is growing much faster than wind engines (wind power matures before solar power). Although Singapore's Terminal 5 will not be such a powerplant, it will be a green-marked platinum ultra-low energy building.

Terminal 5 will be one of the largest rooftop solar systems Singapore. according to AIRPORTit will generate enough solar energyApproximately 20,000 4-bedroom HDB apartments in one year“And it has installed solar panels on its existing terminal. In addition to Terminal 5, the airport is expected to generate a total power generation capacity of 43MW-PEAK. Of which, 38MWP will be generated from solar panels installed on the roof, and the other 5MWPs from the other 5MWPs from the open space.

Other sustainability features will include a distributed regional cooling system designed to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. It will have various other things”Innovative and efficient system design“Including construction and energy management systems. Many airports and airlines around the world have committed to becoming net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Garden Airport

Singapore and its Changi Airport are working to introduce green spaces. The terminal’s artist impression shows a large green space including an indoor palm tree garden, and the terminal will combine vertical gardens with other green spaces to create a more natural and tempting environment for many passengers.

The existence of Changi Jewelrythis The airport says Passengers can find one”Lush green shelter, peaceful retreat at the heart of the world's best transport center.

An outdoor smoking area in Changi is located on the roof of Cactus Park and overlooks the runway (located in Terminal 1, Level 3). Even that small park has bars, small trails, 100 cactus and desert plants. Speaking of their contract work at Terminal 5, Heatherwick Studio Say the terminal will be inspired by the nature of Singapore and it will be a “Lush green plants“And the terminal is more than just another monolithic transit center.

Join a large airport club

Singapore Not the only airport in Asia that plans to become a major airport. Large airports are defined as having capacity of more than 100 million passengers, and hubs in Beijing, Tokyo and Shanghai have reached this definition. Meanwhile, Hong Kong International Airport plans to handle 120 million passengers between 2035 and 2035, and Seoul Incheon recently completed its four-stage expansion, bringing its capacity to 106 million passengers.

According to other places Saigon EraVietnam plans to expand Hanoi’s NOI BAI International Airport to handle 100 million passengers a year. It is also building a second Ho Chi Minh City Airport (Chain Tah International), with 100 million passengers. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines is developing a large airport in Addis Ababa (called Bishoftu International) with an annual capacity of 100 million passengers.

In addition to the pandemic year 2020, the United States Hartsfield – Jackson has been the busiest airport in the world since 1998. In 2024, it handled 108 million passengers, a rare example of the airport handling more than 100 million passengers. Meanwhile, Dubai is building a new airport (called Al Maktoum International) that is expected to eventually reach 260 million passengers. CNBC.