Changi budget terminal to be expanded

Nicole Mezzasalma

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The plan aims to increase the terminal’s handling capacity to 7m passengers a year, with no immediate changes to retail

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has announced a S$10m ($7.2m) plan to expand Singapore Changi airport’s budget terminal. Starting in July and scheduled to end in early 2009, the works will increase the facility’s handling capacity from 2.7m to 7m passengers a year. Floor space will be expanded by 3,700sq m (343sq ft), but a CAAS spokesperson told DFNIonline there will be no change to the retail area at this stage, adding that the airport authority “will monitor the retail development closely”.

CAAS director general and CEO Lim Kim Choon said: “When we first decided to build the budget terminal about three years ago, no one could accurately predict the success of low-cost travel in this region. With increased air transport liberalisation in this region, airlines, including low-cost carriers, now have greater opportunities to rapidly expand their air network and increase their flight operations.”