T5 a game changer, but Changi must keep moving to stay ahead of rivals

Regional air hubs expanding, with some projects set to wrap up before Terminal 5

- Kenneth Cheng

In June 1975, a major national project got under way to reclaim land for a new international airport in Changi. It was a bold move that would eventually cement Singapore's position as a key aviation hub.

Some 50 years later, the airport has marked yet another significant milestone — one that is no less bold or ambitious. On May 14, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong broke ground on Changi Airport's fifth terminal, which will be as big as Terminals 1 to 4 combined.

"Like our forefathers who chose to build Changi, we dare to dream big and aim high today," PM Wong said at a ceremony to mark the start of construction on Terminal 5 (T5), which will open in the mid-2030s.

He described the mega terminal as a "bold move" to keep Changi ahead amid intensifying competition from other airports and an uncertain global economy.

A bold move it surely is.

Nearly 12 years in the making, T5 will be a long-awaited but much-needed boost to Singapore's aviation industry — a major employer and driver of the economy that also powers other sectors such as tourism and logistics.

The new terminal will allow Changi to serve 140 million passengers yearly, over 55 per cent more than its present capacity of 90 million. It will put Changi in the league of "mega airports" — those able to handle more than 100 million passengers a year.

The investment is timely. Competition from other regional air hubs cannot be ignored.

These hubs in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are similarly expanding, with some projects expected to wrap up ahead of Changi's T5.

Hong Kong International Airport, for instance, will be able to handle 120 million passengers yearly with its third runway, which opened in November 2024, and an expanded Terminal 2, slated to be operational in late 2025.

This will allow the airport to capitalise on passenger and cargo demand into mainland China.