Image: Changi Airport Group (CAG)

Singapore Starts Building Changi Airport Terminal 5

Our Bureau - : May 15, 2025 - : 3:12 am

Construction has begun on Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5), a major expansion project that is expected to significantly increase Singapore’s air travel capacity. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong officiated the ground-breaking ceremony on 14 May, marking the start of a development...

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Planned for completion in the mid-2030s, Terminal 5 is part of the 1,080-hectare Changi East development and will be one of Singapore’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. The terminal is designed to handle up to 50 million passengers annually, effectively boosting the airport’s total capacity to 140 million—a more than 55 per cent increase from its current 90 million.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot will consolidate their operations at T5 once it becomes operational. They currently operate from Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Changi Airport Group (CAG) stated that the consolidation will enhance operational efficiency and provide space for future growth. Other airlines will also have room to expand, although CAG noted that specific plans will depend on evolving aviation dynamics in the coming years.

Passenger traffic in the Asia-Pacific, already the largest global air travel market, is projected to double by the 2040s. CAG said that the expanded capacity at T5 will enable Singapore to tap into this growth and maintain its position as a leading aviation hub. Currently, Changi Airport is connected to over 170 cities, with the aim of expanding to more than 200 by the mid-2030s.

Construction activity for T5 is set to peak around 2029. Infrastructure completed so far includes the airport’s third runway, an underpass for vehicular traffic, and tunnels for baggage handling and automated people-mover systems. The third runway is expected to be operational by late 2027. A second air traffic control tower will be added to manage the increased airside operations.

T5 will integrate a new ground transport centre connecting to the Thomson-East Coast and Cross Island MRT lines, in addition to other modes of public transport such as buses and taxis. Inside, the terminal will feature curved overlapping roofs and extensive use of natural lighting and landscaping. CAG stated that T5 will be equipped with advanced systems and automation technologies aimed at improving passenger experience and operational efficiency.

Technologies being trialled include baggage robots capable of operating in poor weather, as well as video analytics and AI tools to monitor aircraft turnaround times and anticipate delays. Automated people-mover systems and travelators will reduce walking distances, linking T5 to gates, immigration halls, and other terminals. T5 will also introduce flexible security screening clusters near boarding gates, allowing the airport to adjust gate operations based on demand.

Sustainability is another core focus. T5 will be powered partly by a large rooftop solar system, projected to supply enough energy to power 20,000 four-room HDB flats for a year. The terminal is also being designed to support sustainable aviation fuels and a fully electric airside vehicle fleet by 2025.

Provisions have also been made for potential air-sea passenger transfers via the nearby Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Early-stage plans are being considered to allow airside access from T5 to the ferry terminal without passing through immigration. New roads will link the terminal to major expressways via the Changi Southern Corridor.

In terms of climate resilience, T5’s airfield will be elevated at 5.5 metres above sea level. Taxiways are designed with slopes for effective rainwater drainage, and the drainage system is engineered to handle high tides and intense rainfall from extreme storms.

T5’s development is part of a broader long-term expansion strategy that includes the Changi East Urban District, a future business and lifestyle hub, and the Changi East Industrial Zone. The latter is expected to almost double Changi Airport’s annual cargo handling capacity, from 3 million to 5.4 million tonnes.

To support this expansion, the Government established the Changi Airport Development Fund in 2015 and has so far contributed S$11 billion. CAG did not disclose the projected total cost of T5 but indicated that it would be in the “tens of billions”, supported by a funding model jointly developed with the Government.

The design of T5 also includes flexibility to operate as smaller sub-terminals if needed. This allows for sections of the terminal to be converted into quarantine or testing facilities during future public health emergencies.

Changi Airport has recorded a strong post-pandemic recovery, handling a record 68.4 million passengers in the year ending 31 March 2025. The airport currently supports more than 7,200 weekly flights operated by nearly 100 airlines. It is ranked as the fourth-busiest international air hub globally, with several of the world’s busiest routes passing through it in 2024.

Changi-airport-group-cag / Changi-airport / Singapore /

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