Singapore Changi Terminal 5 Opens Mid-2030s: Singapore Airlines’ New Home

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is already regarded as one of the world’s best airports. The airport will eventually get even better, with the opening of a new mega-terminal, though we’ll have to be patient. While the concept was first revealed in 2013, the groundbreaking has just taken place, 12 years later. It will now be roughly a decade until the first passengers departs from the terminal.

The basics of Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 5

Singapore Changi Terminal 5 is expected to open in the mid-2030s, and will be a new mega-terminal at the airport. Terminal 5 will have the capacity to serve 50 million passengers per year, more than the capacity of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 combined. The plan is for Terminal 5 to eventually become Singapore Airlines’ home, so the airline will fully move its operations there.

The Terminal 5 project was first announced back in 2013, but as you’d expect, it takes some time for projects of this scale to get underway. Furthermore, the pandemic caused the project to be delayed by two years. The terminal will be designed with the flexibility to be built in two phases, in line with traffic growth.

The new terminal will be located within the 1,080 hectare (~2,670 acre) Changi East development, which is almost as big as the land area of the current Changi Airport.

Since we’re talking about Singapore here, the new terminal won’t just be a destination for people who are flying. The development will also include the construction of the new Changi East Urban District (CEUD), which will be a business and lifestyle destination. I guess we should expect something along the lines of The Jewel.

What to expect from Changi Airport Terminal 5 design

With the terminal’s groundbreaking now taking place, Singapore is increasingly releasing details about what we can expect from this new facility, which is being described as “mega-yet-cosy.” For example, take a look at the below video, which offers a first look at the design.

In case you don’t want to watch the video, below are some screen grabs.

Here are some of the interesting attributes of Terminal 5:

• Terminal 5’s design concept is characterized by a unique collection of overlapping curved roofs with varying heights, with the “roof leaves” breaking the terminal into smaller spaces that are more human scale
• Terminal 5 will feature travelators and an automated people mover system, so that walking distances will be comparable to current terminals; there will also be a direct connection to Terminal 2
• Terminal 5 will have a ground transportation center within the terminal, giving travelers access to train, bus, taxi, and other transport services
• Terminal 5 will feature solar panels and smart building management systems to reduce the carbon footprint of the operation
• Terminal 5 will be designed with the flexibility to operate as smaller sub-terminals when needed, with spaces that could be converted for use during contingencies
• Terminal 5 will feature enhanced ventilation systems that could be activated during a pandemic to increase the use of fresh air

Here’s how Changi Airport Group CEO Yam Kum Weng, describes the new terminal:

“Our vision is for T5 to be mega yet cosy, a terminal that embraces the Changi DNA – delivering a personalised, stress free and positively surprising airport experience. As a new gateway to Singapore, T5 offers new possibilities and will bring new surprises. It will offer yet another vibrant space for families, friends and the airport community to gather and bond.”

Bottom line

Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 5 will be a new mega-terminal at the airport, and is expected to open in the mid-2030s. Along with the terminal, we should also see a new business and lifestyle district, much like what we already have with The Jewel.

Singapore simply operates airports on a completely different level than the rest of the world, and it’s exciting to think that Changi Airport could get even better. Then again, this will take some patience. Fortunately we’ve just seen the groundbreaking, so at least some progress is being made.

What do you make of the plans for Changi Terminal 5?