An enormous £7.7bn airport expansion programme is set to herald the start of tens of millions more passengers using it each year.
Singapore Changi Airport is globally renowned for its extensive facilities, exceptional service, and unique architecture, and has cost a whopping £16bn.
But, but being built in stages over a number of decades, it has continually expanded and evolved to maintain its good reputation.It first opened in 1981 at a cost of around £1.1 billion – which would be approximately £4bn today.
Since then, billions more has been splurged on the project with the latest plans encapsulating a fifth terminal.
Work on Terminal 5 is due to start next year and will increase the airport’s capacity by 50 million passengers annually, bringing the total to 140 million.
A previous £1.3 billion expansion created Terminal 3, which opened in 2008. Meanwhile, Terminal 4, which opened in 2017, cost a little under £1 billion.
And Jewel Changi – a vast entertainment and retail complex within the airport – cost another £1.3 billion and opened in 2019. This incredible addition features the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
Adjusting for inflation, a major refurbishment in 1995 cost another £250 million. And a project that added 14 aerobridges, between 1996 and 1999, cost another £580 million.
This means the airport will have cost an astonishing £16 billion by the time Terminal 5 is completed in 2030. But it would appear this money has been well spent.
Once again, Conde Nast Traveller’s jet-setting readers have named Changi the best airport in the world—and that’s before the latest £7.7 billion expansion is even underway.
Changi’s high ranking is driven by several factors that elevate the traveller experience.
For a start, it has exceptional facilities. The airport offers a diverse array of amenities, including swimming pools, cinemas, themed gardens—including a Butterfly Garden—and even a rainforest. The previously mentioned centrepiece is Jewel Changi, which features a range of attractions, from art installations to indoor walking trails.
Changi’s incredible design blends nature with modern infrastructure to create a calm and welcoming atmosphere. It also offers world-class shopping options, from high-end luxury brands to unique local boutiques.
Culture vultures can enjoy art installations and rotating exhibitions that reflect Singapore’s cultural identity. The airport has pioneered many traveller-focused innovations, including smart technology for faster boarding, a family zone, and wellness options like nap pods and massage areas.
With its ambitious plan for Terminal 5, Singapore Changi Airport shows no signs of slowing down – and it seems to be set to continue its reign as the world’s best airport.
