Singapore will construct a new Terminal at Changi Airport

Singapore will expand Changi Airport by constructing a new Terminal 5 (T5), stated to begin in the first half of 2025. The project will increase the airport’s annual passenger handling capacity by 50 million, bringing its total capacity to 140 million passengers annually by the mid-2030s. This expansion is a key part of Singapore’s strategy to maintain its position as a leading aviation hub amid increasing regional competition.

The new terminal will also boost Changi’s global connectivity, increasing the number of cities it serves from nearly 150 to more than 200. Changi Airport is Southeast Asia’s busiest airport and it handled nearly 60 million passengers in 2023 as international travel rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic. Passenger traffic in the first half of 2024 nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels.

However, Singapore faces growing competition from other regional airports that are rapidly expanding. Vietnam is constructing a new airport near Ho Chi Minh City designed to handle over 100 million passengers annually and Hong Kong is investing more than $18 billion to expand its international hub. According to aviation experts, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 60% of new airport projects worldwide.

In response, Singapore is modernizing its aviation systems. Innovations such as autonomous baggage-handling vehicles and advancements in airspace management aim to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. The newly launched International Aviation Lab is also working on developing more efficient methods for handling aircraft, passengers and baggage.

Besides expanding capacity, Singapore is focused on sustainable growth. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore launched the Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint earlier this year, which outlines plans to reduce aviation emissions and address other environmental challenges.

As part of efforts to engage the public in shaping the future of Singapore’s aviation industry, a public exhibition will be held in 2025 to showcase upcoming developments at Changi Airport.