Changi Airport is a world-class international airport in South East Asia, one of the busiest airports in the world. Changi Airport has been the best in the world, winning multiple world airport awards.
The airport has been consistently ranked as the best in the world by various international surveys and accolades.
This world’s best airport has been voted by Skytrax for eight years in a row, even though facing fierce competition from other international airports such as Tokyo Haneda, Doha Hamad, and Seoul Incheon.
Singapore Changi Airport has a world-class facility with spacious terminals and fantastic shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
The airport is also very efficient, with a fast and easy check-in process and smooth security screening. Plus, the airport is clean and well-maintained, which makes for a pleasant travel experience.
Singapore Changi Airport is a must-visit place before visitors leave the country. It is good to arrive a few hours earlier to explore the Changi Airport experience before departure to your next destination.
Some Basic Facts About Singapore Changi Airport
- Located in the eastern part of Singapore island.
- The airport is built on land reclamation using over 52,000,000 m3 of earth.
- There are 4 terminals and 2 runways with the Terminal 5 (T5) construction and a 3rd runway scheduled for completion in the 2030s.
- It is not the only international airport in Singapore, as of 2022, Selector Airport has flights to Malaysia too.
- Singapore Changi Airport serves over 100 airlines, including members of significant airline alliances such as Oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam.
- There are flights between 300 cities and the airport, covering 80 countries.
- In 2019, before the pandemic began, a record 68.3 million people passed through Changi Airport.
Airport Facilities
One of the reasons why Changi Airport is a world-class transport hub is the vast array of facilities, amenities, and services available.
The airport has over 300 retail shops and restaurants within the transit area, so visitors can do some shopping or enjoy some dining experiences before leaving the airport.
Jewel is the latest addition to Changi Airport; it is a nature-themed entertainment and retail mall with several attractions.
In addition to retail and dining options, Changi Airport has plenty of other services, such as free WiFi, a movie theatre, an outdoor swimming pool, a butterfly garden, a massage center, and many more.
There are also free-to-use rest areas at the Departure Transit Hall of the different terminals. The free-to-use rest areas allow passengers who have arrived to take a quick nap before boarding the plane.
Changi Airport also has excellent transport connectivity, with a train station that links to the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. The MRT network in Singapore is one of the most efficient in the world, so it’s effortless to get around using public transport.
Plenty of taxis and private hire car services are also available, so passengers can quickly get to their hotel or destination after arriving at the airport.
Outstanding Engineering
As one of the busiest airports globally, Changi Airport constantly expands to accommodate the growing number of passengers and compete with other countries as the regional hub.
To maintain its status as the world’s best airport, Changi Airport Group has to constantly challenge and innovate its design and operations to stay ahead of the curve.
The Airport was one of the first to implement Dual Boarding Bridges for bigger aircraft, and the airport also has one of the most highly complex baggage handling systems.
Connecting passengers across the different terminals is not easy. This world’s best airport has a Skytrain automated people mover (APM) system that connects Terminals 1, 2, and 3 seamlessly.
The airport has a Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection system to identify loose objects on the runway, posing safety risks to aircraft. The system is capable of working even in low-light conditions, allowing the removal of an object from a runway promptly. The aircraft engines can catch fire if they ingest any items into it.
One of the amenities that got an upgrade is the check-in procedure at the airport. It has recently been improved, and the process has been automated. The system is a 4 steps process called Fast And Seamless Travel (FAST).
- Starting with the Automated Check-In Kiosks, where traveler collects their boarding pass and print their bag tags.
- After that, the traveler can drop their check-in luggage on the Automated Bag-Drop Device. This choice is only available for participating airlines.
- To verify their identity, travelers need to scan their passport, boarding pass, and fingerprint at the Automated Immigration Gates. The automated fingerprint identification system is currently accessible to travelers with approved fingerprints with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA).
- When travelers reach the Automated Boarding Gates, they scan their boarding passes and have their photos taken. This quick lane facility is for travelers who have previously passed through the automated gate at immigration.
A first for an airport, with infrared proximity sensors that detect the motion of passengers’ fingers as you point to options to allow you to check in and drop off your luggage without touching the display.
To enhance cleaning, the airport also started deploying Cleaning Robots; many have been newly fitted with misting attachments that disinfect the carpets.
Furthermore, the airport is testing ultraviolet-C light technology to sterilize the escalator handrails in the terminals and no-touch lift buttons utilizing infrared technology seen at check-in kiosks.
Top Notch Safety And Security Systems
The airport has a Baggage Handling Security System that combines X-ray scanners and CT technology to generate high-resolution 3D images to track bags as they move through.
Iris scanners have also been installed in the terminal so that passengers can quickly and easily be identified. This helps to speed up the process and make it more efficient.
The airport’s security, as with all other matters, is handled by the Airport Police Division of the Singapore Police Force (SPF). Auxiliary police forces carry out day-to-day security responsibilities at the airport.
Approximately 2,600 individuals are required to check baggage, screen checked bags, control access to restricted areas, and inspect passengers before they board their flight. This includes armed Auxiliary Police Officers and unarmed aviation security personnel.
Since September 11 attacks, Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Police Force armed personnel have also been deployed to patrol the terminals. Officers from the Gurkha Contingent are also dispatched to patrol the transit areas of the terminal buildings.
Changi Airport has Airport Emergency Service Team prepared to deal with incidents on or near its premises in under three minutes and fires that develop within a minute of their arrival at the scene.
The Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) also includes responding to aircraft accidents in the sea around the airfield, which may be done through the facility’s emergency vessels and equipment.
Implementing these security measures helps ensure that the airport runs smoothly and efficiently. It also helps to put passengers at ease, knowing their safety is a priority.
In addition to the physical security measures in place, the airport has implemented several digital safety measures, such as robot traffic enforcers that patrol the streets to ensure order.
Jewel Changi Airport
The Jewel Changi Airport is a massive complex with a hotel, restaurants, shops, gardens, and even an indoor waterfall. The development of the Jewel was completed in 2019 for S$1.7Â billion.
It spans 10 stories and covers an area of almost one of the most impressive airport structures in the world and is a must-see for anyone visiting Singapore.
There are 280 shops and restaurants within the complex and a hotel, the YotelAir Jewel Changi Airport, located within the mall.
It has a 130,000 sqm of indoor forest (Shiseido Forest Valley) with a 40m tall indoor waterfall (HSBC Rain Vortex) in the middle. It is the tallest indoor waterfall in the world and is worth a visit.
Jewel Changi Airport is a green building collecting rainwater for the forest valley and the indoor waterfall. The recirculating rainwater is pumped to the roof and free fall through a round hole at up to 37,850 liters per minute to a basement-level pool.
The Canopy Park on the top level has a walking trail, gardens, a children’s playground, and interactive installations such as the Discovery Slides and Foggy Bowls.
Visitors can also try out the Sky Nets – Bouncing or Walking nets suspended from the ceiling, or the Canopy Maze – hedge maze suspended in the air.
The basement of Jewel Changi Airport is connected to Arrival Hall (level 1) of Terminal 1. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 of Singapore Changi Airport are linked via bridges, making it convenient for visitors.
Lodging At The Airport
The airport also has a few hotels if visitors need a place to stay during their long layover.
- Aerotel Airport Transit Hotel (Terminal 1)
- Ambassador Transit Hotel (Terminal 2 above Orchid Garden, and Terminal 3 next to the Movie Theatre)
- Crowne Plaza Changi Airport (Linked to Terminal 3)
- YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport (Jewel)
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