Singapore is a major air hub in the Asia-Pacific region. It is linked to 151 cities in 51 countries by 65 airlines operating more than 3,100 scheduled flights each week. Singapore's skies are among the most open in the world: Singapore has air service agreements with 90 countries around the world and open skies agreements with the United States, Brunei Darussalam, and New Zealand.
Changi Airport--about 20 km. from the Central Business District--remains a favorite among air travelers. It was voted Best Airport in the World for the 11th consecutive year since 1988 by Business traveler (UK); Best Airport in the World for the 7th and 8th consecutive years respectively, by Business traveler (Asia Pacific) and Business Travel International (U.S.); World's Favorite Airport for the 6th year running by Business traveler (Germany); Best International Airport for the 8th consecutive time by Executive Travel (UK); and Best Airport (Asia Pacific) for the 10th year running by Travel Trade Gazette and PATA Travel News.
The airport is linked by two expressways--East Coast Parkway and Pan Island Expressway--to other parts of Singapore, providing easy access by taxi, public bus, or car. Travel time to the city is about 25 minutes by car or taxi, 45 minutes by bus.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), a statutory board of the Ministry of Communications, is committed to continually improve Changi Airport's facilities and services to ensure that moving around the airport is fast, efficient, convenient, and comfortable. It constantly reviews its development master plan for the airport to enable capacity to keep ahead of demand. While Changi was able to handle 23.8 million passengers last year--5.4 percent lower than 1997--development projects are still being carried out in anticipation of future air traffic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
In December 1998, a new finger building extension at Terminal 1 commenced operations with seven new aerobridge gates. Construction of a similar extension to another finger building in Terminal 1 is also on schedule. Its completion would improve Changi Airport's capacity to handle more traffic and bigger aircraft. Meanwhile, there are plans on the drawingboard for a third terminal to be built at a cost of S$1.5 billion.
In 1998, new facilities and services were introduced to create a pleasant environment for passengers traveling through Changi Airport. These include an open-air Cactus Garden; an entertainment center; a sky lounge; self-service electronic luggage lockers; video-help kiosks; free personal computer connection points; and limousine taxi service.
After touchdown at Changi, aerobridges will take you directly from your plane to either Terminal 1 (T1) or Terminal 2 (T2). In the rare instance that your plane parks at a remote bay, a bus will ferry you to the terminal entrance. You'll first need to proceed to the Immigration & Health checkpoint, which is clearly signposted.
Changi aims to have passengers off their planes and out into the arrival hall as quickly as possible. If you are being met, that person/s will know from outside monitor screens confirming landings the right door to await you. All-glass partition walls also help such identification. As a fallback, there is an eye-catching Meeting Point at the center of the arrival hall.
Terminal tax
All departing passengers need to pay a S$15 Passenger Service Charge (PSC). From 01 March 1997, the PSC has been incorporated into air tickets.
