New mega terminal in the works at Singapore's Changi Airport

Changi Airport, serving the glitzy Asian hub of Singapore, is regularly listed in international rankings as one of the best and most beautiful airports in the world.

To cement this status, the already impressive complex is now set to gain a new mega terminal, and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced that work will begin on the long-planned Terminal 5 (T5) in the first half of 2025.

Due to open in the mid-2030s, the new terminal alone is expected to have an annual capacity of around 50 million passengers.

To compare, the airport used to handle 68.3 million passengers in all terminals combined, before the pandemic. In 2023, it was back to just under 60 million or around 86% of the pre-Covid level. This made Changi Airport one of the busiest airports in Asia and the 17th busiest globally.

The airport currently has four terminals and a futuristic recreational building called "The Jewel". The glass circular building is considered an architectural masterpiece and something of a paradise for travellers.

It houses 280 restaurants and shops as well as a 40 metre high, round indoor waterfall that rushes down from the glass ceiling and is surrounded by hanging terrace gardens.

The Southeast Asian business metropolis is already regarded as an aviation hub in the region. "We cannot rest on our laurels," Wong stressed, announcing the expansion.

As other countries in Asia are also investing heavily in the expansion of their aviation infrastructure, it is important that Changi Airport continues to grow, the prime minister said.

In future, 200 destinations will be served from Singapore instead of the current 150. The project had earlier been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.