After three and a half years of engineering work and expansion, Singapore Changi Airport (Changi) Terminal 2 (T2) is now fully operational, and its capacity has increased by five million passengers per annum to 28 million. The southern wing of T2 reopened in May 2022 for arrivals and in October 2022 for departures, so passengers can now look forward to the full suite of T2 attractions, with a celebration event in November.
Singapore Changi Airport has fully reopened Terminal 2 and expanded its overall airport capacity to 90 million passengers annually.
Despite all the challenges of the pandemic years, Singapore Changi Airport has plowed on with refurbishments, new airport technologies and terminal expansions. Yesterday, the airport announced it had recommenced operations in the northern wing of Terminal 2 and boosted overall capacity to 90 million passengers per annum.
- Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 has completed its three and a half year expansion project, increasing its capacity by 5 million passengers per annum.
- The airport has focused on creating a serene and soothing atmosphere inspired by nature, with new food and beverage stores, retail options, and a play area for children.
- Automation plays a key role in improving the travel experience, with more automated check-in kiosks, bag drop units, and automated baggage storage enhancing efficiency.
In keeping with Changi Jewel, the design concept of T2 is inspired by nature and aims to create a serene and soothing atmosphere for both passengers and visitors, fostering a sense of tranquility and relaxation. Changi Airport also said that exciting new food and beverage stores are available in the public and transit areas, with several new local and international brands arriving.
Some of those are Swee Choon, Chagee, GOPIZZA, Chef Wei HK Cheong Fun and Kenangan Coffee from Indonesia, while returning favorites include Paris Baguette and traditional Chinese medicine retailer Eu Yan Sang. The transit area features a Gourmet garden with a panoramic floor-to-ceiling view of the apron. Once the food is taken care of, there are plenty of options for some retail therapy and a 2 Bears Hideout to amuse the little ones.
The expansion has added 15,500 square meters (166,840 square feet) to T2, while the departure hall now includes a common-use Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) zone. This zone has more automated check-in kiosks and bag drop units and the immigration halls have also been expanded to allow for more immigration lanes. T2 is the first Changi terminal to have automated Special Assistance lanes at departure and arrival immigration.
Automation is key to seamless travel
While a quick trip through immigration is welcomed, there is often a lengthy wait at the baggage carousel, which is the most painful part of the arrival process. The airport has lengthened two existing baggage belts to handle more widebody aircraft, and the system has also been upgraded. The early baggage storage system is now fully automated and can store 2,400 bags at a time, significantly boosting manpower productivity.
Since May last year, T2 has handled more than 8.7 million passenger movements from the twelve airlines operating there, including Air India, Air India Express, Air Macau, Ethiopian Airlines, Firefly, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Royal Brunei Airline, Sichuan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and United Airlines.
Yesterday, Lufthansa, Swiss, and Singapore Airlines flights to Southeast Asia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka began operating from the northern wing of T2. In October, Air Japan, All Nippon Airways, Etihad, IndiGo and Singapore Airlines flights to the Maldives and Nepal will also move to T2, meaning 16 airlines will then be operating from the terminal. Singapore Airlines’ First Class Check-In Reception and the SATS Premier Check-In Lounge have also opened in T2.
