Update 1 Oct 2020: 'World's best airport' warns of prolonged crisis
Singapore's Changi Airport has warned of a "daunting period" ahead as the impact from the Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of abating. The Asian transit hub has been voted world's best airport for the eighth consecutive year.
Changi has suspended operations in two terminals as flights have dropped to the lowest levels in its history. It has also suspended the construction of a fifth terminal for at least two years.
"The battle with Covid-19 has only just begun," Changi Airport Group said in its annual report. "The future does appear daunting with the situation showing no signs of abatement."
Changi drops from 7th to 58th on busiest airport list, now serving 1.5% of usual passenger volume
Covid-19 has decimated Changi Airport's business. Compared to pre-pandemic times, the airport is now serving just 1.5 per cent of its usual passenger volume and 17 per cent of the total number of flights.
It has also plummeted to be the 58th busiest airport for passenger traffic, down from the seventh, and now has direct flights to just 49 cities in the world.
In revealing these numbers on Tuesday (Oct 6), Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament that global travel restrictions have caused a "deep crisis" for Changi Airport Group (CAG) and national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA).
What's happening at Singapore's Changi Airport during Covid
The airline is unveiling several activities, including a meal served inside of a parked Airbus A380
What happens at the world's best airport when the aviation industry comes to a halt?
The World’s Best Airports in 2020 are announced
Singapore Changi Airport is voted the World's Best Airport 2020 by international air travellers for the eighth consecutive year.
Changi Airport also won the award for the World’s Best Airport Leisure Amenities.
The World’s Top 10 Airports of 2020 are:
read more
Airlines have it bad with COVID-19 but airports have it worse
The spread of the coronavirus has had a tremendous impact on the travel industry.
With a vast majority of flights grounded to stop the international spread of the virus, major airports like Singapore and Dubai have seen passenger volumes plummet.
Airports continue to incur fixed costs for maintaining the infrastructure. Their burden is even greater because partners such as retail outlets and airlines have been given breaks in terms of rentals and reduced parking and other fees, respectively. Though governments might share the costs burden of airports in the short term, it remains to be seen how long they will stomach such a responsibility.
read more
Changi Airport’s T4 to be closed from May 16, second terminal shut in a month
Changi Airport will be suspending its Terminal 4 operations from Saturday (May 16) due to the sharp fall in air travel caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
This is the second terminal at Changi Airport to be shut in a month, after Terminal 2 was closed on May 1 to bring down running costs and speed up upgrading works there.
In a media release on Tuesday, Changi Airport Group (CAG) said the move will enable it to continue to save on running costs such as utilities and cleaning.
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Changi Airport T4 to suspend operations from May 16, following T2 suspension earlier; move will save running costs
The operation of Changi Airport Terminal 4 will be suspended to further consolidate airport operations.ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Changi Airport will suspend operations at Terminal 4 from May 16, following a suspension of services at Terminal 2 earlier this month.
In a statement on Tuesday (May 12), Changi Airport Group said: "Changi Airport's terminal operations will be consolidated further to optimise resources in tandem with the sharp decline in flight movements because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
"This move will enable CAG and its airport partners to continue to save on running costs such as utilities and cleaning."
read more
Singapore to shut Changi’s Terminal 2 for 18 months due to COVID-19
Singapore will shut Terminal 2 of the Changi Airport as part of a cost-cutting move due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seriously affected the country’s tourism industry.
All operations at the terminal, including retail, will be suspended for 18 months starting May, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan reportedly announced in Parliament today. He also hinted at more closures, noting that only one terminal has so far been enough to handle the traffic at the airport.
Airlines operating at the terminal will be transferred to Changi’s remaining three terminals next month. Singapore Airlines will operate from Terminal 3. “We will save on running costs – for the airport operator, retail tenants, airlines and ground handlers,” The Straits Times quoted him as saying.
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Singapore Changi Airport to close Terminal 2 due to drop in travellers
One of the world's busiest passenger hubs, Singapore Changi Airport, will reduce services and close Terminal 2 for 18 months due to a drop in demand. Courtesy Changi Airport Group
Operations at one of the world’s busiest airports are being consolidated due to a drop in demand because of travel restrictions designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Terminal 2 at Singapore Changi Airport will close from Friday, May 1, and will remain closed for at least 18 months.
“In view of the steep decline in passenger traffic and the likelihood that air travel demand will not return to pre-Covid-19 levels in the near term, terminal operations at Changi Airport will be consolidated,” Changi Airport Group said. All flight operations will be consolidated across Changi’s other terminals. Details of which terminal airlines have been relocated to will be announced closer to Friday, May 1.
The decision is a way of cut running costs and to “optimise resources across the airport's terminals to better match the low travel demand”, CAG said. Operations at Terminal 4 have also been reduced and could be temporarily suspended if more airlines adjust their schedules.
read more
Winner History
At Singapore's Changi Airport, that's a question that's prompted some innovative answers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Changi -- which has a hawker center, butterfly garden, movie theater and more among its offerings -- is so beloved by travelers that it has won the "best airport" award from Skytrax, an airline industry group, every year since 2013.
In photos: Changi airport during Covid-19
Singapore’s award-winning ‘great theme park of global travel’ looks forward to semblance of normality
When Jewel opened its doors in April 2019, the 10-storey entertainment and shopping complex adjoining Singapore’s Changi airport was expected to receive 40m-50m visitors in its first year.
Accessible by local visitors and airport transit passengers alike, the S$1.7bn (US$1.2bn) complex — which features the world’s largest indoor waterfall, a rainforest-themed garden and a giant trampoline-like “bouncing net” — exceeded the 50m figure within six months, and hopes were high for a buoyant 2020. Then Covid-19 struck.
Changi, like most commercial airports, has become eerily quiet due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Its passenger traffic dropped almost three-quarters in the first eight months of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019, and two of the airport’s four main terminals have been shuttered.
Changi Airport Terminal 4 to close from May 16, following Terminal 2's 18-month closure
With global travel coming to a near standstill around the world, Changi Airport has announced that it will be temporarily suspending all operations at Terminal 4 (T4) from May 16.
This includes all flights, which will operate out of Terminals 1 (T1) or 3 (T3) instead, as well as stores and restaurants. Affected airlines include Cathay Pacific and Korean Air, which will be operating from T1 in the meantime.
The shuttle bus service to T4 will also be suspended.
read more
Boarding gates at Changi Airport's Terminal 4 Changi Airport Group
With global travel coming to a near standstill around the world, Changi Airport has announced that it will be temporarily suspending all operations at Terminal 4 (T4) from May 16.
This includes all flights, which will operate out of Terminals 1 (T1) or 3 (T3) instead, as well as stores and restaurants. Affected airlines include Cathay Pacific and Korean Air, which will be operating from T1 in the meantime.
The shuttle bus service to T4 will also be suspended.
read more
Singapore Changi Airport is voted the World's Best Airport 2020 by international air travellers for the eighth consecutive year.
Changi Airport also won the award for the World’s Best Airport Leisure Amenities.
The World’s Top 10 Airports of 2020 are:
- Singapore Changi Airport
- Tokyo Haneda Airport
- Hamad International Airport Doha
- Incheon International Airport
- Munich Airport
- Hong Kong International Airport
- Narita International Airport
- Central Japan International Airport
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
- Kansai International Airport
read more
Airlines have it bad with COVID-19 but airports have it worse
The Changi Airport control tower in front of Jewel Changi Airport (Photo: Jeremy Long)
The spread of the coronavirus has had a tremendous impact on the travel industry.
With a vast majority of flights grounded to stop the international spread of the virus, major airports like Singapore and Dubai have seen passenger volumes plummet.
Airports continue to incur fixed costs for maintaining the infrastructure. Their burden is even greater because partners such as retail outlets and airlines have been given breaks in terms of rentals and reduced parking and other fees, respectively. Though governments might share the costs burden of airports in the short term, it remains to be seen how long they will stomach such a responsibility.
read more
Changi Airport’s T4 to be closed from May 16, second terminal shut in a month
Changi Airport will suspend its Terminal 4 operations from Saturday (May 16)
Changi Airport will be suspending its Terminal 4 operations from Saturday (May 16) due to the sharp fall in air travel caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
This is the second terminal at Changi Airport to be shut in a month, after Terminal 2 was closed on May 1 to bring down running costs and speed up upgrading works there.
In a media release on Tuesday, Changi Airport Group (CAG) said the move will enable it to continue to save on running costs such as utilities and cleaning.
read more
Changi Airport T4 to suspend operations from May 16, following T2 suspension earlier; move will save running costs
Changi Airport will suspend operations at Terminal 4 from May 16, following a suspension of services at Terminal 2 earlier this month.
In a statement on Tuesday (May 12), Changi Airport Group said: "Changi Airport's terminal operations will be consolidated further to optimise resources in tandem with the sharp decline in flight movements because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
"This move will enable CAG and its airport partners to continue to save on running costs such as utilities and cleaning."
read more
Singapore to shut Changi’s Terminal 2 for 18 months due to COVID-19
The departure hall of Changi Airport’s Terminal 2. Photo: Muhammad Hasbi
All operations at the terminal, including retail, will be suspended for 18 months starting May, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan reportedly announced in Parliament today. He also hinted at more closures, noting that only one terminal has so far been enough to handle the traffic at the airport.
Airlines operating at the terminal will be transferred to Changi’s remaining three terminals next month. Singapore Airlines will operate from Terminal 3. “We will save on running costs – for the airport operator, retail tenants, airlines and ground handlers,” The Straits Times quoted him as saying.
read more
Singapore Changi Airport to close Terminal 2 due to drop in travellers
Operations at one of the world’s busiest airports are being consolidated due to a drop in demand because of travel restrictions designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Terminal 2 at Singapore Changi Airport will close from Friday, May 1, and will remain closed for at least 18 months.
“In view of the steep decline in passenger traffic and the likelihood that air travel demand will not return to pre-Covid-19 levels in the near term, terminal operations at Changi Airport will be consolidated,” Changi Airport Group said. All flight operations will be consolidated across Changi’s other terminals. Details of which terminal airlines have been relocated to will be announced closer to Friday, May 1.
The decision is a way of cut running costs and to “optimise resources across the airport's terminals to better match the low travel demand”, CAG said. Operations at Terminal 4 have also been reduced and could be temporarily suspended if more airlines adjust their schedules.
read more
Winner History
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