Singapore Changi Airport (新加坡樟宜机场 / Bandar Udara Changi Singapura / சிங்கப்பூர் சாங்கி விமானநிலையம்) in the city and State of Singapore is one of the largest aviation facilities in Asia. Changi Airport is located in Changi, about 20 kilometres from the city centre on the eastern edge of Singapore island, and uses the IATA code SIN. It is operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

Singapore Changi Airport is the home base of Singapore Airlines, and many large jets and other types of planes owned by several international airlines operate there round the clock.

Airport development

The Airport currently has 2 parallel runways 02L (20R) and 02C (20C). Even though the airport has 2 parallel runways, the naming system is the result of the construction of the newer Changi East airbase only for use by the RSAF. The sole runway at Changi East is parallel to the existing 2 at Singapore Changi, and is named 02R (20L).

In 1975, a decision was made to build Changi Airport to replace Paya Lebar Airport and was officially opened in 1981. The airport is one of the earliest in the world to commence modification works to prepare the airport to accommodate the Airbus A380, which is expected to begin operations with Singapore Airlines in 2006. Plans to build a new low cost terminal for budget carriers, to be ready by early 2006 and a third terminal, to be ready by 2008, are also underway. It also has a unique 78 meter high control tower.

Awards

The airport had been known for its excellent services and good security, receiving a total of six awards within a short span of one month in 2003. The latest of these was the "Best Airport Award" from the Daily Telegraph, a British newspaper. This is the 6th consecutive year Changi Airport has received the award.

On 23 September 2003, Changi Airport also received two awards, namely "Best Airport Worldwide" for the 16th consecutive year and "Best Airport for Duty_free Shopping" for the 4th time from the UK/Europe edition of the Business Traveller magazine.

On 19 September 2003, Changi Airport was voted "World's Best Airport" and "Best Airport Duty_Free In The World" in a poll conducted by the Asia Pacific edition of the Business Traveller magazine.

On 16 September 2003, Changi Airport was named "Top Overseas Airport" by the UK_based Wanderlust magazine for the 3rd time.

With these latest awards, Changi Airport garnered a total of 12 awards in 2003.

Terminals

One of Changi's terminals

Singapore Changi Airport has two terminals connected by a people-mover, with a third terminal currently under construction and due for completion in 2008.

Terminal 1

• Air China
• Air Hong Kong
• Air India
• Air Mauritius
• Air Niugini
• Air Seychelles
• Air Zimbabwe (from 22 November 2004)
• All Nippon Airways
• Asiana
• Australian Airlines (from 21 November 2002)
• AWAir (from 19 January 2005)
• Bangkok Airways
• Biman Bangladesh
• British Airways
• Cargolux
• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• China Southern
• Emirates
• EVA Air
• FedEx
• Finnair
• First Cambodia Airlines (from 25 February 2004)
• Garuda Indonesia
• Gulf Air
• Indian Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Jetstar Asia Airways (from 13 December 2004)
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Lufthansa Cargo
• Myanmar Airways
• Nippon Cargo Airlines
• Northwest Airlines
• PT Lion Mentari Airlines
• PT Republic Express Airlines (from 16 January 2003)
• PT. Bouraq Indonesia Airlines (resumed on 20 December 1999)
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Nepal Airlines
• Saudi Arabian Airlines
• Scandinavian Airlines System
• Shandong Airlines (from 29 July 2004)
• Sri Lankan Airlines
• Swiss International Airlines (from 14 June 2002)
• Thai AirAsia (from 19 May 2004)
• Thai Airways International
• Tiger Airways (from 15 September 2004)
• Transaero Airlines (from 31 October 2004)
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines
• United Parcel Service
• Valuair (from 5 May 2004)
• Vietnam Airlines
• Xiamen Airlines

Terminal 2

• Air France
• Air Macau (from 21 August 2002)
• Air New Zealand
• Austrian Airlines (from 3 June 2004)
• Lufthansa
• Malaysia Airlines
• Philippine Airlines
• Royal Brunei
• SilkAir
• Singapore Airlines
• Singapore Airlines Cargo

Previous Users

• Cebu Pacific Air (from 6 November 2002)
• Evergreen International Airlines (from 12 April 2000)
• Kuwait Airways
• Lauda Air
• Merpati Nusantara Airlines (Ceased flights, now codeshared)
• Swissair (ceased operations on 31 March 2002)

Transportation

Rail

The airport is served by SMRT Corporation's Changi Airport MRT Station, which is directly linked to Terminal 2 and 3 on either end, and serves a dual function of providing a pedestrian connection between the two. It takes approximately 28 minutes to reach Raffles Place MRT Station in the city's Central Business District, excluding waiting times at Changi Airport MRT Station and Tanah Merah MRT Station, where a transfer to the East West Line is made. The fare will be S$1.60 on a standard ticket.

Buses

A bus stop is located at the basement level of each terminal. All arriving bus services serve Terminal 1 first, before moving on to Terminal 2 and then continuing on their journey out of the airport.

SBS Transit:

• 24 - To Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange via Bedok, Geylang, and Serangoon
• 27 - To Hougang Central Bus Interchange via Tampines and Sengkang
• 36 - Loop service to Tomlinson Road via Marine Parade, Marina Centre and Orchard Road
• 53 - To Bishan Bus Interchange via Pasir Ris, Hougang and Serangoon

SMRT Corporation:

• 858 - To Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange via Yishun and Sembawang

External links

• Changi Airport Homepage (http://www.changi.airport.com.sg)
• Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Homepage (http://www.caas.gov.sg)