Passengers who now pay $34 to fly out of Changi will
have to fork out an extra $13.30 from July 1, to help fund major
expansion plans for the airport that aim to cement Singapore's
status as a key aviation hub.
Transit passengers will have to pay $3 more for each
flight, with the increases to be included in their air fares.
Airlines will also have to pay more in aircraft parking
and landing fees, said the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation
Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Changi Airport Group on Wednesday
(Feb 28).
By April 1, 2024, the total departure fee for
passengers departing from Changi Airport will go up to $62.30, the
authorities said, even as they stressed that the bulk of the costs
for the Changi East development, which includes the construction of
Terminal 5, will be borne by the Government and Changi Airport
Group (CAG), which operates the airport.
It is not clear if the departure fee will be reduced
when the Changi East development is completed and T5 opened around
2030.
The departure fee is made up of a passenger service and
security fee, an aviation levy charge and the new airport
development levy.
The Sunday Times had reported in January
that passenger
fees will increase by between $10 and $15 to help pay for
the works, which include a third runway, ground improvement works
at the site of more than 1,000ha and the building of massive drains
and tunnels, some of which will move bags and people between T5 and
the current airport.
The total bill is expected to run into tens of
billions, the Government said on Wednesday, without divulging
actual numbers.
When completed, T5 is expected to eventually handle up
to 70 million passengers a year - more than T1, T2 and T3 combined.
However, the third runway being built in the same project will be
operational in the early 2020s before the completion of T5.
CAAS director-general Kevin Shum told journalists:
"Changi East is our investment to secure Singapore's future. We
need to cater to increasing air traffic as Singaporeans travel
more. At the same time, we want to plug into the growth of the
region. That is why we are doing all of these to ensure that
Singapore remains the premier air hub for the region."
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan stressed in a Facebook
posting that the Government will be the main funder through grants,
while CAAS and CAG will dip into their reserves and future
surpluses to help fund T5.
"Airport users, like airlines and passengers will also
have to do their part in funding this project....Having the
Government and the airport community contribute towards the project
is a fair way to finance the project, which will bring benefits to
our people, businesses and the Singapore economy."
CAG said in a statement that the airport handled a
record number of 62.2 million passengers in 2017, with growth
expected to continue with the demand for air travel in the
Asia-Pacific region projected to triple over the next two
decades.
Based on its projections, the airport's current
handling capacity of 85 million passengers per annum is expected to
be fully utilised by the late 2020s.
"Without further expansion, service standards may drop,
with passengers experiencing delays," the airport said.
Other airports have introduced user charges to support
growth plans.
In 2016, Hong Kong International Airport, which is
building a third runway due to be completed in 2024, started
collecting between HK$70 and HK$180 (S$11.85 to S$30.50) a
traveller. Also in 2016, airports in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
and Doha in Qatar introduced a departure tax for travellers - the
equivalent of about $13 - to help fund ongoing expansion
projects.
The International Air Transport Association - the
global voice of airlines - has, however, said repeatedly it does
not support pre-funding, where airlines have to pay for services
and facilities they do not currently utilise.
Its regional vice-president (Asia Pacific) Conrad
Clifford told The Straits Times: "While we recognise that the
(Singapore) Government will be bearing the majority of the costs
for the development of Changi East and Terminal 5, we are still
disappointed with the decision to proceed with the pre-funding
model despite the feedback provided by the industry.
"We are also hoping to have greater transparency on
what is the projected cost of Changi East and Terminal 5, and how
the costs are being apportioned between the Government, CAG,
airlines and passengers."
He noted that aviation is an economic catalyst and the
added capacity does not just benefit the aviation community but the
entire Singapore economy, including tourism, trade and
manufacturing.
He said: "Making air travel more expensive for
passengers will have a negative impact on travel, tourism, and as a
result, aviation's contribution to an economy. Increasing charges
for airlines could also affect the financial viability of their
services to and from the airport."
Despite the higher charges for travellers and airlines,
some aviation analysts said they do not expect that this will have
a significant negative impact on Changi Airport and Singapore's
aviation hub status.