Wednesday May 30, 12:17
PM
Changi Airport's
T3 to begin operations from Jan 9
SINGAPORE: Changi Airport's new Terminal 3 opens for flight
operations on the 9th of January next year.
Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced this after a tour of the
place, which he said will bring Singapore closer to its vision of
being a regional air hub.
The S$1.75 billion terminal can handle 22 million passengers a
year, bringing the airport's annual total capacity to 70 million
passengers.
It is a terminal that has been seven years in the making.
And one of the first things visitors will notice is the wide use of
glass and big, transparent spaces that show off all the
action.
One of the unique features of Terminal 3 is the roof, which has
been designed to let in natural light.
There are over 900 skylights in the roof itself which also keeps
out the heat.
A five-metre high "Green Wall" of climbing plants gives the place a
tropical touch.
But while the interior is ready, much work remains to be done in
the eight months before its opening.
"Going forward we will have integrated testing of all the systems
coming together - be it flight information, baggage and so on and
so forth. We also have trial flights that are planned, involving
different agencies, that systems are all go before T3 opens next
year.
"There will also be a public education process where Public
Transport Operators and members of the public come to T3," says Koh
Ming Sue, Assistant Director, Development & Engineering, Civil
Aviation Authority of Singapore.
The Open House is scheduled for November and December to coincide
with the year-end school holidays.
On the business front, there will be over 100 retail and over 30
food & beverage outlets.
And while there are similarities to Terminals 1 and 2, the new
place will have much more automation, like a fast moving baggage
tunnel allowing passengers and their luggage to make it to
connecting flights between any terminal within 60 minutes; more
thumb print recognition immigration clearances; and a people mover
system connecting all three terminals.
And in keeping with the times, eight out of the 28 new aerobridge
gates will be able to handle the new jumbo A380 planes. -
CNA/yy
