Changi airport expands to meet traffic boom

Changi airport expands to meet traffic boom

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's Changi airport passenger traffic is expected to double while airfreight volume trebles in the next 12 years, forcing a major expansion program, a senior official said yesterday.

Growth in passenger and cargo traffic in Singapore respectively averaged a robust 9.1 percent and 12.3 percent annually over the last 10 years, said John Chen, Minister of State for Communications.

"In 1996, Changi airport handled 24.5 million passenger movements and 1.2 million tons of airfreight. In 12 years' time, passenger traffic is expected to double and airfreight treble," Chen said as he opened a three-day regional conference and exhibition on airports.

But Singapore was well prepared to meet the rosy growth forecasts in air traffic, he added.

The plans include expansion of current facilities and a third passenger terminal with capacity of 20 million passengers by 2004.

Work is also under way on a fifth cargo building, costing S$75 million (US$53.57 million), which will add 35,000 square meters (376,600 square feet) or 50 percent more space by early 1998.

Other facilities proposed include a new airport hotel for passengers on transit at Changi. There are currently some 100 hotel rooms in restricted areas of the two airport terminals.

While ample airport capacity was vital, Chen said new infrastructures and systems that could raise airport productivity and output while minimizing operating costs were equally crucial.

"Airport systems and equipment manufacturers will have to continuously improve their products to make air travel and air freight more cost-effective, efficient, flexible and user- friendly," he said.

Chen said the Asia-Pacific region had been earmarked as the fastest growing hub for air traffic in the next decade, with many Asian countries embarking on extensive airport projects to cater to the projected boom.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has forecast that international scheduled passenger traffic in Asia Pacific will grow at an average of 7.4 percent yearly up to 2010.

"This is significantly higher than the rest of the world which will grow at an average of 4.4 percent per annum," Chen said.

IATA has projected that the region will account for 400 million passengers yearly or half the global total by 2010, from over 122 million passengers or 35 percent of world traffic in 1995.

The world's most expensive airports are already found in the region, topped by Hong Kong's 20-billion-US dollar Chep Lap Kok project.

Japan's new Kansai airport built on reclaimed land off Osaka cost 15 billion dollars while a third airport serving Tokyo could cost 23 billion to 35 billion dollars, officials said.

In China, some 20 new international airports are to open over the next decade while new international airports are also under construction or being planned in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Seoul, Sydney and Bombay.