Singapore presents new details on Changi’s future Terminal 5
When you are consistently ranking year after year at the very top of your field, the expectation bar is set particularly high. Singapore is not a country to shy away from big undertakings, though.
During a speech at that country's National Day Rally on Aug. 21, Singapore’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, unveiled his government’s vision for the construction of a new Terminal 5 at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), which included some interesting details about this massive piece of infrastructure.
In the meantime, Singapore is preparing to reopen Changi’s Terminal 4 this week on Sept. 13. This very modern facility, capable of handling 16 million passengers has been temporarily closed since May 2020. The reopening of that terminal is yet another sign that air traffic is recovering in the region after the long pandemic hiatus.
What to expect at the new Terminal 5
The new Terminal 5, which will be larger than all of Changi’s existing terminals combined, will offer enough space to welcome 50 million additional passengers per year. That means the airport could possibly accommodate nearly twice as many passengers as before, as 68 million passengers passed through Changi's four existing terminals in 2019.
The new facility will include a whole set of adjacent urban development projects and will be built on a 2,668-acre plot of land just east of the existing terminals at the eastern tip of Singapore’s island. It will use an existing runway currently set aside for Singapore’s military that will be extended to handle large airliners. Its design is expected to feature Changi's signature airy spaces and greenery, plus a focus on sustainability through the use of solar panels and other eco-friendly measures.
Renderings show the new terminal will have a roughly triangular design, with an elongated “T”-shaped structure protruding from its vertex that will be lined with aircraft piers. Additional piers will be located in a satellite building situated some distance away between two runways. Tunnels will link T5 to the existing terminals, allowing the whole ensemble to operate as an integrated three-runway airport.
In addition to the terminal itself, at each end of the new airport perimeter there will be two districts currently under development: the Changi East Urban District and the Changi East Industrial Zone. Both are in line with the airport-city concept that Singapore has long embraced.
Related: Singapore Changi's Terminal 5 is coming sooner than you think
How the COVID-19 pandemic affected the new terminal's design
This expansion project at Changi isn’t exactly new. It has been in the cards since at least 2013. However, it wasn't until 2018 that engineering and architectural design consultants began working on the project.
Planning was already underway by the time the COVID-19 pandemic took hold across the globe in 2020, but then all work was halted for the next couple of years. During this time, officials involved with the project reevaluated plans for the new terminal in light of the uncertainties the country had encountered when travel was at a standstill.
Once the travel industry began rebounding and the decision was made to reactivate the project, those involved proposed some important changes based on what the country had learned from the pandemic period.
For example, the new terminal's modular design makes it possible to divide the facility into smaller, independent sections, meaning areas can be closed if there's another drop in air traffic or a need to alter passenger traffic flows. The current design also features touchless technology and enhanced air ventilation systems.
Related: A first-timer's guide to Singapore's hawker centers
Bottom line
At the end of the day, the fundamentals underpinning this massive airport investment remain the same: It's a bet on the continued relevance of air travel for Singapore’s economy and the larger Asia-Pacific region.
Although construction is expected to start within the next couple of years, know that there will be two phases due to the scale of the project and plans to space out the rollout of the new terminal. As a result, travelers can expect T5 to open in the mid-2030s.
While the airport's construction timeline may seem long, based on these latest details, we expect the wait will be more than worth the effort.
Here's a video announcing the latest details on the new terminal.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.