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.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees