The new passenger Terminal 5 (T5) is being developed at Changi International Airport in Singapore to enhance the airport’s capacity to meet anticipated future growth. The new terminal is set to be one of the world’s biggest airport terminals.
Estimated to cost approximately $10bn, the project marks the biggest expansion at Changi Airport to date. It is part of Changi East development, which also includes the development of a three-runway system and network of inter and intra-terminal tunnels.
The single integrated terminal will be bigger than the existing terminals at the airport. It will be built on a 1,080ha greenfield site located to the east of the airport.
Land preparation works at the Changi East began in 2014 and continued until 2020. Design and engineering works of the Terminal 5 project are currently underway. Construction on the T5 is expected to begin in the 2020s, with completion scheduled for the 2030s.
T5 will be able to handle up to 50 million passengers a year in the initial phase of operation, increasing the airport’s total annual passenger handling capacity to 135 million.
Terminal 5 facilities
The landside and airside facilities of Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 will include main terminal building, satellite terminal building, ground transportation centre, cargo complex, primary landside roadway, taxiways, aircraft parking stands, and other supporting aviation infrastructure.
The project also includes the development of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, roadway and drainage systems, and establishing connections for utilities such as power, gas, fuel, water, and telecommunications to the T5 building.
An 18km-long network of tunnels will be built to establish airside connections within T5, as well as between T5 and existing terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the airport. The tunnels will allow for convenient movement of baggage, passengers and airside vehicles.
The project will also add more than 100 additional aircraft parking stands at the existing airport.
Three-runway system
The Changi East project also includes the development of a three-runway system. The airport is currently served by two runways – Runways 1 and 2. To develop the three-runway system, a third runway (Runway 3), previously used by the military, will be extended from 2.75km to 4km to handle larger aircraft.
Scheduled to be completed by 2020, the extension will create connections between Changi airport Runway 3 and the airport’s existing airfield through 40km of new taxiways. It will also enable Runway 3 to facilitate safe travel for larger passenger aircraft. The project also includes the development of supporting infrastructure and systems for the operation of the three-runway system.
Runway 2 was temporarily closed in November 2019 to carry out infrastructure works for the project. The airport will carry out its operations using Runway 1 and Changi airport Runway 3 from October 2020. The three-runway system is expected to be completed in mid-2020s.
Financing
Funding for the Terminal 5 project will be provided jointly by the airport operator Changi Airport Group (CAG) and the Government of Singapore. The project will also be supported by commercial revenue and aeronautical charges.
The Government of Singapore will provide approximately S$9bn ($6.8bn), while CAG has agreed to invest S$3.6bn ($2.73bn) for the Changi East project.
Contractors involved with the Terminal 5 project
CAG appointed a group of companies to deliver the Changi airport master plan, airfield and engineering design, consultancy services and functional design review of Terminal 5 in April 2018.
A consortium of Heatherwick Studio, KPF (Singapore), and Architects 61 will provide architectural design services for the landside works.
A consortium of Surbana Jurong Consultants, Arup Singapore and Mott MacDonald Singapore was selected to provide engineering and consultancy services, while DP Architects is responsible for the design of commercial spaces in the T5.
Changi Airport Planners and Engineers (CAPE) along with Arup, Mott MacDonald, and Surbana Jurong will provide programme management and civil consultancy services for the landside and airfield works.
Design consultants for the Terminal 5 project include Speirs + Major, James Corner Field Operations, Lichtvision Design, The Fountain Workshop, Bruce Mau Design and Entro.
Land preparation work at the Changi East is being carried out by Penta-Ocean / Koon joint venture.
Dornier Consulting International performed a strategic review of various issues related to the Terminal 5 development including the terminal, airfield, and cargo / industrial zone.
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