Singapore Airlines to move all operations at Changi Airport T5

It will serve 50 million passengers annually.

Singapore Airlines Group will consolidate all its operations to Changi Airport’s upcoming Terminal 5 (T5).

The announcement comes as Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the new terminal on 14 May.

The new terminal, expected to open in the mid-2030s, will add capacity for 50 million passengers annually in its first phase.

Currently operating across three terminals, SIA’s shift to T5 will centralise its operations and streamline passenger flow. Other airlines will also be able to expand at T5 and across Changi’s wider terminal network.

Built as part of the 1,080-hectare Changi East development, T5 will be connected to existing terminals, allowing the airport to function as a single integrated hub. It is designed to meet long-term demand, especially in Asia-Pacific, one of the world’s fastest-growing air travel markets.

Terminal 5 will feature extensive automation across check-in, immigration, baggage and back-end operations. It will also include built-in flexibility to scale down into sub-terminals and manage high-risk passengers in the event of future health crises.

For the first time, Changi Airport will house a ground transport centre within T5, bringing together MRT, buses, taxis and private transport options. The terminal will be linked to the Thomson-East Coast Line and Cross Island Line, offering direct access to the city and major nodes.

An Automated People Mover system will connect T5 to Terminal 2, while travellators and a clear layout will keep walking distances on par with current terminals.

T5 will be a Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy building, equipped with intelligent energy systems and one of Singapore’s largest rooftop solar panel installations — enough to power about 20,000 four-room HDB flats annually.

T5 anchors the broader Changi East project, which also includes an industrial zone for aircraft maintenance and logistics, and a future commercial district near the airport.

Designed by KPF Associates, Heatherwick Studio, and architects61, T5’s development was paused in 2020 due to the pandemic and resumed in 2022 with updated features for health resilience.