Singapore Changi airport has announced plans to start a phased reopening of its Terminal 2 on May 29.
The terminal has been closed since May 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Changi took the opportunity to embark on an expansion project which will see T2’s capacity increase by five million to 28 million passenger movements per year when works are completed in 2024.
For now though passengers using the terminal will experience a larger Arrival Immigration Hall with more special assistance lanes and automated immigration lanes, the latter of which will serve “Singaporeans and residents who have enrolled their iris and facial biometrics with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, as well as eligible foreign visitors who have done the same upon their arrival in Singapore”.
In addition one of the three collection belts in the Baggage Claim Hall has been lengthened to handle more bags.
Changi said that the terminal “will host mainly peak-hour arrival flights of airlines operating in Terminal 3”, adding that while a small number of T3 departure flights may use boarding gates at T2, passengers on these flights will continue to check in and clear departure immigration at T3.
The news follows Singapore Airlines’ plans to unveil its long-awaited upgraded lounge spaces at Changi’s Terminal 3, including a new First Class Silverkris Lounge and The Private Room.
Singapore Airlines set to unveil revamped lounge facilities at Changi T3
Commenting on the news Mr Tan Lye Teck, CAG’s executive vice president of airport management, said:
“CAG is encouraged to see the strong pickup in travel demand and has worked closely with our partners to bring forward the progressive reopening of T2 ahead of the June travel peak to meet this demand.
“The start of flight operations at T2 will provide more capacity to support our airline partners, who are also gearing up to serve more passengers in the months ahead. T2 will reopen in phases over the next two years to support Changi’s recovery as a regional air hub.”
Last week Singapore announced plans to resume work on a fifth terminal at Changi airport, having paused the project in June 2020 following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent downturn in demand for air travel.
