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SINGAPORE : Singapore Changi Airport's ultra-modern Terminal 3 - the largest and most expensive of Changi's terminals - opened its doors for business on Wednesday, amid much fanfare.
The S$1.75 billion terminal adds a capacity of 22 million passengers a year.
This brings the airport's total annual capability, in one of the fastest growing aviation regions in the world, to about 70 million passengers.
First to land at Terminal 3 at around noon was SQ001, a Singapore Airlines flight from San Francisco. It was an unexpected welcome for many of the passengers.
One passenger said: "We just got off the plane, so (we're) looking forward to having a look around before we leave."
Another added: "Nice deep carpets... feels very comfortable." A third said: "Convenient. I think also it makes me happy - lots of shops for shopping."
Transport Minister Raymond Lim said: "I am delighted with the commencement of operations of Terminal 3. Air travel in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be robust in the years ahead. And with Terminal 3, Changi Airport will be in a strong position to benefit from this and will strengthen Singapore's aviation hub status.
Over 50 trial flights, including over 20 SIA flights, have been carried out at Terminal 3 to test out its operational readiness since last year.
Singapore Airlines, the main carrier operating out of Terminal 3, also took the chance to show off its new lounge, which will now have dedicated check-in and immigration clearance for First Class passengers.
However, the carrier also had to take some flak for its operations. As it now operates from Terminals 2 and 3, its passengers will only find out for sure which terminal they are arriving at two hours before the plane lands.
Passengers have said that it is confusing. However, SIA said it is being done in the interests of efficiency.
Stephen Forshaw, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Singapore Airlines, said: "The reality is that if we do any other system, then we're looking at having to transfer empty aircraft across the airfield, which is going to contribute to delays in departures, which is not in the interests of customers.
"So it's going to take a bit of time to get used to - how they are going to work out the arrivals system. But the arrival notifications are very good - there's the Teletext, website, telephone number."
For now, only Singapore Airlines is flying out of Terminal 3. Four other carriers will join it in March.
Meanwhile, at Wednesday's ceremony, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore donated about S$230,000 raised from the Terminal 3 Open House and other activities to charity. - CNA/ms
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