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SINGAPORE : The world's biggest observation wheel reopened on Monday after a fire trapped passengers for hours and led to a one-month shutdown from late December.
The Singapore Flyer said authorities gave the green light after a German-based firm - TUV SUD - completed testing of new backup systems.
It added that so far, some 5,000 people have taken a ride on the Flyer on Monday.
The majority of the first few passengers who boarded the Singapore Flyer when it re-opened in the morning were tourists.
One tourist said: "My son and daughter are very excited to be in the first capsule today."
Another said: "We are sure that it is perfectly safe to go on, because they have got a reputation to think about."
The reputation was tarnished when 11 people were manually lowered after the Flyer broke down just before Christmas on December 23.
173 visitors were stuck, most of them for over six hours.
But a lot has happened since then.
Foreign experts, together with Singapore companies, were brought in to oversee the installation of new backup systems, which cost some S$3 million.
Florian Bollen, chairman, Singapore Flyer, said: "Everybody wanted the wheel to be running again before Chinese New Year. It is a very important date for us, a turn of luck, and we wanted to run it and that was something everybody believed in and people really came together with team spirit and made it happen."
Despite the new safety measures, there will still be a system to lower people using a harness.
But the management is confident it will never come to that again.
It added the financial impact of the month-long shutdown will mostly be absorbed by insurance companies.
And it is hoping that with the new backup systems, insurance premiums will be lowered.
And it is not just a happy start to the Lunar New Year for the Singapore Flyer; businesses at the Flyer are very happy as well that the wheel is finally turning. They have seen their revenues plummeting during the time the Flyer was stopped.
Vinod Jakhmola, senior unit manager, SSP Singapore, and tenant, Singapore Flyer, said: "The New Year started with a new way and a new bang. So that is great news and we are very hopeful. We will work together and we will see the whole crowd coming back very soon."
The outlets and the Flyer are having various promotions to bring back the crowds.
A revamp of the retail area is also planned.
Chng Hee Kok, chairman, Executive Committee, Singapore Flyer, said: "Sometimes, when we first start, we do not know which business will fit in better than others, so after a few months of operation you will know what business will be suitable for this trade and this particular industry."
The Singapore Flyer is 165-metres high - 30 metres taller than Britain's London Eye.
It used to carry some 10,000 passengers on good days - a figure the Flyer will be aiming for again - quite soon. - CNA/ms
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