Changi Airport's Terminal 4 to reopen on Sep 13
Operations at Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 were suspended more than two years ago as the COVID-19 pandemic had caused a steep decline in air travel.
The arrival hall at Changi Airport Terminal 4 is equipped with automated immigration clearance gates. (Photo: Changi Airport Group)
SINGAPORE: Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 will resume operations on Sep 13 following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced on Friday (Jul 22).
The terminal suspended operations in May 2020 as the pandemic caused a steep decline in air travel.
The reopening will add to Changi Airport’s capacity, “ensuring that the air hub can meet the increasing demand for air travel and support airlines’ plans to launch more flights”, CAG said in a media release.
It announced earlier that the southern wing of the Terminal 2 departure hall will also reopen in October, after it was closed down for upgrading works in 2020.
Sixteen airlines will relocate to Terminal 4 in stages in September and October, starting with Cathay Pacific and Korean Air on reopening day. AirAsia Group will follow suit on Sep 15, while Cebu Pacific, Juneyao Air, Jeju Air, Bamboo Airways and HK Express will do so on Sep 20.
Other airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air and Thai VietJet Air will move two days later on Sep 22.
Jetstar Group is slated to move to Terminal 4 on Oct 25, according to CAG, but the airline said shortly after the announcement that it has "no intention of moving". The airline said CAG's decision was unilaterally made by the airport operator.
In its media release, CAG said it will conduct various operational readiness trials with airlines and airport partners over the next two months, to ensure the smooth restart of operations in Terminal 4.
“The reopening of T4 will provide Changi Airport with much-needed capacity to enable our airline partners to continue to grow and ride the wave of travel recovery, as well as support their business and operational needs,” said Mr Tan Lye Teck, CAG’s executive vice-president of airport management.
“As we gear up to serve more passengers during the peak year-end holiday season, the high degree of automation at T4 will help us overcome the challenge of a tight labour market.
“CAG will work closely with our airline and airport partners on trials and system tests over the next two months to ensure that all resources are in place for the smooth passage of passengers.”
Shuttle bus services on both the landside and airside will provide connection for passengers and visitors between Terminal 4 and other terminals. It will also be served by public buses - service numbers 24, 34, 36 and 110 – in addition to taxi and private-hire vehicles.
Opened in 2017, Terminal 4 is Changi Airport's newest terminal and has a capacity of 16 million passengers per year.
“Terminal 4’s high degree of automation throughout the airport journey from check-in to boarding, will enable airlines to benefit from productivity gains,” said CAG.
“Terminal 4 also has sufficient narrow-body boarding gates to facilitate the operations of airlines with predominantly narrow-body planes in their fleet, reducing the need for bussing operations.”
