Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5) held its official groundbreaking ceremony, officiated by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong, on 14 May 2025. The ceremony marks a significant milestone in the construction of the highly anticipated mega terminal, set to reinforce Changi Airport’s status as a leading global aviation hub.
Located in Changi East, the new T5 will be connected to Changi’s existing terminals, allowing the airport to function as a single, integrated air hub. In its first phase — scheduled to open in the mid-2030s — T5 is designed to accommodate approximately 50 million passengers annually.
The Singapore Airlines Group, which currently operates across three terminals at Changi, will consolidate its operations at T5. The terminal will also offer ample capacity for other airlines to grow their presence at both T5 and Changi’s existing terminals.
Projected to be one of the fastest-growing air travel markets over the next two decades, air traffic demand in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to rise significantly. The new added capacity in T5 will help Singapore to ride on the long-term growth of aviation in the region and beyond.
Equipped with state-of-the-art airport systems and extensive automation, the new Terminal 5 will enable Changi Airport to substantially expand its handling capacity, streamline operations, and seize emerging opportunities as global travel demand continues to rise.
Architecturally, T5 features overlapping curved roofs at varying heights, inspired by Singapore’s unique blend of nature and urban life. Enhanced by the natural light and landscaping, T5 will provide a cosy, warm and uplifting atmosphere reflective of the Changi Airport experience.
To support ease of movement, T5 will include travellators and an Automated People Mover (APM) system, similar to Changi’s existing Skytrain. The APM will connect T5 to Terminal 2, enabling seamless transfers between terminals. Designed with intuitive wayfinding, the terminal will naturally guide passengers toward boarding gates or APM stations, reducing reliance on signage.
Mr Yam Kum Weng, Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airport Group, said, “Our vision is for T5 to be mega yet cosy, a terminal that embraces the Changi DNA – delivering a personalised, stress free and positively surprising airport experience.
T5 will also incorporate extensive automation across both passenger-facing services and back-end operations. These technologies—currently under trial—will be deployed for large-scale implementation when the new terminal opens.
Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have also been incorporated into T5’s design and planning process. The terminal will feature contactless systems at key passenger touchpoints to reduce disease transmission, along with the flexibility to operate as smaller sub-terminals if needed to manage high-risk passengers.
Developed as a Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy building, T5 will run on cleaner energy sources to enhance efficiency and reduce Changi Airport’s overall carbon footprint. Notably, the terminal’s rooftop will house one of Singapore’s largest solar panel systems, capable of generating enough electricity to power approximately 20,000 four-room HDB flats each year.
Terminal 5 will also significantly boost Changi Airport’s connectivity with the rest of Singapore through a new ground transportation centre. This new transit hub will bring together train, bus, taxi, and other transport services, enhancing accessibility for both travelers and local residents.
Plans are also underway to extend the Thomson-East Coast Line and the Cross Island Line directly to T5, linking it seamlessly with the city centre and other major transit hubs. In addition, T5 will offer the possibility of improved air and sea connectivity, with provisions for convenient ferry connections to nearby destinations, enabling smoother and more efficient multi-modal passenger travel.
“As a new gateway to Singapore, T5 offers new possibilities and will bring new surprises. It will offer yet another vibrant space for families, friends and the airport community to gather and bond,” Mr Yam added.
