The Government will inject an additional S$2 billion into the Changi Airport Development Fund.
SINGAPORE: Construction on Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 (T5) is set to begin in 2025, with the terminal expected to be operational by the mid-2030s, Transport Minister S Iswaran announced on Friday (Mar 3).
Providing an update on the much-anticipated project, Mr. Iswaran stated that land preparation and drainage work at Changi East had been completed, and the third runway will also be ready by the latter part of this decade. The project was delayed for two years due to the pandemic.
To support this initiative, the Government will allocate an additional S$2 billion into the Changi Airport Development Fund, underscoring the importance of reserving resources for large-scale projects with substantial expenditures, Mr. Iswaran added.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong mentioned during the National Day Rally last year that T5 has been redesigned to be both pandemic-ready and more energy-efficient. In preparation for the surge in flights and passengers, Changi Airport Group and stakeholders have formulated operational plans, with the aviation workforce at about 90% of pre-pandemic levels, set to fully recover by this year.
Meanwhile, passenger traffic, flights, and city links have reached approximately 80% of pre-pandemic levels, and the current trajectory suggests that Changi will recover to its pre-pandemic numbers by 2024 or sooner.
Aviation Sustainability Programme:
To promote sustainability in the aviation sector, the Government will launch a S$50 million Aviation Sustainability Programme. The programme will provide up to 70% funding for sector-wide initiatives and up to 50% for company-level projects. Initiatives could include the adoption of more energy-efficient airport systems, optimising airport processes for efficiency, and the transition to cleaner energy sources like low-carbon fuels.
400 New Electric Buses to Replace Diesel Buses:
In line with Singapore’s commitment to a greener future, Mr. Iswaran also revealed that 400 new electric buses will be rolled out by December 2024 to replace aging diesel buses. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will call for tenders in March to procure these buses, with the tender expected to be awarded later this year. By 2030, electric buses will constitute half of Singapore’s public bus fleet, aiming for 100% electrification by 2040.
Extension of Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant:
To further encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the LTA will extend the Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant until December 2025. The grant, launched in 2021, co-funded the installation of 267 chargers, and it will continue to cover 50% of smart charger installation costs, with a cap of S$4,000 per charger. Singapore aims to have 60,000 public EV charging points by 2030, with 2,000 new charging points planned for deployment by the end of the year.
