Changi Airport Group (CAG) in Singapore has announced that expansion and renovation works at Terminal 2 (T2) will commence in late January 2020, after the Chinese New Year holiday.
The work marks the beginning of a multi-year expansion project which will increase T2’s handling capacity, as well as replacing facilities and amenities which are nearing the end of their shelf lives, according to the airport.
The expansion project will add 15,500m2 (166,840ft2) to the terminal building and increase Changi Airport’s capacity by 5,000,000 passengers per annum (mppa). This gives the airport a capacity of 90mppa when the works are completed, around 2024.
Last refurbished in 2006, the refreshed T2 will sport even more greenery, in keeping with Changi’s signature garden theme in its terminals. Space will be added in the Departure and Arrival Halls, giving more room to airport operations such as check-in and immigration clearance. Additional retail and F&B outlets will be introduced in both the public and transit areas, providing passengers and visitors with a wider range of options. Passenger touchpoints will also be enhanced.
Transformed check-in layout in Departure Hall
The refurbished T2 Departure Hall will feature a spacious common-use central Fast And Seamless Travel (FAST) zone, with more automated check-in kiosks and bag-drop machines.
The existing rows of check-in counters in the Departure Hall will be updated, and the overall passenger handling capacity in the hall will be increased by as much as 20%.
To facilitate the expansion works, some airlines operating in T2 will be moved to alternative check-in rows within the terminal during the work. The two flight information display flip boards will be retired.
A duplex F&B concept will be introduced at the north end of T2’s landside leading to Jewel Changi Airport.
Refreshed offerings in Departure Transit Hall
In the Departure Transit Hall, the Orchid Garden will be replaced and the commercial spaces will be increased. The food street areas along the length of the Departure Transit Hall and overlooking the tarmac will undergo refurbishment. More F&B kiosks options will be brought in, along with additional seating and a new tenant mix.
In addition, all passengers, whether transferring, transiting or departing, can also look forward to refreshed waiting areas with more comfortable seating, relaxation zones and a new play area for children. New experiential zones will be introduced at various locations within the Departure Transit Hall to keep passengers entertained during their time at Changi.
Expanded Immigration Halls and more belts for baggage claim
To cater to higher passenger traffic passing through T2, the Departure and Arrival Immigration Halls will be expanded, with the latter reconfigured to support additional automated immigration lanes.
Two existing baggage belts will be lengthened and two will be added, bringing the total number to 10. The Early Baggage Storage system will also be upgraded from semi-automated to fully automated, allowing some 2,300 bags to be stored at any time.
Enhanced experience at Arrival Hall
In the Arrival Hall, a garden-like lounge will be created, where meeters and greeters can wait comfortably for friends and families to arrive.
In terms of the dining outlets in the public area of the airport, McDonald’s in the Arrival Hall will close on January 31, 2020, while Starbucks in the Departure Hall will cease operations in April 2020. The remaining F&B outlets in T2’s public areas will remain open for passengers and visitors until the later phases of the expansion works. With the refurbishment, a new cluster of F&B kiosks will offer additional quick bites options at the south end of the Arrival Hall.
Continuing operations amidst expansion works
“The expansion and renovation works will rejuvenate T2, while the upgrades in the key operating infrastructure such as the baggage handling systems will enhance the terminal’s capacity and efficiency, enabling us to serve more airlines and passengers when the works are completed,” said Tan Lye Teck, Changi Airport Group’s executive vice president of airport management.
“T2 will continue to operate and welcome passengers, even as we work to minimize disruption to operations and inconvenience to passengers and visitors,” he added.
The main contractor for the T2 expansion works is Takenaka Corporation. The project has been designed by JH Boiffils and a panel of multi-disciplinary consultants consisting of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers as the lead architect, working alongside J Roger Preston, Rider Levett Bucknall, Infoline Technologies and Ignesis Consultants.