Opening Address by Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, Mr Chee Hong Tat at the Annual Airport Celebration 2024

Mr Tan Gee Paw, Chairman, CAG;

Mr Lee Seow Hiang, CEO, CAG;

Friends and Colleagues from the Changi Airport Community,

1.     Good evening! I am happy to be here today to celebrate the contributions of the aviation community. We have a lot to celebrate as we commemorate the achievements of 2023 and look forward to the future.

2.     As Chinese New Year is coming soon, I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy Year of the Dragon. 祝大家龙年吉祥，阖家安康， Heng, Ong, Huat 龙众来！

Looking back on 2023

3.     Looking back on 2023, Changi has recovered steadily since our most difficult period during the pandemic. Monthly passenger traffic at Changi Airport in December 2023 has recovered to around 90% of pre-COVID levels. For the full year 2023, Changi Airport handled 58.9 million passenger movements, or 86% of the traffic recorded in 2019. We expect to recover to pre-COVID levels this year.

4.     We have also received international recognition and accolades. Changi Airport has won over 600 awards over the years, including the widely recognised Skytrax award, while Singapore Airlines was named the World’s Best Airline at the 2023 World Airline Awards.

5.     With the full opening of Changi Airport Terminal 2 in November last year, the terminal now has double the original number of automated check-in kiosks and bag drop machines, expanded immigration halls to support more automated immigration lanes, and a fully automated early baggage storage system that is capable of handling up to 2,400 bags. Many visitors have lauded the new features, which elevate the Changi experience, such as ‘The Wonderfall” and the Dreamscape garden.

6.     The strong recovery of our air hub and these achievements would not have been possible without each and every member in our aviation community. Tonight, we celebrate your effort, dedication and hard work. Thanks to you, Changi is greatly admired by our friends and visitors from overseas, and is also a source of pride for Singapore and Singaporeans.

Looking forward

7.     In the coming years, there is much for us to be optimistic about. In the Asia Pacific region, demand for air travel is expected to exceed that of other regions. To ensure that Changi is poised to capture the growth, we have continued the works on Terminal 5 to further expand our capacity.

8.     At the same time, the Changi team is also working on the long-term plans for the sector, such as enhancing our sustainability efforts to be future-ready, and building up our digital capabilities to meet future operational and manpower needs.

9.     Tonight, I would like to speak about 3 ‘P’s that will continue to prepare us for the future: People; Partnerships; Passion.

People – the Soul of Changi

10.    The first ‘P’ – People. Singapore is a global aviation hub because of the talented men and women in the aviation community. Our workers - pilots, engineers, airport staff, cabin crew, ground handlers, cleaners, F&B and retail workers - all play an important role in our air hub. We must continue to ensure that there are many good jobs and attractive career options for Singaporeans in the aviation industry.

11.    We must also continue to prioritise our workers’ well-being. As passengers return to Changi, our operating environment will become busier. There will be more planes and vehicles that are going to traverse airside, and more passengers passing through Changi, going to our shops and F&B outlets. We must be able to support these operations well.

12.    It is critical that our companies build up a strong culture of trust, where workers feel empowered to highlight safety issues or areas where processes can be improved, so that changes can be made early, and changes can be made to make your job better. Companies must also have a good pulse on how workers are doing, and devote resources to building strong support systems for workers, to help them cope with the stress and challenges of their work.

13.    We must also make Changi Airport a conducive working environment. I have been engaging our unions regularly, to get their feedback and hear the views of our workers and union leaders. A suggestion from one of our sessions was for CAG to install signages at check-in counters and areas around the airport to remind passengers to be courteous and respectful to our staff at all times. I am glad CAG has followed up on this.

14.    Another suggestion from our union leaders was a request for additional sheltered pathways between the Air Freight Terminals and the nearby bus stop for our workers. I am happy to share that CAG will be starting the related works by April this year. Once completed, we hope that the sheltered pathways will make it more convenient and more comfortable for our workers.

15.    These steps add up to make our work environment better and improve the well-being of our workers. We are able to do this and demonstrate through action because we have a strong tripartite partnership between the unions, employers and the industry leaders, and the government. We will continue working together to look after our workers, as they work hard to provide the best Changi experience for our customers.

16.    Next, we must ensure that the aviation sector provides opportunities for growth and progress, because that is what our workers are looking for in a career In a fast-changing global environment, the industry must re-examine the jobs that we offer, so we remain competitive. For instance, we are harnessing the power of technology to lighten the physical demands of our jobs through assistive equipment, to create a comfortable working environment. This will become increasingly important to allow our workers to continue to do their work even as the workforce ages.

17.    The Powerstow beltloader equipment that SATS and dnata are using for baggage loading and unloading from aircraft is one example. By utilising its extendable motorised belt that extends far into the bellyhold of an aircraft, our workers are less prone to physical strains and injury when loading and unloading baggage for narrow body aircraft.

18.    Companies should also enhance our study and training programmes and provisions to ensure that their in-flight workers have the latest and most relevant skillsets to develop their career in the aviation sector.

19.    CAAS is commissioning a sector-wide manpower study in the coming months. With the insights from the study, the Government will work closely with the aviation companies and unions on the longer-term plans to equip our workers with the skills they need, so they can thrive in the future.

Partnerships – the Bonds within Changi

20.    This leads me to my second P – Partnerships. What sets our aviation industry apart from many other sectors is our tightknit Changi community, united by a clear purpose and vision. From the airport operator, to ground handlers, to airlines, to F&B and retailers – these partnerships where we work together, with some give and take between the different parties, are the bedrock for a high-trust work environment and a successful Changi.

21.    We must continue to strengthen these partnerships. To prepare Changi for the future, there will need to be even greater collaboration between different parties to explore ecosystem-level innovations, like trials for automation and autonomous solutions.

22.    In doing so, the strong tripartite partnership between the Government, companies and unions, will remain front and centre. This is one of our key competitive advantages and success factors. Through close partnerships with industry and unions, we can remain agile and adaptive amidst stronger competition.

Passion – the Story of Changi

23.    Moving on to the third and final ‘P’ – Passion. Everyone here tonight is familiar with the Changi experience that we strive to provide for our travellers. But what drives us to come back to Changi, a place that many of us may even call a second home? To me, the answer is Passion.

24.    While others may love Changi for its world class facilities and beautiful infrastructure, as airport workers, we see the daily in-and-outs of what makes this place work well. We love Changi for the opportunities and challenges that it presents, even the ups and downs that we go through.

25.    But most importantly, this is where we are surrounded by people who love Changi, who care for Changi and who want Changi to succeed, as much as we do.

26.    This passion and commitment motivate us to go above and beyond the call of duty every day. Even when no one is looking, and even when we are not required to, we go out of the way to be able to give the extra mile. These are the things that we can learn from our award winners; they represent the best of what Changi can offer.

27.    Tonight, I would like to highlight a few individuals that exemplify the passion and commitment of the Changi community. First, Mr Gobinathan. As a Housekeeping Supervisor back in 2022, Gobinathan witnessed a family dispute that turned disruptive and potentially violent. Through his quick thinking and admirable courage, he stepped in and helped to diffuse the situation, and contacted Airport Police.

28.    The teamwork at Changi has also been remarkable. Chanel, James, Ivan and Harun, staff from CAG and P-Serv, worked together seamlessly to ease the burdens on an elderly Australian couple who faced health and financial issues at the airport, during the COVID period. They supported the couple through hospitalisation and sourcing for suitable accommodations during the Stay-Home Notice period, till they departed back home after recovery. The couple were full of compliments for all the care and support they received at Changi. This is the DNA of our Changi community, which makes us world-class.

Conclusion

29.    Today’s theme – “Journey beyond imagination”, describes the experience of our passengers when travelling through Changi. It also describes the Changi journey – how we have overcome challenges together and journeyed from strength to strength.

30.    As we look forward to the future, I am confident that the people, the partnerships, and the passion of our sector will continue to make the extraordinary and unique Changi experience possible for as many travellers as possible.

31.    With that, I would like to offer my congratulations to the award winners and to thank their family members for all the support that they have given to our workers. Thank you to the entire aviation community for flying our Singapore flag high.

32.    Together, we will take Singapore aviation to greater heights!

33.    Thank you.