Speech by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow at Changi Airline Awards

Chairman, Changi Airport Group, Mr Lim Ming Yan,

CEO, Changi Airport Group, Mr Yam Kum Weng,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1.          Good evening.

2.          I am very happy to be able to join you this evening for the Changi Airline Awards 2026. I am just about one year in as Singapore’s Transport Minister. In this one year, I have done a fair amount of flying for work.

a.          To Montreal, for the International Civil Aviation Organization. To London, for the International Maritime Organization meetings. To San Francisco, Beijing, Shandong, Delhi, amongst others.

b.          I have walked through many departure and arrival halls, in different cities, at different hours.

c.           But every time I come home to Changi Airport, the feeling hits different.

i.            Not just a feeling of relief to be home.

ii.           But also a deep sense of satisfaction in what Changi Airport represents for us.

d.          That over the years, we have built Changi Airport to become one of the best airports in the world, the pride of all Singaporeans.

e.           It is not easy to describe this feeling. But I think everyone here tonight knows what I'm talking about.

i.            Because you too like me, fly through airports all over the world, and whether you are Singaporean or not, you know the standards that we have set, and continue to set, at Changi.

3.          The history of Changi Airport is one of bold bets.

a.          Changi itself – when we decided to build a new airport on land reclaimed from the sea, instead of upgrading the one we already had.

b.          Jewel started as a plan to replace a surface car park. Today it is now one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks.  

c.           We have refreshed our Changi Airport terminals over the years. Terminal after terminal, each one more ambitious than the last.

d.          Terminal 5 (T5), which we are now building, will be a mega terminal, as large as all our existing terminals combined.

4.          These investments have enabled Changi Airport to maintain the highest standards of design and operational efficiency, and to continue its growth.

a.          In the last 12 months, Changi Airport handled 70.4 million passengers. This is a new record for us, and a far cry from when Changi was first built in 1981, when our capacity was only 10 million passengers per year.

5.          Of course, Changi’s success would not have happened without all of you, our airline partners.

6.          Today, close to 100 airlines are in Changi, connecting Singapore to 175 cities worldwide, from Helsinki to Christchurch.

a.          Tonight’s event is a recognition of Changi Airport Group’s close partnership with our airline partners, supporting your growth and connectivity, and also working with you to solve problems and issues as they arise, as they have recently.

b.          Many flights have been affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

c.           But instead of pulling back, Changi Airport Group has worked with airlines to launch over 90 alternative flights from Changi last month, to locations like Europe and Australia.

i.            This arrangement benefits all parties.

1.          Airlines reduce the impact of the flight disruptions, even temporarily.

2.          Changi optimises the use of our airport capacity.

3.          And our passengers have more destination options.

7.          We have worked closely with our air freight partners too.

a.          This business has been growing, and the goods have to go somewhere.

b.          Singapore is already the 9th busiest air cargo hub in the world.

c.           Over half a million tonnes of airfreight passed through Changi in the first quarter of this year; almost 8% growth compared to the same period last year.

d.          One of the key recommendations in the Economic Strategy Review, and for those who are not sure what it is, this is our plan for the next five to 10 years, for Singapore’s economy. One of the key recommendations is to strengthen Singapore as a hub for flows. This includes growing our air cargo sector.

i.            We are bringing in more air freight partners to complement those who are already here such as DHL, FedEx, UPS and SF Group. This will help Singapore play a much larger role in key freight routes, such as between Australia and Asia.

8.          Therefore, notwithstanding the immediate challenges, the long-term trajectory for aviation continues to be upward. 

9.          According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, global air traffic, including passenger and cargo, will nearly triple by 2050. Asia Pacific will lead this growth.

10.        This is why we are building Terminal 5 in Singapore. I have spoken about our plans for T5 earlier this year at the launch of the “T5 in the Making” public exhibition.

a.          T5 will take roughly another ten years before it becomes a reality.

b.          In the meantime, Singapore will continue to invest in our existing terminals to keep them up to date.

11.        Two years ago, Changi Airport Group said that they would invest $3 billion to upgrade Terminals 1 to 4.

a.          Today, I am happy to announce that we will proceed with a major upgrade of Terminal 3 (T3).

b.          This is likely to be our last major airport upgrade before Terminal 5 is ready. The tender for the Terminal 3 upgrade will be in the second half of this year.

12.        CAG has shown me some of its exciting concepts.

a.          The main objective of the upgrade is to improve the passenger throughput capacity, especially during peak hour

i.            Because we know that between now and T5, Changi passenger traffic will continue to grow.

ii.           We want to make sure Changi passengers continue to experience the same level of comfort and service that they are used to.

b.          The upgrade will also incorporate even more digital technology and robotics – for self-service check-in, security screening, and toilet cleaning.

i.            Some of these solutions will serve as testbeds to be implemented at scale when T5 is operational. 

13.        Today, I am sharing these plans with you and our partners, because you are so critical to our plans.

14.        Singapore is making these investments now in preparation for our collective future.

15.        This is the spirit of the Changi Airline Awards – a commitment to what we build together. 

a.          With partners who dream boldly with us, Changi can continue to be better, year after year.

16.        Congratulations to all the award winners tonight. I look forward to a great night of celebration as one Changi Family. Thank you very much.