Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Upgrading Plans for Changi Airfreight Centre

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     whether he will elaborate on the plans to upgrade the Changi Airfreight Centre; and 

b.     whether further development plans for the expansion of the Centre will be resumed or stepped up in light of the full resumption of construction of Changi Airport Terminal 5.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     The Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) work closely with Changi Airport Group (CAG) and air cargo stakeholders to support and grow the Singapore air cargo hub.

2.     Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reviewing the demand for air cargo over the next decade to determine the upgrades needed at the Changi Airfreight Centre (CAC). This review will consider various macroeconomic factors such as global trade and air cargo demand, as well as shifts in global supply chains. CAAS and CAG are also working with the air freight terminal operators such as SATS to employ greater automation and digitalisation to increase productivity and capacity at the CAC.

3.     Works have also resumed on the planning of the Changi East Industrial Zone, which will be ready in the mid-2030s. This is expected to double Singapore’s air cargo handling capacity from about 3 million tonnes per annum today to up to 5.4 million tonnes per annum.