Skift Take
As Changi doubles its capacity to more than 135 million travelers during the next decade, it will become an even greater model for how to mass produce an iconic and superior passenger experience while treating each passenger like they actually matter.
In ancient times all roads led to Rome but in 2016 most roads — or flight paths — in Asia and beyond lead to Singapore's Changi Airport, a Southeast Asian hub that will double its annual capacity in 10 years to more than 135 million travelers spread across two new terminals.
Changi has connections to 116 cities and 29 countries in Asia-Pacific and 320 cities in 70 countries overall. Any changes or improvements it makes touches a lot of passengers flying through the airport and region on one of 100 airlines with service to the airport. Changi's passenger experience, which it's won nearly 500 awards for, helped establish the entire Singapore brand, not just that of the airport.
As the airport puts final touches on its Terminal 4, set to open next year, it's already begun planning for Changi East, a 2,700 acre expansion immediately east of the airport that will include a massive fifth terminal and an air facility both roughly the same size as all existing terminals. Changi East is scheduled to open in the late 2020s and will be connected to the other four terminals, effectively creating one super airport.
Skift toured Changi earlier this month on a trip to Singapore and learned why Changi Airport Group, the airport's owner, decided to expand the airport rather than build another. F
