$500m makeover for T1

Aug 26, 2008
$500m makeover for T1
In 2011, passengers will enjoy more shops, bigger waiting areas and
modern features
By Maria Almenoar

FIRST, $240 million was poured into upgrading Changi Airport's
Terminal 2 in 2006. Then Terminal 3 had its grand opening this year.

Next up: a $500 million makeover to update the look of the 27-year-
old Terminal 1.

The project, to be completed in 2011, will add another 18,000 sq m of
floor space and gird the facility to face the competition mounted by
newer airports.

Mr Lim Kim Choon, the chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority
of Singapore (CAAS), said: 'It is timely now to focus on the grand
old dame, T1.' He was speaking yesterday at the signing of the
contract between CAAS and Takenaka Corporation, which will do the
upgrading.

Among the dated features to go are the low ceilings and the mylar
fountain - the one in which water runs down cords. T1's new look will
have higher ceilings and glass walls to give arriving passengers a
view of the landscaping outside.

Fifteen more shops and food and beverage outlets will be added, the
departure and seating areas for waiting passengers will be enlarged
and the public viewing gallery will be designed for better views of
the departure hall and runways.

The improvements will also extend outdoors, where more sheltered
space will be built for departing passengers being dropped off by
taxis and cars.

The renovation works will not enable T1 to handle any more than its
current capacity of 64 million passengers a year, but it is hoped
that the improvements will meet the demands of passengers who are now
better travelled and expect more than just basic functionality, said
Mr Lim.

Ms Angela Gittens, the director-general of Airports Council
International, the global trade association of the airport community,
agreed, saying that new airports are selling themselves to airlines
as high-tech facilities that can process passengers quickly,
so 'existing airports have to compete with that'.

Airports also need to continually fix the wear and tear they are
subjected to from passenger and vehicular traffic, she added.The
industry's current focus on security and energy savings also demands
that airports incorporate new fixtures.

Some of the 51 airlines operating out of T1 like British Airways and
Qantas said they were looking forward to the improvements which will
add to their passengers' flying experience.

But some airlines are concerned about disruptions to operations, such
as having to relocate their check-in counters temporarily. Cathay
Pacific's airport services manager Rolando Delfin is also expecting
noise and dust, due to the works.

CAAS said the renovation will be done in phases and at night, or
during off-peak periods to avoid inconveniencing passengers and the
airlines.

Work has already started on areas that are out of passengers' sight.