Changi Airport Terminal 1 renovation work 85 per cent complete
Changi Airport terminal renovation 85% complete with more self-service kiosks
New check-in counters, baggage belts, carpets and floor tiles are in place at Changi Airport's Terminal 1, where renovation work is 85 per cent complete.
Changi Airport Group (CAG) has provided an update on the $323 million upgrade, which began three years ago and is on course for completion by the middle of next year.
Overall floor space has also been expanded during the second round of major renovations at T1 in just a decade, as Changi Airport strives to stay ahead of rival airports in the region that are all gunning for a bigger slice of a growing air travel market.
T1's expansion has also added much-needed capacity, with the terminal now able to handle three million more passengers a year, taking Changi's total annual handling capacity across all four passenger terminals to 85 million.
The increase at T1 comes mainly from the addition of more self-service check-in kiosks and bag-drop machines that allow travellers to print their own luggage tags, according to CAG's T1 expansion programme management office general manager Su Chun Yang.
There are now 50 self-service check-in kiosks at T1, with space set aside for another 42 to be added if needed, as well as 60 bag-drop machines.
Most of the remaining work is being carried out in the transit arrival area, where two more baggage belts are being added to the existing eight, which are being upgraded.
The baggage claim floor area is being almost doubled in size, and T1's baggage handling system has been fully automated - in line with the rest of the airport's terminals - so check-in bags are sorted automatically.
CAG spokesman Ivan Tan said: "As demand for air travel in the region continues to grow, we are enhancing capacity in Changi's terminals to meet this growth...
"At the same time, we are taking the opportunity to introduce technology, such as Fast (a suite of self-service options), to continue to improve efficiency and optimise resources."
Also, travellers and visitors heading to T1 will finally have their own carpark, instead of having to park at T2 and hop onto the inter-terminal Skytrain.
Four years after the old open-air carpark in front of T1 was removed to build Jewel - a 10-storey mainly commercial complex with five levels of basement parking - the airport is ready to partially open a new carpark, on Nov 20.
About half of the 2,500 parking spaces will be available initially, and the rest when Jewel opens early next year.
The old carpark had a total of 850 parking spaces.
Drivers heading to T1 after the carpark opens at 2am on Nov 20 should follow the many signs that will be put up to direct them.
Nearer the control tower, they should keep right, travel along the lane towards the "T1 Car Park" sign and use the down ramp to access the carpark.
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