Changi Airport: Can Visitors Access The Terminals?

Singapore's Changi Airport, the world's best airport for eight years in a row, has been a ghost town since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the airport tried to reinvent itself as a domestic tourist destination with attractions like glamping staycations and a festive market. The airport has also relaxed its safety protocols, allowing visitors to greet passengers at arrival halls and roam freely at the terminals. Changi Airport is also home to Jewel, a new terminal with an iconic indoor waterfall, over 275 shops and restaurants, and a nature-themed entertainment complex. As Singapore continues to ease its borders, the airport is expected to see an increase in visitor numbers.

Visitors can greet passengers at arrival halls

Changi Airport in Singapore is known for its iconic indoor waterfall, the HSBC Rain Vortex, and its wide range of shops and restaurants. It has been voted the world's best airport eight years in a row by Skytrax, a UK-based consultancy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport was closed to local visitors and tourists, with only flight arrivals and departures continuing. However, as of 1 April 2022, the airport has relaxed its safety protocols, allowing visitors to greet passengers at the arrival halls.

Previously, the arrival halls were restricted to arriving passengers and professional meet-and-greet services to minimise interaction between arriving passengers and local residents. Now, visitors can greet their loved ones without worrying about the barricades or restrictions that were previously in place. This change is part of the Changi Airport Group's efforts to bring back the "Changi experience" for passengers and visitors.

In addition to greeting passengers at the arrival halls, visitors can also enjoy the various attractions that the airport has to offer. The airport features a nature-themed entertainment complex, including a hedge maze and the world's largest indoor waterfall. There are also over 280 dining and shopping outlets, a cinema, and a hotel. The airport is also home to the Jewel terminal, which includes the Canopy Park, a recreational area with garden trails, slides, and suspended "sky nets."

Changi Airport is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its passengers, visitors, and staff. While the airport is gradually reopening and relaxing safety protocols, it is prepared to implement additional measures if necessary.

Terminals 1 and 3 are open to the public

As of 1 September 2021, Singapore Changi Airport has reopened terminals 1 and 3 to the public. This comes after the terminals were closed to local visitors in May 2021 due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Terminals 2 and 4 remain closed.

The decision to reopen terminals 1 and 3 was made by the Changi Airport Group (CAG) as part of an effort to bring back the "Changi experience" to passengers and visitors. The CAG has stated that over 80% of the retail and food and beverage outlets at terminals 1 and 3 will resume operations, although outlets in the T3 arrivals hall will be temporarily closed to the public.

To safeguard the health of travellers, airport workers, and members of the public, the arrivals halls will be restricted to arriving passengers and professional meet-and-greet services. This will minimise interaction between arriving passengers and local residents. A new rest and dining zone has been created for staff in the T3 basement area to ensure separation from travellers. The air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems at the terminals have also been enhanced.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has expressed satisfaction with the safeguards put in place for the reopening of the terminals. CAAS Director-General Han Kok Juan has stated that:

> "As Singapore takes cautious steps to further reopen our borders, we need to ensure that Changi Airport remains a safe airport for travellers coming into and transiting through Singapore, airport workers and the general public."

Visiting Changi Airport

Changi Airport has been ranked as the world's best airport for eight consecutive years as of 2020. It is known for its massive indoor waterfall, an Imax theatre, and a wide variety of shops and restaurants.

The airport has also opened a new terminal, Jewel, which features the world's tallest indoor waterfall, the HSBC Rain Vortex, and a nature-themed entertainment complex. The complex includes a hedge maze, an indoor forest, and the Canopy Park, a recreational area with garden trails, slides, and suspended "sky nets".

In addition to its attractions, Changi Airport has introduced passport-free immigration clearance across all four terminals, using facial recognition and iris biometrics. This has reduced average immigration clearance times by 60%, from 25 seconds to just 10 seconds.

Changi Airport has a new terminal, Jewel

Jewel was conceived to maintain Changi Airport's status as a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. It was first mentioned by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2013 as part of Changi Airport's long-term plans to double its capacity by the mid-2020s. The project cost S$1.7 billion and was developed by Jewel Changi Airport Trustee Pte Ltd, a joint venture between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaLand.

Jewel includes gardens, attractions, a hotel, retail and dining outlets, and early baggage check-in aviation facilities. The Shiseido Forest Valley is an indoor garden that spans five storeys, featuring around 3,000 trees and 60,000 shrubs of 120 species. The Canopy Park, located at the topmost level, offers recreation and leisure attractions, including gardens, a suspension bridge, mazes, and play facilities for children.

Jewel receives about 300,000 visitors per day and is easily accessible from all terminals of the airport. It is open 24 hours a day, with most shops operating between 10 am and 10 pm. Visitors can enjoy a wide array of dining and shopping options, as well as unique attractions such as the Foggy Bowls, where people can jump in concave bowls while mist is released to create an illusion of playing among the clouds.

The airport offers passport-free immigration clearance

Changi Airport has implemented a series of measures to ensure the safety of travellers, staff, and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021, Terminals 1 and 3 were closed to local visitors due to a COVID-19 outbreak, although flight operations continued.

The airport has since relaxed some safety protocols, allowing visitors to greet passengers in the arrival halls without restrictions or barricades. Fully vaccinated passengers can now roam freely at the terminals and access shops and restaurants.

In addition to these measures, Changi Airport has introduced passport-free immigration clearance. Since 30 September 2024, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has fully implemented passport-less clearance across all four terminals. This system uses facial and iris biometrics to clear the immigration of arriving and departing Singapore residents without the need to present their passports. All foreign visitors can also benefit from this system when departing Singapore, although they still need to show their passports upon arrival.

The introduction of passport-less clearance has reduced the average clearance time per traveller by 60%, from 25 seconds to just 10 seconds. This initiative is part of the ICA's plan to strengthen border security and enhance the traveller experience through digitalisation.

Despite the passport-free system, travellers are still advised to carry their passports with them when travelling, as they may be required for immigration clearance at their destination countries or for verification by ICA officers.

There's a new Changi Airport Connector (CAC) path for cyclists, rollerbladers, and runners

Changi Airport in Singapore has been closed to visitors since May 2021 due to a COVID-19 outbreak. However, as of 1 September 2024, terminals 1 and 3 have been reopened to the public, with safety protocols in place.

In better news, there's a new Changi Airport Connector (CAC) path for cyclists, rollerbladers, and runners! The CAC is a 3.5km cycling and jogging path that links the airport to East Coast Park. It reportedly took three years to complete and was done with the support of the National Parks Board and the Singapore Tourism Board.

• It features the Changi Jurassic Mile, which is the country's largest outdoor dinosaur park. The Changi Jurassic Mile has 22 life-sized dinosaur models, along with informative panels and safari-themed music to heighten the experience.
• It offers a walking and cycling trail, with bicycle rental facilities available near Terminal 2.
• It has several pay-per-use facilities, including shower facilities, bicycle lockers, and a DIY bicycle tools station.
• It's connected to Singapore's Park Connector Network, so you can cycle to other destinations like Coney Island, Jurong Lake Gardens, Changi Beach Park, and Bedok Reservoir.
• It's open 24 hours a day and entry is free. However, due to the pandemic, there are some restrictions and capacity has been capped at a few hundred people.
• There's a cosy cafe called Hub & Spoke located outside Terminal 2, serving local and western dishes in a colonial-themed setting.

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