Singapore: Changi Airport’s improvements to welcome travellers back post-pandemic
Singapore’s Changi Airport was crowned the world’s best aerodrome for 15 years straight before COVID-19 due to its superior traveller offerings and hi-tech customer services. Now it is ready to welcome back visitors en masse, hoping improvements made during the pandemic will cement its status as Asia’s premier aviation hub.
Travelers walk through the transit area at Changi Airport in Singapore. (Photo: Bloomberg)
Hanoi (VNA) – Singapore’s Changi Airport wascrowned the world’s best aerodrome for 15 years straight before COVID-19 due toits superior traveller offerings and hi-tech customer services. Now it is ready to welcome back visitors en masse, hoping improvements made during thepandemic will cement its status as Asia’s premier aviation hub.
Singapore was among the first in Asia to start easing travelrestrictions by establishing vaccinated travel lanes that ultimately allowedpeople from 32 countries to visit without quarantine. From April, the island state was opened to anyone who is fully inoculated regardless of where they are from.
While waiting for this, Changi was making behind-the-scenesadjustments. Self-check-in kiosks and baggage drops now operate when a personhovers their finger over a screen. Passengers use automated immigration gatesthat scan faces and irises if those biometrics are registered in a passport.Air conditioning and mechanical ventilation has been installed withhospital-grade filters and ultraviolet sanitation systems, and autonomouscleaning robots use misting to disinfect carpets.
And travellers are coming back, gradually. Changi handled1.42 million passengers in the first two months of this year, a jump from263,000 the same period last year. That compares with Hong Kong, which handled157,000 passengers in January and February. The Republic of Korea’s IncheonInternational Airport, ranked No.1 in Asia for international travel in 2021,processed 675,452 passengers in the first two months of 2022.
However, while 81 of the 91 carriers that used to fly intoChangi have restored services, flight frequencies are just 37 percent ofpre-pandemic levels. Last year, the aerodrome handled 3.05 million passengers,a drop from 68 million in 2019 before countries closed their borders.
Singapore aims to restore passenger volume at Changi to atleast 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels by later this year, up from 15 percent atthe end of 2021.
Aviation accounts for more than 5 percent of Singapore’s GDPand provides about 200,000 jobs. The country has allocated nearly 500 millionSGD (367 million USD) to boost tourism recovery./.
The Singaporean government has earmarked nearly 500 million SGD (about 367.55 million USD) to boost tourism recovery, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan on April 6.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on April 14 tightened monetary policy, the third time since October 2021, with the aim to combat inflation that is expected to heat up.
Men golfers of Singapore have prepared for best performance at the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) despite the absence of their ace player, defending champion James Leow.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The new halal cooperation arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market.
Travelers walk through the transit area at Changi Airport in Singapore. (Photo: Bloomberg) 
