Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information & The Arts, #36-00, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963, Tel: 3757794/5

SPEECH BY MR. MAH BOW TAN

MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS

FOR THE ANNUAL AIRPORT RECEPTION

ON MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 1996,

11.00 AM AT CAAS LOBBY

It is my pleasure to join you this morning to celebrate another successful year for Changi Airport.

2 Passengers continue to regard Changi Airport as the best airport in the world. This year, Changi Airport was voted No. 1 in seven polls by international travel publications. The UK magazine, Business Traveller, voted Changi the best airport in the world for the ninth consecutive year. All of us associated with Changi Airport obviously feel very proud of this achievement. I especially want to congratulate all of you who work at Changi for this outstanding achievement.

CHANGI AIRPORT AS A VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

3 Singapore received over 7 million visitors a year. Whether for business or leisure, most of these visitors arrived by air. Changi Airport is also the gateway for local residents travelling abroad. Last year, a total of 1.9 million trips were made by Singaporeans and permanent residents. With a network connecting 133 cities in 56 countries, Changi Airport is also a convenient connecting point for foreign passengers flying from one city to another. Without doubt, Changi Airport has contributed significantly to the success of Singapore. It has done so by providing a valuable service to travellers in this region.

DEVELOPMENTS OF CHANGI AIRPORT

4 The success of Changi Airport today can be traced back to a critical decision made by the Government 20 years ago. In 1975, the Government decided to build a new airport at Changi to replace Paya Lebar Airport. Six years later, the first flight took off from Changi on 1 July 1981.

5 Since then, Changi Airport has continued to develop to keep pace with increasing traffic and changing passenger expectations. A second runway was added in 1984 and Terminal 2 was completed in 1990. Two finger piers were added to Terminal 2 earlier this year. Currently, work has started on extending the piers in Terminal 1.

TERMINAL 1 AND TERMINAL 2 REACHING CAPACITY

6 These continuous improvements were necessary to enable Changi Airport to provide the efficiency and quality of service that even other airports talk about. But Changi Airport is not the only one making huge investments to serve the increased demand for air travel. Kuala Lumpur's new Sepang Airport is expected to be operational in early 1998. Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport is coming on stream by the middle of 1998.

7 Changi Airport handled 23 million passengers last year. This year, we expect to handle 25 million passengers. CAAS expects that Terminals 1 and 2 will reach their full capacity in less than 10 years.

TERMINAL 3 DEVELOPMENTS

8 We have two choices: Wait for the traffic to build up and existing capacity to be more or less used up before we expand, or expand the capacity now to match the expected demand. The decision rested on one word: Service. A terminal operating at full capacity means less space for users, longer waiting times, more dependence on buses instead of aerobridges etc. In other words, poorer service.

9. To maintain Changi's position as a premier hub airport, and to enable us to continue to offer outstanding service to our airport users, the Government has decided to start work on Terminal 3 before full capacity is reached in Terminals 1 and 2. Detailed design will begin in 1997 and construction will start in 1999 with completion scheduled for 2003. Terminal 3 will commence operations in 2004.

10 Terminal 3 will be an exciting project worthy of Changi Airport's world-class reputation. It will have state-of-the-art facilities and systems. These will include aircraft stands for new generation aircraft, such as the 600 seater super-jumbos. It will be prepared for new technologies in air travel such as electronic ticketing. An efficient People Mover System will link the three terminals. CAAS will study the feasibility of an airport hotel as part of Terminal 3 to serve both passengers and airline crew. In short, Terminal 3 will complement our existing terminals to form "a total airport city", which will deliver the special quality of service and experience that has become synonymous with and expected of Changi Airport.

EXTENSION OF MASS RAPID TRANSIT TO CHANGI AIRPORT

11 Airport infrastructure developments do not stop at airport buildings alone. Ground transport linking the airport and the city is equally important. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister BG Lee announced that the Government will be extending the MRT line to Changi Airport. This will meet the transportation needs of passengers, visitors and the nearly 30,000 workers at Changi Airport. The MRT will also be integrated with the construction of T3, as the MRT station will be underground serving all the three Terminals. When the MRT extension begins operations in 2001, accessibility to Changi Airport will be greatly enhanced.

GREAT PEOPLE

12 Before I end, let me remind ourselves that the best facilities in the world are of little use without able human hands to operate and use them. Let us not forget the critical importance of warm and courteous service to complement good facilities. Only caring, committed and dedicated people can accomplish this.

13 This morning, an outstanding airport colleague will receive the prestigious "Changi Airport Service Personality of the Year" award. He can serve as the role model for all airport workers to follow. A number of other deserving airport staff will also receive "Outstanding Service Provider" awards. I congratulate all the winners for their fine performance.

14 Ladies and Gentlemen of Changi Airport, once again my congratulations to you for a successful 1996. Keep it up and let us come back for another celebration next year and the year after that.