Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening.

            It gives me great pleasure to be here today to mark the opening of Changi Airport’s very own Terminal for Commercially Important People, or CIP for short.

The CIP Terminal

2          The introduction of the CIP Terminal is part of our continuous efforts to expand Changi Airport’s service offerings, allowing Changi to cater to a broader spectrum of the air travel market. The market for premium air travel in Singapore has grown at an average of 9% annually since 2000, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years.

3          The opening of the Budget Terminal in March 2006 will help nurture the growth of low-cost, no-frills travel. With the opening of the CIP Terminal, Changi’s travellers now have a full range of services to choose from.  The launch of Changi’s very own CIP facility thus places Singapore in a good position to tap into the growing demand for premium air travel in Asia.   Catering to such demand for premium air travel also improves Singapore’s attractiveness as a business and commercial centre.

Treats and Features at the CIP Terminal

4          The CIP Terminal offers a full range of premium services for the high net-worth market. By setting a new standard in premium airport services, passengers travelling on both commercial and private aircraft can now benefit from an unprecedented level of comfort, convenience and privacy.

5          Users of the CIP Terminal will enjoy a personal concierge service to attend to all their needs and to facilitate airport and immigration formalities. Facilities include nap rooms, a gym, spa and massage services, and fine dining.   The finishing touches on this luxury experience are topped off by a limousine service from the Terminal to the departure gate, a service which will ensure that CIP customers depart in style, and minimum fuss.

6          Aside from personal services, the CIP Terminal also caters to the highly-mobile business community, with the provision of a full range of meeting facilities. With the large numbers of multinational companies basing their regional operations in Singapore, the available time during a transit at Changi Airport can now be productively used to clinch a business deal or have client meetings, all within the comfort of the CIP Terminal and its dedicated premium facilities.   

Management of CIP Terminal

7          The CIP Terminal will be operated by JetQuay Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based joint venture between four companies - Worldwide Flight Services, active around the world in airport and terminal services, Superior Travellers Services Limited, the provider of China Fast Track airport CIP services in China, Sembawang Kimtrans Ltd, an integrated logistics company located in Singapore, and TS Marine Pte Ltd, a marine trading company in Singapore. Each stakeholder’s extensive experience and track record bode well for the CIP Terminal’s potential to meet and exceed its customers’ expectations.

8          At this point, let me take the opportunity to thank JetQuay for its commitment to investing in and managing the CIP Terminal at Changi. As a leading air hub in Asia, Changi’s extensive air connectivity to the region and the rest of the world makes it an ideal place to tap the anticipated growth in the premium air travel segment. I am confident that the synergies of this collaboration will generate significant benefits from the growth of the premium air travel market as well as boosting Changi Airport’s connectivity to the region.

Conclusion

9          With that, let me end by once again extending my heartiest congratulations to CAAS and the management and staff of JetQuay on the official opening of the CIP Terminal at Changi Airport.  I look forward to the success of the CIP Terminal in the years ahead. Thank you.