Flying out of Singapore? Get ready for higher airfares
The increases will help fund SGD$3bn worth of terminal expansions and upgrades.
By David Flynn, November 11 2024
Travellers flying out of Singapore’s Changi Airport will soon to encounter a new reality: higher fees.
The cost of departing from the renowned aviation hub – often rated as the world’s best airport – will steadily increase from the current SGD$46 (AUD$53) to S$66 by 2030, with transfer and transit fees tripling from SGD$6 to SGD$18 per passenger.
Airlines will also have to pay more in landing, parking and aerobridge charges from April 2025 – an additional average of SGD$110-$290 per year for the next three years, depending on the size of the aircraft, followed by an annual hike of SGD$65-$190 from 2028 to 2031.
Those fees are of course likely to be passed onto passengers in the form of higher airfares.
Departure fees are set to rise at Singapore's Changi Airport.
The extra charges come as the airport embarks on a hefty SGD$3 billion project that promises everything from new Skytrain cars to expanded terminals.
That might be a jolt for frequent flyers, particularly those who remember Singapore’s airport as a beacon of low fees and high service.
But these costs, Changi Airport Group (CAG) asserts, are crucial for its ambitious plans to stay “strategically ahead of the game”, says SAG’s Koh Ming Sue, executive vice-president of engineering and development.
So what’s driving these fee hikes? Changi’s vision to accommodate surging travel demands involves both revamped terminals and a fleet of upgraded Skytrains that promise shorter transfer times.
“Over the course of the last 10 years, Changi Airport Group has built Terminal 4, upgraded and expanded Terminals 1 and 2 successively,” Koh reflects.
“We are planning to do the same for Terminal 3, which has been operating for nearly 20 years without a major refresh,” adding that more details will be provided in the future.
There'll be higher transit fees, but more Skytrains to smooth the journey between terminals.
Terminal 1’s arrival immigration halls will be expanded by almost 60% to relieve key bottlenecks for arrival clearance, especially during peak periods.
Seven new cars will be aded to the Skytrain system to reduce waiting times and carry more passengers travelling between Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
Out of sight, there’ll also be upgrades to the baggage handling system – especially for passengers connecting between T1 and T3, with a new rooftop “inter-terminal conveyance system” to make sure luggage isn’t left behind even on tight transfers.
To assist with the growing amount of baggage stemming from a steady increase in passenger numbers, Terminal 3’s early bag storage subsystem will be revamped to hold 65% more baggage.
Airside infrastructure will also be improved to accommodate Boeing’s new 777X jetliners, which counts Singapore Airlines among its backers – alongside Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways – and for which SQ plans all-new first class and business class suites.
02 Oct 2016
Total posts 3
The best improvement they could make is to demolish their single level terminals and rebuild with centralised security sreeening.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 77
Totally agree F8.1. This could be an opportunity to fix this up by separating incoming and outgoing passengers and get rid of the departure gate security screening which makes travel out of Singapore a stressful experience for many. Like KL, not only do you have to consider the inevitable long walk to the gate but also the unknown length of the security queue when you get there. No chance of relaxing in the lounge until the last minute in this place! Unfortunately I can’t see much change in this area due to the free and easy airside access for all from terminal to terminal via the Skytrain.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 478
What fantasy land are you guys living in? You are seriously thinking that Changi should "demolish" three terminals just to get rid of the at-the-gate security? Yes it's a pain, nobody would disagree with you, but get real, as if THIS is a practical or sensible solution!
02 Oct 2016
Total posts 3
My comment was actually tongue in cheek. I'm stuck with travelling through SIN regularly and the gate checks make an otherwise excellent airport a chore.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 130
Pretty modest increases, particularly when you look at the charges to fly out of Heathrow! I love that they are already looking at updating T3, which is still an excellent terminal.
Personally I like the security at the gate. It's great to arrive and bein the terminal and be able to get to any shops if you want rather than being funneled down a bland corridor. From memory the gate closes 10-15 min before departure. If you get to the gate 5 min before that time there'll be no security queue.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 191
At least Singaporeans will actually use this extra tax money to do exactly what they've outlined: make Changi airport better than it already is. I just can't see the UK Gov't and their extortionate business class levy increase making Heathrow better. Cynicism? Not really. Just being totally realistic..
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 51
I have a fundamental issue with this and I know other airports around the world have a similar business model. My issue is why should an existing passenger pay for the improvements? As an existing passenger I am not getting the benefits of improved skytrain or quicker and more efficient baggage handling. Future passengers should be paying for that, not existing
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
24 Feb 2022
Total posts 15
A great realistic plan!
Isn't it amazing, they are looking at airport needs out past 2031, I wish there were more airports like Changi
Great work!
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