The expansion of Singapore’s Changi Airport with the addition of Terminal 5 (T5) is expected to elevate the airport into the ranks of Asia’s “mega airports” with a capacity to handle over 100 million passengers annually. This was highlighted by Stefano Baronci, director-general of Airports Council International (ACI) for Asia-Pacific and Middle East, during a media roundtable organized by Changi Airport Group.

According to the estimates by Changi Airport Group, T5 will increase the airport’s annual capacity from the current 90 million to 140 million passengers. It is also expected to expand the airport’s network from around 170 city links to over 200 city links by the mid-2030s. These developments, along with its numerous connections and status as a popular passenger transfer hub, will position Changi Airport as a “mega airport”, noted Baronci.

ACI foresees Asia as the origin of future mega airports, owing to factors such as the region’s larger number of megacities with a population of over 10 million, as well as its macroeconomic development, demographics, and population growth. Out of the current 39 megacities in the world, 23 are located in Asia.

In 2024, ACI ranked Singapore as the world’s fourth-busiest international airport, following Dubai, London, and Incheon airports. In the fiscal year ending in March, Singapore recorded a record-breaking passenger traffic of 68.