Changi Airport is stepping up efforts to secure direct flights to new destinations as it prepares for the opening of Terminal 5 in the mid-2030s.
Among the cities being considered for future links to Singapore are Banda Aceh and Banjarmasin in Indonesia, Hai Phong and Da Lat in Vietnam, Almaty in Kazakhstan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Urumqi and Hohhot in China, and Lucknow and Jaipur in India.
Speaking to the media on 13 July, Lim Ching Kiat, executive vice-president for air hub and cargo development at Changi Airport Group (CAG), said many of these destinations are currently underserved by direct air services from Singapore.
Most future network growth is expected to come from the Asia Pacific region, which already accounts for 85% of flights operating at Changi Airport.
The airport is also looking to increase frequencies on existing routes, including services to Nadi in Fiji, Paro in Bhutan and Noumea in New Caledonia, with the long-term aim of building up to daily operations.
The new Terminal 5 will increase Changi Airport's annual passenger capacity from 90 million to 140 million. Looking further ahead, Lim said the airport could prioritise more direct flights to cities in North America, including Boston, Chicago and Toronto, before exploring future non-stop links to South America.
On expanding the airport's network, Lim said: "It is only the beginning of another milestone. It's like a garden. You're always not satisfied. You always want to make sure your plants grow very healthily."
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