Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong, has officially launched construction on Terminal 5 (T5), the latest expansion of Changi Airport.
The terminal forms part of a broader development strategy aimed at strengthening Singapore’s air transport infrastructure in response to projected long-term growth in regional and global travel demand.
Once completed, T5 is expected to handle around 50 million passengers annually during its initial phase, targeted for the mid-2030s.
The Singapore Airlines Group, currently spread across multiple terminals, will consolidate its operations at T5, while space will also be available to accommodate other carriers.
Design work for T5, led by a consortium including KPF Associates, Heatherwick Studio and architects61, was initially paused in 2020 due to the pandemic but resumed in 2022.
A key feature of the terminal is its integration with ground transport. T5 will be the first terminal at Changi to include a dedicated ground transportation centre, bringing together rail, bus, taxi, and other modes. Rail connectivity will be enhanced through planned extensions of both the Thomson-East Coast Line and the Cross Island Line.
In addition to land transport, air-sea connectivity is also part of the long-term plan, with options under consideration to facilitate connections to ferry services for travel to neighbouring destinations.
Terminal 5 will also incorporate automation across passenger-facing and operational functions to reduce reliance on manpower and improve efficiency. These features are expected to help the airport manage increased passenger volumes while maintaining service levels.
Furthermore, the terminal is being designed with flexibility in mind. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, T5 will have the capability to operate as smaller self-contained sub-terminals when necessary, supporting public health and operational resilience.
Mr Trent Tesch, Design Principal, KPF said:With the groundbreaking of Changi Terminal 5, I couldn’t be more excited to see this visionary project come to life. Changi Airport Group has long been a global leader in redefining what an airport can be — proving that efficiency and experience are not mutually exclusive. With Terminal 5, we set out to build on that legacy, challenging the conventional model of airport design.
Too often, airports are designed as pure machines for movement—efficient but impersonal, reducing passengers to mere numbers in a system. Instead, T5 is conceived as a vibrant microcity that is distinctly Singaporean — lush, layered, and deeply human. It integrates nature, cultural discovery, and moments of wonder, transforming travel from something to endure into something to enjoy. Rather than endless corridors and passive waiting, it offers spaces that engage, surprise, and delight, proving that
an airport can be more than just a gateway — it can be a destination in itself.
In terms of sustainability, T5 will meet Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy building standards, a certification reflecting efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. The terminal will include energy-efficient systems and a large-scale rooftop solar installation.
Architecturally, the terminal has been designed to balance scale with a sense of human-centred space. Curved roof structures at varying heights will divide the building visually and functionally into smaller areas. Natural lighting and landscaping will be used to soften the internal environment.
Passenger movements within the terminal will be facilitated by travellators and an automated people mover (APM) system. The APM will also connect T5 with Terminal 2 to enable smooth transfers.
