Singapore to begin building Changi Airport's fifth terminal next year

The new terminal aims to link Singapore to more than 200 cities, up from almost 150 now, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at an event Friday, as reported by The Straits Times.

Terminal 5, a mega project, is expected to increase Changi’s annual passenger capacity by 50 million, bringing the total to 140 million when completed by the mid-2030s.

Wong said that several countries in the region and beyond are upgrading their airport infrastructure to serve an increasing demand.

"Some have announced plans for mega airports that can handle more than 100 million passengers a year. So they are narrowing the gap with Singapore," he said.

"We cannot rest on our laurels."

Southeast Asia is currently experiencing a surge in airport upgrades and new constructions.

Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodia – will see total annual passenger handling capacity reaching at least 653 million people by 2030, nearly doubling from the 336 million people as of January 2023, according to a research by Nikkei Asia.

Long Thanh International Airport in southern Vietnam, which is the country’s most ambitious airport project, is under construction and will receive its first commercial flights in September 2026.

The airport will initially accommodate 25 million passengers annually, but will eventually serve 100 million passengers when all three phases are completed.