Changi Airport hits all-time high of 70 million passengers in 2025

By Phan Anh January 5, 2026 | 07:04 pm PT

Passengers queue at the departure hall of Changi Airport Terminal 3 in Singapore, March 31, 2023. Photo via Reuters

Singapore's Changi Airport handled 70 million passengers in 2025, setting a new all-time high and surpassing pre-pandemic traffic levels as the government presses ahead with long-term expansion plans.

The figure exceeds the previous record of 68.3 million passengers in 2019, before global air travel was disrupted by Covid-19. Passenger volumes had already rebounded strongly in 2024, when the airport handled 67.7 million travelers, The Straits Times reported.

Speaking on Jan. 5, Acting Minister of Transport Jeffrey Siow said the strong recovery in global aviation reinforced the government's decision to resume construction of Changi Airport Terminal 5, a project that was paused during the pandemic, Economic Times reported. He added that tenders for the superstructure of the new terminal are expected to be launched in the coming weeks.

"We were not sure what the future of aviation would hold," Siow said, referring to the collapse in air travel during the pandemic. But the government decided to go ahead, and the future now looks bright, he added.

Global air traffic is expected to double by 2050, with the Asia-Pacific region leading growth, according to projections cited by the minister. Terminal 5, scheduled to open in the mid-2030s, is intended to anchor Singapore's role in that expansion.

The mega terminal is being designed as a technology-intensive hub, featuring automation, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and robotics to support operations such as baggage and cargo handling. AI systems are also expected to improve flight planning, passenger services and responses to operational disruptions, including severe weather.

Terminal 5 will be fully electrified and designed to support the use of sustainable aviation fuel, positioning it as a key part of Singapore's push for greener aviation. Passenger experience is another focus, with plans for seamless journeys from immigration to boarding, reduced walking distances, and personalized retail and dining recommendations.

Once completed, Terminal 5 will lift Changi Airport's total passenger capacity by more than 55%, from 90 million to 140 million passengers a year. The terminal will be connected to existing terminals via a new underground people-mover system, allowing passengers to travel between Terminal 5 and Terminal 2 in about four minutes.

The expansion is also expected to create new jobs across the aviation sector, particularly in data science, systems operations and sustainability, areas officials say will appeal to younger Singaporeans.