(TAN): Singapore’s Changi Airport will suspend operations of Terminal 2 for a period of 18 months from May 1, reports said.
According to reports, the airport authorities will keep the terminal closed until the end of 2021 amid a massive slowdown in passenger traffic owing to the coronavirus outbreak, and because air travel demand is unlikely to go up to pre-pandemic levels any time soon.
Singapore’s Transport Minister, Khaw Boon Wan reportedly said airlines will be relocated to the other terminals, while Singapore Airlines will run services from Terminal 3 for the time being. He added that one terminal will be enough to manage the traffic load in the present circumstances, as per reports.
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Wan reportedly said even though full recovery might not happen this year, the situation might partially improve next year.
“While full recovery this year is unlikely, partial recovery next year is probable. We must be ready to lead and to ride the recovery when it happens,” he was quoted by The Sun as saying.
The airport and partners will be able to save on running costs such as utilities and cleaning after operations are consolidated, reports said. It will also help optimise resources across the Changi Airport’s terminals in keeping with the slump in travel demand, according to reports.
The shutting down of the terminal will also help speed up the expansion work that is currently underway in Terminal 2, which is scheduled to be completed by 2024, reports said.
“Importantly, it also allows us to speed up the current upgrading works at Terminal 2 and shorten the project time by up to one year,” the Minister of Transport was quoted by Forbes as saying.
Terminal 4, the only terminal that is not connected to the other three terminals, reportedly remains open although the scale of operations have gone down. The airport could consider suspending operations at the terminal if the remaining airlines at Terminal 4 suspend to bring down their schedules, as per reports.
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