Changi eyes new global routes ahead of Terminal 5 expansion

Changi Airport is targeting new direct routes over the next decade as it prepares to complete Terminal 5 by the mid-2030s. In a July 13 media interview, Lim Ching Kiat, executive vice president for air hub and cargo development at Changi Airport Group, said prospective destinations include Banda Aceh and Banjarmasin in Indonesia; Hai Phong and Da Lat in Vietnam; Almaty in Kazakhstan; and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. He added that many additional links will focus on Asia-Pacific “white spots,” with Urumqi and Hohhot in China, plus Lucknow and Jaipur in India, also among potential city pairs. At present, 85% of Changi flights go to Asia-Pacific destinations. Lim also cited plans to increase frequency to existing markets such as Nadi in Fiji and Paro in Bhutan, alongside growth to Noumea in New Caledonia. Passenger traffic showed mixed momentum in 2026: 17.6 million passengers in the first quarter (+2.3% year over year), then declines in April (5.73 million, -0.9%) and May (5.68 million, -2.4%) amid impacts linked to the March Iran war.