Changi Terminal 3 part II

CHANGI Airport's new $1.75 billion Terminal 3 is completed. It will start operations on Jan 9, but before that, rigorous testing and final preparations will take place.

Over the next seven months, airlines, airport agencies, ground handlers and shop tenants will move in to the new terminal, built to handle 22 million passengers a year.

Flight trials will start in July, and the public can look forward to an open house later in the year.

Announcing the Jan 9 opening date after touring the terminal yesterday was Transport Minister Raymond Lim. He said: 'This is an important milestone we have achieved. Terminal 3 will help us to strengthen and consolidate our regional hub position and at the same time enhance customer experience.'

At 380,000 sq m, Terminal 3 is Changi's biggest. Terminal 2 is 358,000 sq m, and Terminal 1, just over 280,000 sq m. Together, all three terminals will allow Changi to handle about 70 million passengers a year. This will keep it ahead of regional airports like Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok, which handles 45 million passengers, and in step with emerging air hubs like Dubai International Airport, which also plans for 70 million passengers by next year.

To out-do the competition, T3 will offer visitors 100 shops and more than 30 food and beverage outlets, as well as a 350-room airport hotel with a swimming pool, restaurants, conference rooms and a spa, among other facilities.

This is in addition to the combined 160 shops and 80 food outlets in T1 and T2. T3's anchor tenant will be Singapore Airlines, which plans to move more than half its operations from Terminal 2, where it is currently housed.

Passengers who have to move between terminals to catch connecting flights can transfer via the airport's new People Mover System.

The $135 million system, comprising 6.5km of separate train tracks running through the restricted and public areas, will take passengers between Terminals 2 and 3 in three minutes. Another train will run between Terminals 1 and 3.

T3 boasts unique design features, including skylights on the 300m by 200m roof which are equipped with 'intelligent' reflectors that let in light but block out heat depending on the amount of sunlight and cloud cover. Artificial lights come on automatically when necessary.

At yesterday's event, Mr Lim was asked for an update on Singapore-Malaysia air talks. He said that when transport officials from both sides met earlier this month, there was consensus that air links between both countries should be expanded, but there was no talk of a possible time frame for the opening.

Such details will be ironed out during the next round of official talks, which The Straits Times understands is likely to be in September, at the earliest. On conflicting reports in Malaysia recently on the subject, he said: 'Different people say different things, so I think it is best to wait for the formal talks itself.'

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in Kuala Lumpur last week that the lucrative Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route is unlikely to open up before the Asean deadline of unrestricted capital-to-capital flights by the end of next year. Two days later, Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes said at a conference in Singapore that he remains optimistic the route will be opened to low-cost airlines - possibly as soon as September

New photo updates on the new terminal 3

Overview of the Departure Hall

Skylights on the roof (above), equipped wit 'smart' reflectors, adjust themselves according 2 how much sunlight or cloud there is while blocking out the heat. Artificial lights come on automatically when necessary

Unlike the 2 existing terminals, T3 will house 2 giant passenger holding areas tt will serve up 2 five flighjts @ the same time. The area is big enough to seat 2,000 passengers. At 380,000 sq m, the new terminal is Changi's biggest

MANY OPTIONS TO DINE: Visitors 2 the new terminal will not be able to miss tis structure in the public area. The surrounding space will be used 4 food & beverage outlets, of which there will be more than 30 in T3, compared to a total of 80 in T1 and T2

Wall tiles wit nature themes (above) giv the terminal an air of tranquility

Wit its cascading water and a 500m-high wall of creepers, the new terminal has more than a touch of nature abt it.

Terminal 3 will hav 132 check-in counters, compared to 160 in T1 nd 144 in T2. T3's anchor tenant is Singapore Airlines, which plans 2 move more than half its operations frm T2 where it is currently housed