Relax - Changi's hub status a top priority

Relax

News

Article

SINGAPORE - The government will do whatever is needed to ensure that Changi Airport remains an attractive and thriving hub airport.

Minister of State for Transport and Finance Josephine Teo said this at an industry dialogue yesterday amid increasing concerns that rapid restructuring within the airline industry could leave Changi trailing behind emerging Middle Eastern hubs.

Addressing the Association of Aerospace Industries Singapore at its annual general meeting, Ms Teo said the government is watching developments very closely and would consider measures to ensure that Changi Airport remains competitive.

She was referring to recent tie-ups between Qantas and Emirates, and Virgin Australia and Etihad (which has also bought 10 per cent stake in the Australian carrier). Qantas has already said it would move its hub operations for intercontinental flights to Europe away from Singapore to Dubai from the second quarter of next year. Meanwhile, observers say the equity tie-up between Etihad and Virgin Australia could drive some activity on the "kangaroo route" to Abu Dhabi.

Ms Teo said the government takes these issues seriously and urged Changi Airport to face the competition head-on. She added the recent developments were a reminder that Changi cannot take its airhub status for granted.

But she added that Changi had its unique strengths and remained a benchmark for many international airports, particularly around the Asia Pacific. Plans were afoot to grow Changi further, with the multi-agency Changi 2036 Steering Committee charting its development plans.

Read also:
Changi Airport named world's best by Business Traveller

Just what are CAG, SIA thinking?

"The committee's work is on schedule - I had earlier updated that a decision will be made by the end of the year on the target date for Runway 3 to be available for civilian use," she said. "We are also carefully studying the optimal use of the 1,000 ha of land that is available for development, including the configuration of future terminal capacity and airside-dependent industrial activity. Consultation with stakeholders has started, and we have already obtained much useful feedback and suggestions."

Meanwhile, work was proceeding on schedule at Seletar Aerospace Park.

"With the strong support of the aerospace community, the government has transformed Seletar Airport and the surrounding area into the Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP)," she said.

"We are further upgrading Seletar Airport, installing an instrument landing system (to aid low-visibility operations), and adding to its taxiways and parking aprons.

"We will complete these works by 2014. With the right infrastructure in place at SAP, and strong take-up by leading home-grown and international aerospace firms, I am confident the SAP will strengthen Singapore's competitiveness as a premier aviation and aerospace hub."

Get The Business Times for more stories.

Changi's hub status a top priority

By Ven Sreenivasan, The Business Times | Tue, Sep 18 2012

Josephine Teo gives govt's assurance, urges airport to face competition head-on.

Keywords

changi airport