Industry news

We provide a snapshot of some of the latest news stories from across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

SINGAPORE CHANGI PLANNING S$3 BILLION UPGRADE

Changi Airport Group (CAG) is to invest S$3 billion over the next six years on enhancing Terminals 1 to 4 at Singapore Changi Airport.

The investment programme will improve services such as baggage handling, check-in, immigration and Skytrain connections between terminals and replace end-of-life systems to enhance the passenger and airline experience.

According to CAG, the investments will help Changi Airport stay competitive and meet rising demand for air travel before Terminal 5 is operational in the mid-2030s.

It notes that airport charges will be progressively raised between 2025 and 2030 to fund these investments and cater for higher operating costs such as manpower.

This, says CAG, will also enable the recovery of significant investments made during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the expansion of Terminal 2 and check-in counter capacity in Terminal 3, when passenger fees and airlines charges were frozen and planned increases were suspended.

CAG says: “Air travel demand is expected to grow strongly over the next few decades, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Both IATA and ACI have projected global passenger volumes to at least double between 2023 and 2043, with Asia-Pacific recording the fastest rise, and contributing to more than half of this growth.

“As a major air hub for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, Changi Airport is well-poised to serve this rise in demand and provide better connectivity to travellers.

“The aviation sector will continue to be a key driver of economic growth for Singapore and provide more and better jobs for Singaporeans.”

‘TIGER WINGS’ at Kempegowda

‘Tiger Wings’, a pioneering vertical garden designed in collaboration with renown botanist, Patrick Blanc, is the latest new addition to Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.

Located in Terminal 2, this transformative 30-feet-high, 160-feet-wide (2 walls each of 80 feet) installation represents Blanc’s largest project in India and is said to exemplify T2’s foundational philosophy of seamlessly blending nature with infrastructure.

‘Tiger Wings’ is home to over 15,000 plants across 153 species, many native to Karnataka and its neighbouring regions.

According to the airport, “the garden’s intricate design captures the strength and elegance of India’s national animal, the Tiger. Asparagus plants trace the silhouette of airplane wings, while vibrant red, orange, yellow, and white Ixora flowers represent the tiger’s signature pattern”.

Hari Marar, managing director and CEO of Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), noted: “We wanted to bring in a fresh perspective to our vision of sustainability, artistry, and technological advancement in a way that resonates with Bengaluru’s essence.

“Terminal 2 was anchored by four guiding principles – Terminal in a Garden, technology, art, and sustainability – and this wall embodies all of them.”

HONG KONG’S AIRPORT CITY CONTINUES TO GROW

First unveiled in 2019, the Airport City at Hong Kong continues to grow and drive economic development in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Since opening, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) driven project has expanded with new additions such as a new hotel and three Grade-A office towers while 11 SKIES, a complex integrating retail, dining and entertainment facilities is scheduled to open in phases from the second half of 2025.

New projects include an ecosystem for the art industry, AsiaWorld-Expo Phase 2 development, a marina with ancillary facilities, a fresh food market, and a new sport/entertainment complex.

According to AAHK, these new projects will promote high-end commercial, tourism and leisure activities, and are expected to be completed from 2026 to 2031.

AAHK chairman, Fred Lam, says: “The expansion of the development blueprint will focus on leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages and creating synergy among various projects to transform the Airport City into a new landmark of Asia.

“It will be a distinct tourist hotspot for visitors from Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and all over the world, especially premium visitors, injecting impetus into the economic growth of Hong Kong and the region.”

NEW TRAFFIC MILESTONE AT JEDDAH’S KING ABDULAZIZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

King Abdulaziz International Airport had double cause to celebrate in November, welcoming back scheduled flights from British Airways and handling an all-time daily traffic high of 161,189 passengers on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) revealed that the record breaking daily total included 79,994 arriving passengers and 81,195 departing passengers travelling on 817 flights, averaging 34 inbound and outbound flights per hour.

Additionally, a total of 132,189 pieces of luggage were processed throughout the day.

JEDCO CEO, Mazen Johar, said: “This record demonstrates our commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and meeting the growing demand of travellers, in line with Jeddah Airports Company’s strategy and the broader aviation objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”

AUSTRALASIA’S FIRST EMAS PROJECT UNDER WAY AT QUEENSTOWN

Engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) beds will be installed at both ends of the main runway at Queenstown Airport over the next few months as part of a NZ$23 million airfield safety project.

Queenstown Airport is the first in Australia or New Zealand to use this innovative technology, which utilises cellular cement blocks that crush under the weight of an aircraft. These are designed to slow a plane to a safe stop with little damage, should one overshoot the runway.

Airport chief executive, Glen Sowry, notes that although such incidents are rare – the only one to happen at Queenstown Airport occurred in 1990 – the airport wants to do all that it can to make sure that there is never a repeat.

“EMAS technology has proven its worth in the northern hemisphere, and we are proud to be leading its introduction in this part of the world. It’s the gold standard and will substantially increase the margin of safety for those landing here,” said Sowry.

A sod-turning ceremony was held to mark the start of the project, with representatives of the airport company and the head contractor, Downer, wielding the spades.

KOTA KINABALU AIRPORT SET FOR UPGRADE

The Malaysian government has approved a RM442.3 million ($98 million) upgrade of Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Construction is expected to take two years and be completed by 2027, according to Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke.

“The project will cost RM442.3 million, fully funded through a private financing initiative by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) without any government guarantees,” Loke told a press conference in Parliament on November 8.

The planned revamp of Kota Kinabalu (BKI) includes expanding the main terminal to raise its capacity from nine million to 12mppa, construction of a multi-storey car park, addition of seven aircraft parking bays, and improvements to airport roadways.

Loke, who has previously stated that he’d like to see something like Kuala Lumpur’s Terminal 2 in Kota Kinabalu, noted that the use of green technology, automation and advanced systems will further enhance the operational efficiency of the gateway, located in Sabah state in northern Borneo.

Around seven millon passengers passed through the airport in 2023, and with year-on-year numbers up by 13.4% to October 2024, it appears well on the way to returning to pre-COVID traffic levels, when it handled 9.4 million passengers in 2019.

Loke said projections indicated that passenger numbers were expected to reach 12.4 million by 2034.

“Our goal is to minimise any impact on passengers and hope that the construction process will run smoothly,” added Loke. “We cannot close the airport for the expansion project. It still needs to function and operate as usual while the project is being carried out.”

Loke stated that an approved development budget also included proposals to upgrade Tawau, Miri and Ipoh airports, while the Sarawak government is considering a new airport in Kuching.