"Singapore in 26-million-dollar airport upgrade to welcome A380 jumbo jet"

Monday, March 22, 2004 

Singapore in 26-million-dollar airport upgrade to welcome A380 jumbo jet
Agence France-Presse


SINGAPORE, (AFP) - Singapore's Changi airport is undergoing a
45-million-Singapore-dollar (26-million-US dollar) upgrade so it can cater
for the world's biggest commercial jet, the Airbus A380, authorities said
Monday.

Some of the modification work being carried out includes widening the runway
shoulders, expanding the existing gaterooms by five to 10 percent and
extending the baggage belts, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said.

"Changi will be one of the first airports to welcome the Airbus A380 when it
begins operations in 2006," it authority said.

"About 45 million dollars has been set aside to modify the airport so as to
continue to grow Changi's status as an aviation hub after the A380 begins
operations."

When the work is completed by the end of 2005, Changi will have 11 gates at
terminals one and two to accomodate the A380 and another eight more when
construction of terminal three is completed in 2008.

National carrier Singapore Airlines will be among the first to take delivery
of the A380, which is designed to carry more than 550 passengers.

Singapore is spending more than one billion US dollars to spruce up and
expand Changi airport as the race for a slice of the lucrative aviation
business pie in Asia intensifies.

Newer or upcoming airports in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur as well as
other regional hubs like Dubai are posing serious challenges to Changi,
which is consistently voted by air travellers as among the best globally.


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