Changi Airport handled about 70 million passengers in 2025, with volumes surpassing pre-Covid-19 levels, said Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow as reported by The Straits Times.
This means passenger numbers at the airport reached an all-time high in 2025, eclipsing the previous record of 68.3 million passengers in 2019.
In 2024, Changi Airport handled 67.7 million passengers. The new Terminal 5, scheduled to open in the mid-2030s, will raise Changi Airport’s annual passenger capacity by more than 55%, from the current 90 million to 140 million.
The strong post-pandemic recovery for global aviation shows the Singapore Government made the right decision to go ahead with plans to build Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5), paused during the pandemic, Mr Siow said. He also said that the future now looks bright as global air traffic is expected to double by 2050, with the Asia-Pacific region leading this growth.
Changi Airport will now be elevated to the next category of large reports that handle more than 70 million passengers. SkyTrax named Changi Airport the best airport in 2025 for the 60 to 70 million passenger handling category. In the second to fifth places were Amsterdam Schiphol, Madrid Barajas, Shenzhen and New York JFK.
In the 70million+ category which is the largest category, the best Top 5 airports were Tokyo Haneda followed by Incheon Airport Seoul, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Dubai and Istanbul.
Technology-intensive hub
The mega T5 is being designed as a technology-intensive hub, featuring automation, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and robotics to support operations such as baggage and cargo handling. AI systems are also expected to improve flight planning, passenger services and responses to operational disruptions, including severe weather.
T5 will be fully electrified and designed to support the use of sustainable aviation fuel, positioning it as a key part of Singapore’s push for greener aviation. Passenger experience is another focus, with plans for seamless journeys from immigration to boarding, reduced walking distances, and personalised retail and dining recommendations.
People-mover system enables passengers to make connections more quickly
The people-mover system – similar to the existing Skytrain, which serves Terminals 1, 2 and 3 – will operate at a frequency of four to eight minutes. The system carries around 96 passengers per train, enabling passengers to connect flights between terminals.
T5 will be connected to existing terminals via a new underground people-mover system, allowing passengers to travel between Terminal 5 and Terminal 2 in about four minutes. Although T5 is a bigger airport terminal, its design reduces walking time, and the result is that transit passengers can make their connections more quickly.
Underground tunnels
Some 1.7km of the three underground tunnels between T5 and T2 – spanning a total of 2.5km – were completed in October 2024. Two of the tunnels are for the people mover, while the third tunnel is for baggage.
The remaining stretches of tunnel at the ends near T5 and T2 – where an interchange for the baggage-handling system, as well as the depot and station for the people mover, will be situated – are still under construction.
The baggage tunnel can facilitate the transfer of up to 3,000 bags an hour between T5 and T2.
