Amid the weakened demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the expectation passenger traffic will not immediately return to pre-outbreak levels, Singapore's main airport will shift the operations within its four terminals.

In a release by the Changi Airport Group, the airport will suspend the operations at Terminal 2 and shift the airlines to the other terminals within the airport effective May 1. The terminal is currently undergoing expansion work, and the scheduled 18-month suspension of operations will allow work to be accelerated leading up to its scheduled reopening in 2024.

With the impending temporary shutdown announced, the airport stated it will release more information as the to relocation of the airlines currently operating out of Terminal 2 before May 1.

As temporary shutdown of Terminal 2 was announced, the airport is also considering the temporary shutdown of Terminal 4 given the small number of flights currently operating at the terminal.

“CAG will also consider suspending operations at T4 temporarily but with the objective of restarting operations quickly when airlines confirm the resumption of flights,” the release stated.

With the scaled operations due to the outbreak, the airport has made efforts to assist businesses within the terminals including concessionaires. The airport has waived rentals for concessions at Terminal 4 starting March 24 effective for two months.

“With airlines suspending flights in response to the sharply reduced travel demand, the consolidation efforts seek to help our airport partners during this difficult time. While the scale of our operations will be reduced in the near term, Changi Airport remains open to serve the airfreight and passenger flights that continue to operate. Even as our airport capacity is being optimised for the current situation, we will have the flexibility and we stand ready to ramp up operations quickly once the recovery takes place,” stated Tan Lye Teck, CAG’s Executive Vice President of Airport Management.

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