Fully automated Changi Airport Terminal 4 begins operations
Equipped with cutting-edge technology such as facial recognition software to facilitate a fully-automated self check-in system, Singapore’s fourth airport terminal welcomed its first flight arrival at 5:27 am, a Cathay Pacific Airways flight from Hong Kong.
(Image: Changi Airport Singapore)
Passengers were warmly welcomed by airport staff to celebrate the historical moment, with goodie bags and orchids. Subsequently, they received breakfast and coffee to kick-start their day. The same aircraft also had the honour of being the inaugural flight to depart Terminal 4, which took off at 6.50 am.
(Image: Changi Airport Group)
The self-automated system was also well received by the departing passengers. Terminal 4 uses facial recognition throughout the process, from the moment a traveller checks in, until aircraft boarding. Mainly, the aesthetics, heightened security measures, and seamlessness were praised. However, there were a few passengers who had trouble with the system and had to proceed to manual counters instead.
“After five years in the making, we are very happy to commence operations at T4.
“The new terminal will increase Changi Airport’s capacity by another 16 million passenger movements per annum (mppa), bringing the total to 82 mppa. T4 is expected to handle about eight million passenger movements in its first year of operation. More importantly, we are now able to deliver an even better travel experience to Changi’s passengers.”
-Tan Lye Teck, CAG’s Executive Vice President for Airport Management
Terminal 4, spanning a floor area of 225,000sq m, was built at a cost of S$985 million. One of the top travel hubs in Asia, with the inclusion of Terminal 4, Changi Airport will be able to accommodate 82 million passengers per year. In fact, Terminal 4 is a testing ground for technology to be used in Terminal 5 – slated to open in the late 2020s and is projected to bring up Changi Airport’s annual capacity to 132 million passengers per year.