The Airchive - Singapore Changi Planespotting

	Singapore Changi Airport Changi opened in 1981 with a single terminal and has consistantly been the recipiant of award's for World's Best Airport-in many categories. It is particularly famed for its user-friendly design, tropical aesthetic qualities, and of course the incredible shopping. Few airports in the world can boast a swimming pool, free internet terminals everywhere, Koi ponds, rooftop gardens, an actual grocery store, and a movie theater. This is truly my favorite airport in the world. It is located 12 miles outside of downtown in Changi. Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, Tiger, JetStar Asia, and Valuair are headquatered here. It is also a major stop over on Qantas' famed Kangaroo route between Europe and Austrailia. There are currently 4 terminals: T1, T2, and the new 2008 T3, as well as a budget terminal. T3 opened in January 2008 with 28 gates (8 A380 capable). Singapore moved many of its long-haul ops over and other Star Alliance airlines began the transition from T1 and T2. Changi was the location of the world's first scheduled A380 flight, on October 25, 2007. I have created a special page marking this historic occassion, that I took part in as a passenger.The airport unveiled the new 11 A380 ready gates two years before in 2005. These images were all taken in April, 2007.
	Jump to A380 First Flight Page

	Changi Entrance

	Singapore Skylink Links T1, T2, and T3
	Terminal 1 T1, the original 1981 era terminal, is undergoing massive renovations to bring it up to the T2 standard. Even so, T1 is a modern, spacious, clean, and user friendly terminal boasting 2 wings. T1 is home to most international carriers, with Singapore operating out of T2 and T3. Some of the Star Alliance carriers are in the process of decamping to the new T3.











	Singapore Changi Grocery Store To my knowledge, SIN is the only airport in the world with a full service grocery store.
	Indian Airlines Airbus A320 Indian, the state owned regional and domestic airline, and Air India have just merged to create a new Air India.
	Jetstar Asia Airways This LCC, based in Singapore, is partially owned by Qantas and Singapore interestes. Jetsta operates A320s to regional Asian destinations, unlike its longer haul counterpart Jetstar Australia which flies A330s. The two companies have now become one.
	Garuda Indonesia 737 and Cathay Pacific 747-400 at T1
	Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 CX flies high density 747s to Hong Kong.
	Terminal 2 T2, which opened in 1990, is the terminal that Changi really used to set the world standard and garner many awards for excellence. It's sprawling dimenstions boast 5 concouses. T2 had been the home of all of Singapore Airlines' operations but many of the long-haul flights have begun to reloacted to the new T3. Asian flights will remain at T2. T2 Gate F31 was the location of the world's first scheduled A380 flight, on October 25, 2007. Other ailines still here include Ethiad, Philippine Airlines, Royal Brueni, and Silk Air. Lufthansa may eventually move to join other Star Alliance carriers at T3.
	T2 Curbside
	T2 Ticket Hall



	T2 Singapore Airlines First Class Check-In and Lounge (Before Security) Singapore is one of the few airlines I am familiar with to offer a lounge before security.
	Arrivals Hall Coffee Shop SIN attracts people, such as these students, from all around the area at all hours. At 0230, this place was full of students studying and guzzling coffee.

	Singapore Airlines Crew Operations at T2
	T2 Koi Ponds and Oasis's

	T2 Sports Bar
	"World's Best Airport" Display SIN received its first "Best Airport" Award in 1988.
	T2 Viewing Gallery SIN offers viewng galleries before security at both terminals. T1's spans the massive length of the terminal while T2's is much smaller.

	Gate F31 - Airbus Ready This gate was the site of the world's first A380 scheduled flight on October 25, 2007. See bottom of the page for images from that day. Note, the unique tri-finger jet bridge built especially to accomodate the A380. T2 has 8 of these gates.







	T2 Day Spa
	Free Internet Terminals Many airports now offer Wi-Fi but very few offer free internet terminals all over the airport.

	The Cinema at T2 Another Changi innovation, a free movie theater showing the latest from Hollywood.
	Kids Play Area and Toy Store
	T2 Screens

	T2 Observation Deck This observation deck adjoins the movie theater at T2. Note the lovely sunflower garden.
	T2 Airside and Ramps



	Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 at Terminal 2 Singapore is an enthusiast operator of the 777. It was the first aircraft to feature Singapore's awesome "New Business Class"

	Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400 Singapore, always dedicated to operating a very youthful fleet, will be phasing out the 747 fleet as the A380s come online over the next 4-5 years.

	Silk Air Airbus A319, 320 at Terminal 2 Silk Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is an LCC based at Changi operating throughout China and Southeast Asia. it operates A319s and 320s exclusively.
	Singapore Airlines Airbus A340-500 Leadership Raffles Class - Singapore to Newark - October, 2007 Singapore operates 5 Leadership on its ultra-long haul routes from Singapore to North America. These exotic, rare planes operate a two-class Raffles and Premium Economy service with 189 passengers. The flights range from 16-19 hours neccesitating the 37 inch seat pitch of Premium Economy. The market and weight of the First Class seats, interestingly excludes First Class from these planes. I flew Raffles Class from Singapore to Newark, the world's longest flight and found the seats and service exceptional. Raffles features the Spacebed seats are 27 in (69 cm) wide and 72 in (183 cm) long and convert to an angled flat bed. They have a retractable 10.4 in (26.4 cm) personal television. For interior images, select this link.

	Singapore Airlines A340-500 Wing In-flight

	Silk Air Airbus A319, 320 Silk Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is an LCC based at Changi operating throughout China and Southeast Asia. it operates A319s and 320s exclusively.

\	China Eastern Airlines Airbus A321-200 China Eastern is based in Shanghai. Singapore attempted to buy a stake but abandoned those plans.

	Budget Terminal In a surprising contrast to the high-end facilties of SIN's other terminals,. the Budget Terminal truly looks budget. It looks more like a prefab structure with very limited facilities. The Budget terminal opened in 2006 and is home to Ceby Pacific and Tiger Airways. The stripped down terminal allows Changi to charge very low landing fees ot the budget carriers. Unlike T1, T2, and T3, a bus is required to connect to flights at the Budget Terminal.


	Singapore Boeing 777 at Unopened Terminal 3 Singapore began transitioning most of its long-haul operations over to T3 in January 2008. In October, 2007, this 777 was parked at the new terminal for an employee open house.
	Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 First Flight from Changi to SIN - October 25, 2007 I was priviledged to be a passenger on the world’s first scheduled flight of the Airbus A380 from Singapore to Sydney. I wrote a very detailed article on that historic flight for "Airways Magazine". John Wegg of "Airways" is kind enough to allow the full article to be reprinted in PDF file here for your enjoyment. It may take some time to download but is well worth the time. For all the images, Jump to A380 First Flight Page.



	Singapore Changi Gate F31 - Inaugural Ceremony Changi was the world's first "A380 Ready" airport two years before the first flight.



	Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 at Gate F31 These images were taken on October 27, 2007 3 days after the inaugural A380 commerical flight days before regular service began. The 380 is seen at the not yet open Terminal 3 where an employee open house was being held.
	Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 at Changi T3 The 380 is seen at the not yet open (as of October 2007) Terminal 3 where an employee open house was being held.

	Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Display and Game at Singapore Changi



	Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Ads at Singapore Changi

	Cathay Pacific 747-400 on Finals
	Runway Seen From Upper Deck of A380
	Taxi-way Runway Overpass
	Cargo Ramp
	Singapore Airlines "SuperHub" Maintenance Base
	Singapore Airlines Flight Catering