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Singapore
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi International Airport or Changi Airport for short is widely
recognised as one of the best and finest modern airport in the world. The
airport is a major aviation hub in Asia, especially so in Southeast Asia.
Changi Airport is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
(CAAS) and is the home base several airlines including SilkAir, Tiger Airways,
Jetstar Asia Airways, Singapore Airlines Cargo, Valuair, Jett8 Airlines Cargo
and of course, the home grown Singapore
Airlines. Singapore airport is a major hub for Garuda Indonesia
and Qantas.
Presently (Oct 2007), there are about 4,200 weekly flights operated by
more than 80 airlines to over 185 cities in about 60 countries. In 2006, the
airport processed an amazing 35 million visitors which is a 8 percent increase
over the past year. This performance is spectacular giving that Singapore
is a small country about the size of only a major city. This sterling
performance has put Changi Airport as the 22nd busiest airport in the world
and the sixth busiest in Asia in terms of human traffic.
Besides being an important passenger aviation hub, the
Singapore Airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world,
processing almost 2 million tons of cargo in 2006. The airport presently
operates 2 terminals and its third S$1.75 billion terminal is slated to open
in January 2008.
Since 1981 until 2006, the airport
has made its distinction in the aviation industry by winning more than 250
awards from credible organizations such as International Air Transport
Association and Business Traveler. It also continues to win "Best Airport"
awards year after year.
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Singapore Airport Terminal Facilities
Extensive foliage in the airport's Terminal 2 provides leisurely relaxation
for passengers and guests. The airport has over 30,000 sq m (323,000 sq ft) of
space between its two terminals for shopping and dining. The sales outstrip
other shopping malls in Singapore in terms of sales turnover, even including
some of those in the Orchard Road tourist belt.
Extensive upgrading work on the retail areas of the airport since 2004
has increased sales by 13.3% in the first half of 2005 on a year-on-year basis
over 2004 and as much as a whopping 67% when compared to the same period in
2003. The airport retail shopping area also features top end luxury brands
tenants such as Prada, Gucci, Bulgari and Hermès.
Changi Airport also has six open-air garden for nature lovers to get
some fresh air. Each of these gardens are themed with different group of
plants such as cacti for one garden, bamboo for another and others such as for
plants like heliconia, sunflower, fern and orchid.
Hotel in Singapore airport
For business travelers, the airport has numerous business centers conveniently
located for easy accessibility. Within the international transit area, there
are internet connections, games facilities, Muslim prayer rooms, showers,
spas, gym, swimming pool.
There is even a hotel
in Singapore airport called the Ambassador Transit Hotel. As the airport
hotel is located in the transit area in Terminal 1, hotel guests need not have
to clear the immigration and custom check-points. Visitors on transit are able
to get a good rest in this Singapore airport hotel before flying to their next
destination. Is there any wonder why Singapore Changi Airport is consistently
featured as one of the best airports in the world?
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