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Gate holding rooms
A380 aerobridges come ready with a third arm to facilitate boarding and disembarking of both levels of the jumbo craft a the same time. There are even paired gated hold rooms with mezzanine levels in some of them.

The passenger holding area, though vast, leads to 4 B independent gates in the transit hall we’ve visited (B1-B4), each capable to take on an A380 itself.

However, at full capacity, the holding area will be a very crowded place if 2 or more planes were to be boarded simulatenously, given the limited space in comparison to the large A380 passenger carrying capabilities. Given do, there are however ample sanitation facilities, nice views and entertainment to keep waiting travelers occupied.

Personally I’ve seen transit areas overseas much larger than this, despite being built for targeted planes smaller than the A380, it is a disappointment of what we lack to serve the jumbos. But I see this as a small stumbling block which encourages passengers to linger around more around the transit mall area and board the plane straightaway rather than waiting in the transit holding rooms.

Together with few major air carriers, SIA will be the main carrier and occupant of the new Terminal 3, taking only the best (like what they did from T1 to T2 and so on). Destinations of Terminal 3 will mainly include direct long haul flight to major cities around the world. Have a direct flight to London, Paris or Los Angeles ? Be expected to board your flight at Terminal 3.

Terminal 3 also offers many ways to pamper first class passengers. After checking in the First class check in-row (Row 1), you will be welcomed to the special dedicated first class lounges with so many facilities, you will be pampered to the core. It is situated at the far left of the terminal to only to those who feel they deserve the best.

Central Immigration/Welcome Hall
Terminal 3 takes every attention to detail in welcoming their visitors in the most breathtaking and spectacular way as possible. Exit your fight through the aerogates, make your way following the arrival signages and be greeted by the vast open immigration hall with more than 10 counters to boot.

Immigration Hall

Green wall & baggage collection area

Rapid baggage carousels

The Green Wall
The immigration hall is also the start of one end of the Terminal’s most prominent object – the 300m green wall. Complimentary and going hand-in-hand with the skylight system, this living vertical garden sits at 300m wide and 7 floors high and is home this is home to 25 different species of climbing plants draped in a neat, orderly and non-intrusive fashion, offering the best of greeny real estate in the most breathtaking and space conservative manner ever.

As mentioned, the wall runs whole length wise of the terminal, only terminating at the center departure entrance and continuing on for the remaining length of the terminal. This wall and can be mainly seen only at the departure area and the luggage collection area, where you are able to fully appreciate it.

Luggage collection system
Changi Airport prides itself as the world’s busiest airport, therefore the need of an highly efficient high-speed baggage system. Terminal 3 utilizes a computerised high speed baggage system handling system which is also networked and linked between the 2 existing terminals. This system is able to send luggage between terminals in less than 10mins, traveling on conveyors at a rate of 7 meter per second on average (25.2 km/h).

Sandstone art wall
Discreetly tucked under the green wall is the hand sculpted sandstone art wall, with elaborately crafted images of waves, animals and welcome messages written in various languages throughout. With this wall, there will definitely be no language barriers to welcome any traveler with open arms.

Arrival/Greeter’s Hall
The Arrival/Greeter’s Hall is situated on the ground floor of the terminal with many transport options for travelers to move on from the terminal. There are indoor air-conditioned taxi queues on top of a vast coach waiting area. Need specialized transport services? car rentals? city limos? no problem just make an inquiry at the transport booth situated right within the arrival hall itself.

Skytrain system
Last but not least, I will touch on the Changi Airport’s $173 inter terminal skytrain system. Built to replace the few decade old Bombardier CX-100 Cars, (previously jointly built by Westinghouse and Adtranz) with ending services few years ago in 2002. The new Mitsubishi Crystal Mover-based skytrains will serve the link between all 3 Terminals on top of dedicated gate for Aerogates A15-A21. A full list of stations serving between terminals are listed below:

Here is a video of the Skytrain ride from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2:

There are 16 dual-train cars in total for terminal service, each with a capacity for 97 passengers. On top of inter-terminal transit, the skytrains will also serve as an inter-terminal shuttle service within Terminal 3 to the A aerogates.

Mitsubishi Skytrain system

Trains serving T1 & T2

See you on Jan 9th 2008!

With that in hand, that is all I have about Terminal 3 given my short weekend visit, do note that despite the terminal itself being up and running already, there are still many facilities and locations still largely under construction, so the final experience might be different, but otherwise not far off from what to expect based of this report.

As a picture speaks a thousand words, I’ve compiled humorous a 202 photo album of shots taken during my stay there. Going through it will benefit you better and visualise more places not mentioned in this report, allowing you to grasp a better understanding of what to expect of the terminal when it opens come January 9th 2008.

Last but not least, I have largely the CAAS staff to thank for providing such a wonderful open house and guide around Singapore’s up and coming premier airport terminal.
Thank you!

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Departure Hall & Skylights
You will be greeted by sunlight upon entering the 2nd floor departure hall area, which the benchmark set by Japan on their “floating airport”, this is no exception given the favorable sunny conditions of Singapore.

Scale model of whole terminal

The computerised skylight system

The emigration counters

The terminal upper levels are all luminated purely by sunlight in the day. 919 skylights fitted with automatic computer controlled reflectors angle light into the terminal as the time passes or given ambient and cloud conditions, reducing the need for artificial lighting and saving power as well.

Shopping Galore
Go past the departure gates and be greeted by the Crossroad compact events area, housing Fullerton Hotel’s Post Bar and general events area between boarding gates A (to the left) and B (to the right).

The skylight is everywhere! (close up)

The internal duty free shopping areas

Transit area koi ponds

Though currently in the mist of renovations, T3 will feature a world class mall with more than 40 F&B outlets and over 20 service outlets in both public areas and the transit mall itself on top of the usual Cable TV lounges and internet stations littered all around for traveler’s conveniences. 580 Plasma screens are utilized throughout the whole terminal providing timely flight information in the transit and public areas on top of providing entertainment to travelers as well.

Traveler Facilities
Besides spotting 56 toilets in the whole terminal, theres even powder/ dressing/ make-up rooms on top of snoozing and shower facilities for all travelers. Executives can make the most of the transit time in the lounges meeting rooms and business facilities. Staying for a long transit? need a place to stay overnight? Check into the 4 star Airport Crowne Plaza hotel after clearing immigration and customs.

Transit Koi Pond & Butterfly Garden
Lined along the far end of the traveler’s transit area is a long 3 floor high viewing deck allowing passengers to catch a full view of the Terminal’s taxiway and runways. Running the whole length of this observation deck is a zen themed koi pond complete with life trees and bridges to complete the scene of tranquility.

Spend time by the koi pond for a quiet interlude with nature- lined throughout the transit viewing area are exquisite koi ponds with bridges and indoor greenery to boot. What’s more there is even a butterfly garden themed to Singapore’s tropical setting with a given animated tropics retreat.

Getting around Transit area
With a total of 51 escalators, 36 lifts to boot, not to mention dedicated transit express skytrains serving the “A gate” aerogates, Terminal 3 will definitely have no problem getting travelers to their destination not only in time, but in style as well.

These facilities however, can only be accessed after walking a considerable distance from the departure gates and upon reaching the first gate, (which means having to go through the crossroads mall) area, so do be prepared for quite some walking if need be.

There are plenty of push carts and resting sofa for those who need a rest, but from experience, you won’t feel the heat given the myriad of Duty-free shopping opportunities and surprises at every corner, otherwise though not quite a welcome to those who need to get to their gates in a hurry.

Travelators to end gates

The vast open spaces

And A340 docked at an A380 aerogate

Vast open spaces
Noticeably, one of the trademarks of Terminal 3 are the vastly large carpeted open spaces which dominate many areas of the transit walkway and mall area. The choice of muted carpet hues add to the luxury yet conservative look of the terminal, with ample waiting/seating places for the budding traveler together with many corners for tour groups to gather.

We had a demo A340 docked at an A380 gate during our visit, showing the capabilities of the 3-armed aerogate designed to take on the A380 with ease. Next off I cover the aerogates and gate holding rooms

Got a firsthand experience of Terminal 3 today before the scheduled grand opening on 9th Jan 2008. Went around with a guided tour courtesy of CAAS staff not only covering the general public accessible area, but the restricted departure and immigration areas as well. For those who want to see and know more about the 1.75 billion dollar facility before most people do, read on!

Welcome to terminal 3!

Main 2nd floor area

Departure Hall

Background
Singapore had long maintained it’s pride and honor as having the best airport in the whole, however, with newer airports sprouting all over East Asia, Advanced Japan and increasing pressure from Hongkong International Airport, the Terminal 3 is our answer into pushing the benchmark further and catering to an expected annual blooming traffic of 22 million passengers. This is so given the light to cater for the traffic brought about by our integrated resorts built by Last Vegas Sands, Universal Studios Singapore at Resort world Sentosa and our Annual Formula 1 races.

Despite being put off after some considerable long delay, the new terminal is up and ready to place Singapore ahead as pole the airport for many years to come.

Read More by expanding this post or check out the full photo gallery! (202 photos)

In comparison, though not the biggest in the world, Terminal 3 is naturally our biggest Airport terminal we’ve built till date, and there are no stopping of what might come up next!

As shown on the map plan, Terminal 1 (aka T1) sits in at T1 280,000 sqm, T2 at 358,000. T3 is no exception at 380,000 sqm or the land area of 63 football fields.

Getting around
To orientate yourself to the new surroundings, Terminal 3 (Red) runs parallel & is directly opposite Terminal 2 (Yellow). Terminal 1 (Blue) fills the gap between the 2 terminals forming a “U” shaped connection between all three. All the terminals are linked either by roads, underground walkways (which are largely all air-conditioned) and the central MRT system.

Integrated Island-wide subway system
The Airport MRT system is situated directly underground and between Terminal 2 & 3 offering passengers no-frills direct access to anywhere in Singapore through the island network of MRT lines, the MRT gantry gates are supersized to allow large baggage to pass through with ease as well.

The Airport train station also functions as an underpass between T2 and T3 as well. Our landmark “microphone” control tower sits in the center of the three terminals flanked by a network of roads and interlinking fly overs and bridges transporting passengers directly to the 2nd floor departure booth areas of each terminal.