The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is embarking on a S$10million expansion project at Singapore’s Budget Terminal (BT) - a customised terminal that offers airlines a low cost operation option. The expansion works, which will take place from around July 2008 to early 2009, will increase the terminal’s handling capacity from the current 2.7 million passengers per annum to 7 million. In addition, the expansion will also increase the floor area
of the BT from 25,000sqm to 28,700sqm.

After almost two years of operations, the terminal’s expansion is necessary to keep ahead of the air traffic growth at the BT. In 2007, about 1.77 million passengers passed through the BT. In all, the BT has served about 2.9 million passengers since it opened on 26 March 2006. The number of weekly scheduled flights at the BT, operated by Tiger Airways and Philippines-based carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, has also increased from 124 in March 2006 to 248 in February 2008, representing a healthy growth of 100 per cent. Today, the BT is connected to 20 cities in the region, up from 12 cities when it first opened.

Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, CAAS, Mr Lim Kim Choon, said, " When we first decided to build the Budget Terminal about three years ago, no one could accurately predict the success of low cost travel in this region. With increased air transport liberalisation in this region, airlines, including low cost carriers, have now greater opportunities to rapidly expand their air network and increase their flight operations.” He added, “The expansion of the Budget Terminal to increase its handling capacity is timely as we expect passenger traffic to increase further with ASEAN’s goal to remove all restrictions on passenger flights between ASEAN capitals by December 2008. The increased handling capacity can last us through the next few years.”

The expansion project will involve the addition of seven check-in counters as well as the installation of additional baggage handling equipment. Three more passenger boarding gates will be constructed, bringing the total number of boarding gates to ten. The kerbside at the arrival hall will be widened to create more room for arriving passengers waiting for vehicles to pick them up.

The BT is located less than two kilometres away, or a 5-minute drive, from Changi Airport's Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Free shuttle bus services plying between the BT and Terminal 2 facilitate travellers at Changi Airport who may need to catch a connecting flight to / from the BT. There are shops and service concessions as well as food & beverage outlets at the BT. Free services such as internet access and local telephone call facilities are also available for passengers.