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Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Singapore Post (SingPost) have launched a two-month Speedpost@Changi service trial in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 1. The service provides departing passengers with an option to post their hand-carried items, which are disallowed on board aircraft due to security restrictions or which do not comply with liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) guidelines.
The joint service by CAG and SingPost, the first-of-its kind in an Asian airport, gives passengers a solution to ‘save’ disallowed hand-carried items which they did not check in. These are typically items with sentimental or high commercial value such as perfumes, liquid cosmetics (of more than 100 ml), Swiss knives, grooming kits with scissors/clippers, etc. which would otherwise be confiscated at pre-flight screening checks.
Presently, departing passengers go through pre-flight security screening before they are allowed into the gate holdroom. To ensure the safety of all passengers, a number of items are not allowed on board aircraft such as sharp and blunt objects as well as LAGs of more than 100ml each. Confiscated items are subsequently disposed of.
The two-month trial, conducted at gate holdrooms at Terminal 1’s C-Pier, will offer SingPost’s Speedpost service to passengers who wish to post prohibited hand-carried items to an address in Singapore or overseas. Dedicated counters have been set up to assist passengers using the service.
Items to be posted have to fit in either of two standard Speedpost envelope sizes and there is a 200 ml limit on liquids. Each envelope comes with a barcode number which facilitates on-line tracking of the package’s delivery status1. All shipments are subject to SingPost’s Speedpost regulations and guidelines.
Deliveries within Singapore are charged a flat fee of S$10 per package, regardless of size. For overseas addresses, charges vary according to the region of the mailing address and the envelope size. For example, the Speedpost rate is S$16.50 for a small envelope package for delivery to Malaysia.
During the trial, CAG and SingPost will assess operational issues, passenger feedback and demand for the service before deciding on extending the service to the rest of the airport on a permanent basis.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
