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Changi Airport Group (CAG) will grant a waiver of rental fees to its retail tenants for the duration of the shutdown to the general public.

This will help tide the retailers through a difficult period in which customer footfall is drastically reduced.

Terminals closed to the public, except for essential workers and passengers with tickets

On May 12, Changi Airport announced that its passenger terminal buildings, as well as Jewel Changi Airport, will be closed to members of the general public until May 26.

This was done for cleaning and disinfection of the premises, and to allow workers to get tested.

The airport is still open for air travel during this period, but only essential workers and passengers with tickets will be allowed into the terminals.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported a cluster of Covid-19 cases stemming from Changi Airport, the current largest active cluster in Singapore.

On May 21, Changi Airport shared another post in which it confirmed that the terminals will be closed until the end of the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) period, which is set to last until June 13.

The additional time will be used to implement enhanced safety protocols, and train airport staff in the new processes and requirements.

Confirmed waiver in rental fees

During a press conference on May 24, CAG CEO Lee Seow Hiang confirmed that the airport's retail partners would be granted a waiver in rental fees.

In response to a question from Mothership, Lee said:

"Yes, we have always worked very closely with our retail partners, even with the dislocation in place last year, and of course we will do the same for them this year, for the current prohibition as well."

A CAG spokesperson added, in response to Mothership's queries:

"The tenants in our airport terminals and Jewel Changi Airport will have their rental waived for the full period of the closure (13 May to 13 June 2021). We have been in close contact with them regarding the support they need."

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Top image by Sulaiman Daud.