About 70 million passengers at Changi Airport in 2025, highest record ever

Changi Airport handled about 70 million passengers in 2025, an all-time high, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow announced on Jan. 5, according to The Straits Times.

The volume surpassed the previous record of 68.3 million passengers during the pre-Covid-19 period in 2019, before air travel was disrupted.

In 2024, Changi Airport handled 67.7 million passengers.

Speaking during the launch of a new exhibition on the future mega Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5), Siow said the Singapore government's decision to go ahead with plans to build it was the right one given the strong global aviation post-pandemic recovery.

The plans were paused during the pandemic.

He added that the decision to build T5 was about having confidence in Singapore’s future and its ability to secure its place in a competitive world.

The new mega terminal is scheduled to open in the mid-2030s.

Increase capacity of passenger handling

T5 will increase Changi Airport’s annual passenger capacity from 90 million to 140 million, a 55 per cent increase.

Changi Airport Group (CAG) will launch the tender to build the section of the T5 above ground in the next few weeks.

Global air traffic is expected to double by 2050, with the Asia-Pacific region leading this growth.

Siow also said T5 has been designed to be driven by automation and artificial intelligence (AI).

For example, autonomous vehicles and robotics will perform baggage and cargo handling, which are labour-intensive processes.

The T5 In The Making exhibition will be held at arrival hall of Terminal 3 from Jan. 6 to March.

Top photo via Jeff Siow