Singapore’s Changi Airport Group (CAG) has awarded a major construction contract valued at S$999 million to a joint venture between Japan’s Penta-Ocean Construction and Singapore’s Koh Brothers Building and Civil Engineering Contractor (KBCE). The agreement marks a significant milestone in the development of Terminal 5 (T5), a cornerstone of the Changi East expansion project.
Announced on Tuesday (10 June), the contract covers the design and construction of underground tunnels that will form a vital part of the infrastructure supporting T5. This includes the development of two automated people-mover systems—reminiscent of the airport’s current Skytrain—as well as state-of-the-art baggage-handling systems to streamline passenger movement and luggage transfers across the terminal.
The multi-year project, which follows the recent groundbreaking ceremony for T5, is expected to span over four years. The tunnels will also house a common services conduit for essential utilities such as electrical power, communication infrastructure, and water systems. In addition, the project scope includes the construction of a ventilation facility and built-in provisions for potential future underground expansion.
Terminal 5, which is scheduled to be operational by the mid-2030s, is poised to be a transformative addition to Singapore’s air transport landscape. It will be equivalent in size to Terminals 1 through 4 combined and is designed to accommodate approximately 50 million passengers annually. Upon completion, it will expand Changi Airport’s overall capacity by more than 55 per cent—from 90 million to 140 million passengers per year.
“This contract award represents a critical step forward in the realisation of Terminal 5 and the broader Changi East vision,” said Ong Chee Chiau, Managing Director for Changi East at CAG. “We are pleased to collaborate with Penta-Ocean Construction and KBCE, whose robust track records make them ideal partners for this project.”
Penta-Ocean Construction has played an instrumental role in Changi Airport’s history, dating back to the 1970s with land reclamation works that enabled the original airport development. More recently, it undertook ground improvement and land preparation works from 2014 to 2020 in support of both T5 and the third runway extension.
KBCE, a longstanding CAG partner, was previously involved in the construction of a stormwater retention pond—critical for flood prevention—and development works that facilitated three-runway operations, executed through a separate joint venture.
The wider Changi East development spans 1,080 hectares and includes the construction of the third runway—expected to be operational by late 2027—alongside new cargo complexes and aviation support infrastructure. As passenger traffic across the Asia-Pacific region is projected to double by the 2040s, the added capacity at T5 is expected to position Singapore as a leading global aviation hub for decades to come.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong officiated the groundbreaking for T5 on 14 May, describing the endeavour as a “bold move” to ensure Singapore’s continued competitiveness as a key air transport node. Currently linked to over 170 cities, Changi aims to expand its global connectivity to more than 200 cities with the advent of T5.
To support the expected surge in traffic, T5 will include a second control tower and an integrated ground transport centre—a first for Changi Airport—that will interconnect the Thomson-East Coast and Cross Island MRT lines, as well as bus, taxi, and other transport services. Construction is set to ramp up significantly in the coming years, with peak activity anticipated around 2029.
-The Nation
