Saturday 29 October 2016
Thursday 27 October 2016
Changi T1 rolls out check-in upgrades
Changi T1 rolls out check-in upgrades
FOUR new check-in rows have been built at Changi Airport Terminal 1 to increase passenger handling capacity and they give an idea of the updated look coming to the rest of the departure hall.
About two years after works started, the hoardings have come down to unveil white counters with metallic bases and red carpets with hues of pink, orange, white and blue.
As part of T1's upgrade, the existing purple counters at the 10 other check-in rows that have been there for about 15 years will be replaced with the new ones.
The brown/maroon carpets will also be replaced.
To ensure that airport operations are not disrupted, the works will be done progressively, Changi Airport Group spokesman Ivan Tan told The Straits Times.
The improvements, which also include an upgrading of the baggage handling system, are expected to be completed by around 2020, he said.
Along with check-in counters and carpets, more self-service check-in and bag-drop kiosks will be installed.
The airport is moving towards adopting automation and technology to boost efficiency and reduce reliance on manpower.
Upgrading works at T1 are being done in tandem with the construction of Jewel Changi Airport, slated to open in 2019.
Being constructed where T1's open-air carpark used to be, the multi-storey Jewel complex will feature mainly retail offerings and be linked directly to the terminal.
The new check-in counters at the departure floor are now occupied by Philippine Airlines and Air France-KLM.
Deputy station manager at Air France/KLM Boon Chua, said: "The renovated T1 is indeed a big improvement.
"The environment is very pleasant for our customers as it has a modern look and feel."
The one downside is that there are two pillars that may obstruct passenger queuing.
Budget carrier AirAsia, which is now at rows 9 to 11, plans to move today.
Its chief executive in Singapore, Logan Velaitham, is happy that there will be more self-service options.
"Automation brings efficiency for our operations and convenience for our travellers, who can go straight from the airport doors to immigration if they have no bags to drop off. Those with bags can just drop them off at our self-service kiosks without having to visit manned counters," he said.
More than 6 in 10 AirAsia passengers arrive having already checked online or through their mobile devices.
More than three in 10 go straight to immigration as they have no bags to check in.
Mr Velaitham said: "When we move to T4 next year, we are looking at even more automation and technology so it's good for our customers to get used to it."
~News courtesy of My Paper~
FOUR new check-in rows have been built at Changi Airport Terminal 1 to increase passenger handling capacity and they give an idea of the updated look coming to the rest of the departure hall.
About two years after works started, the hoardings have come down to unveil white counters with metallic bases and red carpets with hues of pink, orange, white and blue.
As part of T1's upgrade, the existing purple counters at the 10 other check-in rows that have been there for about 15 years will be replaced with the new ones.
The brown/maroon carpets will also be replaced.
To ensure that airport operations are not disrupted, the works will be done progressively, Changi Airport Group spokesman Ivan Tan told The Straits Times.
The improvements, which also include an upgrading of the baggage handling system, are expected to be completed by around 2020, he said.
Along with check-in counters and carpets, more self-service check-in and bag-drop kiosks will be installed.
The airport is moving towards adopting automation and technology to boost efficiency and reduce reliance on manpower.
Upgrading works at T1 are being done in tandem with the construction of Jewel Changi Airport, slated to open in 2019.
Being constructed where T1's open-air carpark used to be, the multi-storey Jewel complex will feature mainly retail offerings and be linked directly to the terminal.
The new check-in counters at the departure floor are now occupied by Philippine Airlines and Air France-KLM.
Deputy station manager at Air France/KLM Boon Chua, said: "The renovated T1 is indeed a big improvement.
"The environment is very pleasant for our customers as it has a modern look and feel."
The one downside is that there are two pillars that may obstruct passenger queuing.
Budget carrier AirAsia, which is now at rows 9 to 11, plans to move today.
Its chief executive in Singapore, Logan Velaitham, is happy that there will be more self-service options.
"Automation brings efficiency for our operations and convenience for our travellers, who can go straight from the airport doors to immigration if they have no bags to drop off. Those with bags can just drop them off at our self-service kiosks without having to visit manned counters," he said.
More than 6 in 10 AirAsia passengers arrive having already checked online or through their mobile devices.
More than three in 10 go straight to immigration as they have no bags to check in.
Mr Velaitham said: "When we move to T4 next year, we are looking at even more automation and technology so it's good for our customers to get used to it."
~News courtesy of My Paper~
Sunday 23 October 2016
Friday 21 October 2016
New Seletar Airport terminal
New Seletar Airport terminal to handle up to 700k passengers a year
The $50 million terminal will have dedicated check-in and immigration facilities for private jet passengers. (ARTIST'S IMPRESSION: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP)
A NEW two-storey passenger terminal, which will be big enough to serve up to 700,000 passengers a year, will open at Seletar Airport at the end of 2018.
The total capacity is more than 26 times the number of passengers that the airport, which now caters mainly to private jets, handled last year.
When the new terminal opens, all turboprop traffic at Changi Airport, which now numbers up to 20 flights a day, will move to Seletar. About 400,000 passengers a year are expected to move as well.
This will free up capacity at Changi Airport - which handled 55.4 million passengers last year - to cope with a growing number of flights and passengers, Changi Airport Group spokesman Ivan Tan said at the ground-breaking for the new Seletar facility yesterday.
Smaller planes like turboprops need a greater separation distance than normal from other aircraft when taking off or landing, to ensure that the turbulence from a bigger plane does not not pose a safety risk to the smaller aircraft.
However, this means that fewer flights can be handled at any given time, which is inefficient for a hub airport like Changi which wants to grow its traffic.
The current 34-year-old passenger terminal at Seletar Airport will be demolished when the new facility opens.
At the new terminal, private jet passengers will have a separate area with a lounge as well as dedicated check-in and immigration facilities. There will also be easier access to and from the terminal and the aircraft.
Said See Seng Wan, general manager of Seletar Airport: "We look forward to providing passengers with a new level of experience, in terms of comfort and convenience, when the terminal opens."
The construction of the $50 million passenger facility is the next stage of the renewal of Seletar Airport, which started in 2008 and has included lengthening the runway and building a new control tower.
Big aerospace firms like Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney have also built facilities in recent years in the area which is also home to pilot schools.
The Seletar upgrade aims to establish Singapore, already a major hub for commercial carriers, as a centre for private jets as well.
Yvonne Chan, managing director of Seletar ground-handling firm Universal Aviation, said: "We welcome the improvements that have been made so far and the future passenger terminal will also increase the attractiveness of Seletar Airport for business and commercial travellers."
While a pleasant surrounding is nice to have, efficiency is key, said John Riggir, vice-president and general manager of business aviation firm Jet Aviation.
"Easy transition for our clients from airside to landside is essential and it's what business aviation operators look for."
~News courtesy of My Paper~
The $50 million terminal will have dedicated check-in and immigration facilities for private jet passengers. (ARTIST'S IMPRESSION: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP)
A NEW two-storey passenger terminal, which will be big enough to serve up to 700,000 passengers a year, will open at Seletar Airport at the end of 2018.
The total capacity is more than 26 times the number of passengers that the airport, which now caters mainly to private jets, handled last year.
When the new terminal opens, all turboprop traffic at Changi Airport, which now numbers up to 20 flights a day, will move to Seletar. About 400,000 passengers a year are expected to move as well.
This will free up capacity at Changi Airport - which handled 55.4 million passengers last year - to cope with a growing number of flights and passengers, Changi Airport Group spokesman Ivan Tan said at the ground-breaking for the new Seletar facility yesterday.
Smaller planes like turboprops need a greater separation distance than normal from other aircraft when taking off or landing, to ensure that the turbulence from a bigger plane does not not pose a safety risk to the smaller aircraft.
However, this means that fewer flights can be handled at any given time, which is inefficient for a hub airport like Changi which wants to grow its traffic.
The current 34-year-old passenger terminal at Seletar Airport will be demolished when the new facility opens.
At the new terminal, private jet passengers will have a separate area with a lounge as well as dedicated check-in and immigration facilities. There will also be easier access to and from the terminal and the aircraft.
Said See Seng Wan, general manager of Seletar Airport: "We look forward to providing passengers with a new level of experience, in terms of comfort and convenience, when the terminal opens."
The construction of the $50 million passenger facility is the next stage of the renewal of Seletar Airport, which started in 2008 and has included lengthening the runway and building a new control tower.
Big aerospace firms like Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney have also built facilities in recent years in the area which is also home to pilot schools.
The Seletar upgrade aims to establish Singapore, already a major hub for commercial carriers, as a centre for private jets as well.
Yvonne Chan, managing director of Seletar ground-handling firm Universal Aviation, said: "We welcome the improvements that have been made so far and the future passenger terminal will also increase the attractiveness of Seletar Airport for business and commercial travellers."
While a pleasant surrounding is nice to have, efficiency is key, said John Riggir, vice-president and general manager of business aviation firm Jet Aviation.
"Easy transition for our clients from airside to landside is essential and it's what business aviation operators look for."
~News courtesy of My Paper~
Wednesday 12 October 2016
Raffles Hotel to undergo restoration work from next year
Raffles Hotel to undergo restoration work from next year
Raffles Hotel Singapore will undergo restoration work from next year, it announced on Tuesday (Oct 11).
The first phase of refurbishment in January 2017 will see the Raffles Hotel Arcade undergoing restoration works while other areas of the property operate as normal. The facility is an integral part of the building, housing 40 regional and specialty shops, and indoor and outdoor function areas.
Phase Two will start in mid-2017, when restoration efforts commence on the main hotel building, lobby and a portion of the hotel suites, the hotel said. Towards the end of the year, Raffles Hotel will close in the final phase, before it reopens again in the second quarter of 2018.
Said Mr Simon Hirst, general manager of Raffles Hotel: “This restoration is designed to ensure that we retain what is so special about Raffles Hotel Singapore - the ambiance, the service, the charm and the heritage of the hotel. We have always changed and evolved to keep in step with the needs and expectations of our guests.
“By introducing new experiences for our guests while respecting the history and heritage of the hotel, we want to ensure that this hotel continues to remain at the epicentre of Singapore’s social and cultural scene.”
According to Ms Diana Banks, vice president of Raffles Brand, one focus of the revamp is on upgrading technology.
"Today's traveller is looking for the ability to use their own technology,” she said. “It's no longer about having a television. It's about streaming your own iPad and phones and so forth.”
As a result of the facelift, room rates are set to go up, although the hotel said prices will remain in line with industry standards. Based on average rates for a standard room, prices for the five-star hotel start from at least S$600.
The restoration project will be led by Aedas Singapore, while the interiors of the project will be handled by award-winning designer Alexandra Champalimaud who has worked with luxury hotels such as New York's The Plaza and the Waldorf Astoria, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and The Dorchester in London.
Raffles Hotel was declared a national monument in 1987. The last restoration was conducted from 1989 to 1991 where the hotel closed for two and a half years.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Raffles Hotel Singapore will undergo restoration work from next year, it announced on Tuesday (Oct 11).
The first phase of refurbishment in January 2017 will see the Raffles Hotel Arcade undergoing restoration works while other areas of the property operate as normal. The facility is an integral part of the building, housing 40 regional and specialty shops, and indoor and outdoor function areas.
Phase Two will start in mid-2017, when restoration efforts commence on the main hotel building, lobby and a portion of the hotel suites, the hotel said. Towards the end of the year, Raffles Hotel will close in the final phase, before it reopens again in the second quarter of 2018.
Said Mr Simon Hirst, general manager of Raffles Hotel: “This restoration is designed to ensure that we retain what is so special about Raffles Hotel Singapore - the ambiance, the service, the charm and the heritage of the hotel. We have always changed and evolved to keep in step with the needs and expectations of our guests.
“By introducing new experiences for our guests while respecting the history and heritage of the hotel, we want to ensure that this hotel continues to remain at the epicentre of Singapore’s social and cultural scene.”
According to Ms Diana Banks, vice president of Raffles Brand, one focus of the revamp is on upgrading technology.
"Today's traveller is looking for the ability to use their own technology,” she said. “It's no longer about having a television. It's about streaming your own iPad and phones and so forth.”
As a result of the facelift, room rates are set to go up, although the hotel said prices will remain in line with industry standards. Based on average rates for a standard room, prices for the five-star hotel start from at least S$600.
The restoration project will be led by Aedas Singapore, while the interiors of the project will be handled by award-winning designer Alexandra Champalimaud who has worked with luxury hotels such as New York's The Plaza and the Waldorf Astoria, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and The Dorchester in London.
Raffles Hotel was declared a national monument in 1987. The last restoration was conducted from 1989 to 1991 where the hotel closed for two and a half years.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
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