PAYA LEBAR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Luggage storage facilities and luggage clearance)

Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Communications (a) if consideration will be given to providing luggage storage facilities for transit passengers at the Paya Lebar International Airport; and (b) if he will look into ways and means to speed up the clearance of luggage at the arrival channels.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Yong Nyuk Lin): Mr Speaker, Sir, air passengers who remain inside the Transit Lounge of our Paya Lebar Airport do not require luggage storage facilities as their baggage would be transferred directly from one aircraft to another by the airlines concerned. However, for those transit passengers who go through the arrival formalities, there are two rooms in the Arrival Block to keep their baggage. If they do not wish to leave their baggage in these rooms, they will have to make separate arrangements with the airline offices concerned at the Airport.

The baggage of arriving passengers is, at present, being handled by three different organisations. Our Department of Civil Aviation handles the baggage of seven airlines, K.L.M. handles two (including its own) and Malaysia-Singapore Airlines 14. As this arrangement is unsatisfactory, a study is afoot for the early formation of a separate company to handle the baggage of all arriving and departing passengers at Paya Lebar Airport.

Our Department of Civil Aviation is also planning to install at least two more conveyor belts in the Arrival Block (making a total of four) in order to speed up the conveyance of baggage to the Customs examination area after they have been taken off the aircraft. The work will be carried out as soon as plans for certain modifications to the existing terminal building have been finalised. When completed, it will be possible for passengers to claim their own baggage from the conveyor belts, thus speeding up the movement of baggage at the arrival channels.