CHANGI AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT (Particulars)

Mr P. Selvadurai asked the Minister for National Development and Communications (a) when the airstrip at the new Changi Airport will be ready; (b) when the Changi Airport will become operational; (c) whether operations at Paya Lebar Airport will cease on the new Changi Airport becoming operational; (d) if it is proposed to build a third runway at Changi Airport should' air traffic warrant it in the 1 980s; and (e) if, in view of the already heavy vehicular traffic on Changi Road which will be compounded by the traffic resulting from the operation of the new Changi Airport, a new road of access to Changi Airport together with a new road connecting Changi Airport to Paya Lebar Airport will be built.

The Senior Minister of State for Communications (Mr Ong Teng Cheong) (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, the first runway at Changi Airport, together with its landing aids, will be completed by early 1980.

With the completion of the Phase I passenger terminal together with supporting facilities, such as the air traffic control tower, freight terminal, parking aprons, hangar. Changi Airport is expected to become operational by the latter part of 1980.

Though the first runway and its supporting facilities are targetted for completion by the latter part of 1980, the second runway at Changi Airport is scheduled for completion only in mid-1982. During the interim period from 1980-82, Paya Lebar Airport will be used to cater for the over-spill of civil aircraft traffic which could not be handled by Changi Airport with only one runway. A new direct express road linking Paya Lebar Airport to Changi Airport is being built. This will provide a fast and efficient flow of passengers and vehicles between the two Airports. After the second runway at Changi is completed in 1982, Paya Lebar Airport will be used as a supplementary airport to Changi. Nonscheduled and other charter flights could also be handled by Paya Lebar Airport.

The two parallel runways to be built at Changi Airport are capable of handling up to 80 aircraft movements per hour. Presently, there are 22 aircraft movements per hour at Paya Lebar Airport, and this is projected to reach about 48 movements per hour in 1992. Therefore, two runways at Changi Airport would be able to meet the needs of peak hour aircraft movements well into the next century. There is, therefore, no plan to build a third runway at Changi Airport in the 198Os.

There will be two major expressways linking Changi Airport with the main city areas, as well as other parts of Singapore. The East Coast Parkway will provide a freeway link between Changi Airport and the city. Construction works are in progress and the Parkway leading to Changi Airport is expected to be completed by mid-1978. Changi Airport will also be linked to the other parts of the island through a section of the Pan-Island Expressway which is expected to be completed by early 1 980. A new link road connecting Changi Airport to Paya Lebar Airport will also be built and this is also scheduled for completion by early 1980. Changi Airport will, therefore, have an efficient inland road transportation system, so that there will be no congestion on the access roads to the new Airport.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Sir, could the Minister enlighten us on whether the Concorde will be allowed to commercially use the Paya Lebar and Changi Airports?

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Sir,, the answer is yes.