CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Operational date)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Communications and Acting Minister for Culture when the Changi International Airport will become operational and what will happen to the Paya Lebar International Airport.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Mr Speaker, Sir, most of the facilities required for the operation of Changi airport, like runway, control tower and navigational aids, will be completed by early 1981. The last and very important project to be completed is the Passenger Terminal Building. The construction of the Terminal Building has been slightly delayed because of shortage of building material and manpower. We are trying to complete the construction of the Terminal Building in early 1981. After a few months of debugging and familiarisation, we hope to be able to have Changi airport operational on 1st July 1981.

Mr Speaker, Sir, Changi is an airport with two runways. While the first runway will be operational next year, the second runway will only be completed in 1983. For the period from 1981 to 1983, Paya Lebar airport will be used to cater for any overflow of civil aircraft traffic which could not be handled at Changi with just one runway. A new direct express road has been built to link Paya Lebar airport to Changi airport. This will provide a speedy link between the two airports. After all civilian aircraft operations have been transferred to Changi, the RSAF squadrons now operating in Changi Air Base will be transferred to Paya Lebar airport. Paya Lebar will also serve as a supplementary airport to Changi for non-scheduled and chartered commercial flights.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, since the Hon. Minister has informed this House that there has been a slight delay in completing the construction of the Passenger Terminal Building at the Changi International airport and that he is hopeful that the airport will be operational on the 1st of July next year, can he indicate to this House that definitely by next year - not necessarily the 1st July, just in case we cannot have the first aircraft land at the Changi International Airport on the 1st July - that sometime next year Changi International Airport will become operational?

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Sir, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the answer is yes.