Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Changi Airport (IATA: SIN, ICAO: WSSS), or simply Changi Airport, is the primary civilian airport for Singapore, and one of the largest transportation hubs in Southeast Asia. It is currently the World's Best Airport (Skytrax 2015), and is one of the world's busiest airports by international passenger traffic and cargo traffic. The airport is located in Changi, at the eastern end of Singapore, approximately 17.2 kilometres (10.7 mi) northeast from Marina Bay (downtown Singapore), on a 13-square-kilometre (5.0 sq mi) site. It is operated by Changi Airport Group and it is the home base of Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines Cargo, SilkAir, Scoot, Tigerair, Jetstar Asia Airways, Valuair and BOC Aviation, as well as a focus city of AirAsia.

Overview of Changi Airport

Changi Airport serves more than 100 airlines flying to some 320 cities in about 80 countries and territories worldwide. Each week, about 6,800 flights land or depart from Changi, or about one every 90 seconds, with 55.4 million passengers passing through the airport in 2015.

Airport

An airport is an aerodrome with facilities for flights to take off and land. Airports often have facilities to store and maintain aircraft, and a control tower. An airport consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface such as a runway for a plane to take off or a helipad, and often includes adjacent utility buildings such as control towers, hangars and terminals. Larger airports may have fixed base operator services, airport aprons, air traffic control centres, passenger facilities such as restaurants and lounges, and emergency services.

An airport with a helipad for rotorcraft but no runway is called a heliport. An airport for use by seaplanes and amphibious aircraft is called a seaplane base. Such a base typically includes a stretch of open water for takeoffs and landings, and seaplane docks for tying-up.

An international airport has additional facilities for customs and immigration.

In warfare, airports can become the focus of intense fighting, for example the Battle of Tripoli Airport or the Battle for Donetsk Airport, both taking place in 2014. An airport primarily for military use is called an airbase or air station.

Changi

Changi is a district located at the eastern end of Singapore. Sharing borders with Pasir Ris and Tampines to the west and Changi Bay to the east, Changi, excluding the two water catchments and islands of Singapore, is the largest district in the country by area.

Today, Changi is an aviation hub. Being home to both Changi Airport and Changi Air Base.

Also located within Changi is Singapore's largest prison, Changi Prison. It became infamous as a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the occupation of Singapore in World War II. Changi Prison continues to be Singapore's oldest operating internment facility, in the form of the new Changi Prison Complex.

Etymology

The early Malay place name of Changi was Tanjong Rusa, which is found in the 1604 E.G. de Eredia map of Singapore.

The native place name Changi is found very early in Singapore's history. In the 1828 map by Franklin and Jackson, the extreme southeastern tip of the island is referred to as Tanjong Changi. The local name Changi must have been a significant point for the Malays, especially in the days of the sixteenth century Johor kingdom located on the Johor River. Vessels using the Johor Straits would have to pass by Changi.