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.

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.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA; SGX: C6L) is the flag carrier of Singapore with its hub at Changi Airport.

The Singapore Airlines group includes many airline-related subsidiaries: SIA Engineering Company handles maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business across nine countries, with a portfolio of 27 joint ventures, including with Boeing and Rolls-Royce. Singapore Airlines Cargo operate SIA's freighter fleet and manages the cargo-hold capacity in SIA's passenger aircraft. It has three airlines subsidiaries: SilkAir operates regional flights to secondary cities, while Scoot and Tigerair operate in the low-cost carrier sector.

Singapore Airlines was the launch customer for the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft. It ranks amongst the top 15 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue passenger kilometres, and 10th in the world for international passengers carried. On 15 December 2010, Singapore Airlines was named by the International Air Transport Association as the second largest airline in the world by market capitalisation, worth of 14 billion US dollars. Singapore Airlines utilises the Singapore Girl as its central figure in its corporate branding. The airline is also regarded as a Singaporean national symbol and icon.

Changi East

Changi East (Chinese: 樟宜东) is the name of an urban planning area in the East Region of Singapore. The area encompasses 1.14 square kilometres, and is entirely reclaimed land. Changi East is the site of the Changi Airbase (East), Changi Exhibition Centre and the new F1 circuit area.

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.