Singapore Changi Airport is one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia and well known as an industry pioneer for technology, sustainability, and passenger experience. In February, the airport exceeded pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels for the first time, and Changi Airport Group’s (CAG) strategic priorities now centre around expansion and connectivity.
At Aviation Festival Asia, Ching Kiat Lim, Executive Vice President, Air Hub & Cargo Development, CAG joined for a discussion on applying the latest technology, effectively utilising data, sustainability initiatives, and the airport group’s strategic priorities for the next five years.
Stressing the importance of balancing automation with the personal touch, Lim explained:
“Now as you come through Changi Airport, there’s more automation. We can see this at mobile check-in, automated immigration gates, and later this year, we are very excited for passportless travel for Singapore residents and departing visitors. So these are areas where we can leverage technology.
But at the same time, we’re very mindful not to lose the human touch. For example, at automated immigration, when you put in your passport, if you have an Indonesian passport, the language of instruction becomes Bahasa Indonesia. This is one of the small touches where while leveraging technology, we can try to still have that level of intimacy with the customer.”
During the interview, Lim also discussed using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to harness the power of data. These technologies play a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency, accurate forecasting, and facilitating pre-emptive maintenance at Changi.
Exploring sustainability initiatives at the airport, the conversation also touched on Changi’s latest solar technology, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plans, electric vehicles, and crafting a nuanced approach to Scope 3 emissions.
For all this and more watch the full interview below.
Questions include:
- How are you embracing technology to remain at the forefront of the industry?
- You are planning to install rooftop solar panels by 2025, how else are you integrating sustainability into the framework of the airport?
- What are your strategic priorities for the next five years?
More on these topics:
- Changi set to reduce carbon emissions by 20,000 tones with new solar tech
- Changi trials new autonomous baggage handling vehicle
- Changi’s airside 5G experiment
