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| Home > City Guide - Singapore - Getting There By Air | ||
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Getting There By Air Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) Tel: 6542 1122 or 6541 2222. Fax: 6542 1231. Website: www.changi.airport.com.sg Changi is located 20km (12.4 miles) from Singapore centre. It consistently tops international polls as the world’s best airport and is currently the 24th busiest. More than 28 million passengers passed through in 2001. A total of 63 airlines operate out of Changi, with 3200 flights weekly to 145 cities in 50 countries worldwide, making it the airport with the most air links in the Asia Pacific region. To cater for growth in demand, an extension to Terminal 1 was completed in 2000 and the building of Terminal 3 is underway. Major airlines: Singapore Airlines (tel: 6223 8888, reservations or 6030, tickets; fax: 6786 6947; website: www.singaporeair.com) is the national airline, with direct connections to all the major cities in Asia and 116 destinations in 42 countries. Its subsidiary SilkAir covers 19 destinations in South East Asia, plus Trivandrum in India. Other major airlines include Aeroflot, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Madagascar, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Alitalia, American Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Continental Airlines, Egypt Air, Emirates, Garuda, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Swissair, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines. Passengers may check in up to 48 hours before their flight, at the Singapore Airlines office in the Paragon Shopping Centre, Orchard Road. Approximate flight times to Singapore: From London is 13 hours; from New York is 20 hours 35 minutes; from Los Angeles is 18 hours; from Toronto is 20 hours and from Sydney is 8 hours. Airport facilities: While Changi’s legendary efficiency means travellers need spend the minimum amount of time in the airport, the facilities on offer mean that days could happily be spent there. These include showers, gym and sauna, fitness centres, putting green, rooftop pool and Jacuzzi, hairdresser, laundry service, karaoke lounge, Science Discovery Centre, mini supermarket, children’s play area, nursery, smoking room, medical centre and prayer room. To get back to nature, even in an airport, there are also cactus, bamboo and orchid gardens and Koi pond. There are the usual banks, bureaux de change, ATMs, postal and telecommunications offices, shops, restaurants, car hire (AB Budget Car Rental, Sintat Rent-Acar and Hertz), hotel reservation counters, tourist information and baggage storage facilities. Transit and transfer passengers can also take advantage of free two-hour guided coach tours of Singapore. Business facilities: The comprehensive range of services includes transit hotels and business-class lounges. There are business centres located in Terminal 1 (tel: 6542 5538; fax: 6542 1231) and Terminal 2 (tel: 6542 8122) transit hotels. Facilities include workstations with Internet connection, fax and photocopiers. The business centres are open 0800-2300 and there is a 24-hour Internet centre. Arrival/departure tax: A S$15 Passenger Service Charge is incorporated in the price of the ticket. Transport to the city: The MRT now has a station at the airport, which is a quick and cheap option for getting anywhere in Singapore. Trains run 0530-2315, approximately every ten minutes. Tickets to the city centre cost S$1.60 (journey time – 30 minutes). Trans Island Bus Service (TIBS) (tel: 6482 3888; website: www.tibs.com.sg) operates regular buses into the city. Public bus stations are located in Terminal 1 at Basement 2 and in Terminal 2 at basement level. Public buses cost S$1.50 (exact fare only) and depart every 6-12 minutes 0600-2400. Bus number 36 goes along Orchard Road. The airport is about 20 minutes from Singapore centre by taxi. Taxi fares are about S$20 (plus a standard S$3 airport surcharge, as well as any other surcharges – see Taxis in Getting Around). Limousine taxi service counters are located at the arrival hall on Level 1 of both terminals. They charge a flat rate of S$39 and operate 0600-0200 daily. The six-seater MaxiCab, the airport shuttle service, run by CityCab (tel: 6542 8297), costs S$7 and stops at almost every major hotel in the city centre. It leaves from Terminal 2 every 30 minutes 0600-1800 and every 15 minutes 1800-2400. |
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