By Chen Lin

SINGAPORE (Reuters – Singapore will reopen its fifth terminal at Changi Airport following a two-year break, according to the transport minister. The announcement comes as global and regional air and passenger traffic is recovering from the pandemic.

According to S. Iswaran, the transport minister at S. Iswaran’s speech on Tuesday at an aviation summit, traffic has more than doubled since March. It is now at around 40% of pre-pandemic levels.

He said, “Given the projected and current recovery of air travel demand,” he added.

Singapore is Asia’s most important travel hub. More than 68 million people travelled through Changi Airport last year.

Two years ago, the government stopped work on its latest terminal due to the pandemic. He said that he would reassess aviation’s growth trajectory and revise the design of the terminal to ensure it meets the requirements of travel after the outbreak.

Iswaran stated that the city-state will begin construction on terminal 5, in order to be ready for anticipated demand by around 2030s.