Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Here's why this incredible airport was named best in the world again

You’d almost fly there just to take a peek.

SINGAPORE’S CHANGI AIRPORT was just named the world’s best airport in 2015 by the World Airport Awards.

This is the third year that Changi took the top spot in Skytrax’s World Airport Awards, the most prestigious airport award in the industry.

Skytrax evaluates over 400 airports around the world for service, check-in, transfers, shopping, security, immigration, and more.

It’s no surprise that Changi took the number one spot. The international transit hub has incredible amenities, like a butterfly garden, rooftop pool, movie theatres, hotels, spas, and showers, and even a four-storey slide.

Business Insider visited the airport during a trip to Singapore a few years ago and had a chance to explore. The bottom line: This is a place where you’ll actually enjoy having a long layover.

The newest terminal, Terminal 3, was designed by CPG Consultants, in collaboration with Woodhead, Tierra Design and SOM, Bartenbach LichtLabor and Hugh Dutton & Associates.

the-airport-is-an-architectural-marvel-the-newest-terminal-terminal-3-was-designed-by-cpg-consultants-in-collaboration-with-woodhead-tierra-design-and-som-bartenbach-lichtlabor-and-hugh-dutton-and-associates

Most passengers enter the airport at Terminal 3, which is where Singapore Airlines is based. At 380,000 sq. m., the terminal is spacious, with high ceilings and an open, airy feel.

most-passengers-enter-the-airport-at-terminal-3-the-newest-and-largest-terminal-at-changi-which-is-where-singapore-airlines-is-based-at-380000-sq-m-the-terminal-is-spacious-with-high-ceilings-and-an-open-airy-fe

There’s also a lush vertical garden here called the “Green Wall.” It has more than 20 varieties of plants, vines, and flowers growing on it.
theres-also-a-lush-vertical-garden-here-called-the-green-wall-it-has-more-than-20-varieties-of-plants-vines-and-flowers-growing-on-it

You take a Skytrain to travel between terminals. 

its-easy-to-get-between-terminals-on-the-skytrain

Here's the Balinese-themed outdoor rooftop pool, located in Terminal 1. Passengers can pay to use this pool for about $14. (It's free for guests who are staying in the Ambassador Transit Hotel.)

one-of-the-best-things-about-changi-airport-is-its-balinese-themed-outdoor-rooftop-pool-located-in-terminal-1-passengers-can-pay-to-use-this-pool-for-about-14-its-free-for-guests-who-are-staying-in-the-ambassado

You can watch planes take off and land directly from the pool garden.
one-of-the-best-things-about-changi-airport-is-its-balinese-themed-outdoor-rooftop-pool-located-in-terminal-1-passengers-can-pay-to-use-this-pool-for-about-14-its-free-for-guests-who-are-staying-in-the-ambassado

The pool also has its own Tiki bar.

the-pool-also-has-its-own-tiki-bar

And its own fitness centre (along with locker rooms, where you can shower after).
and-its-own-fitness-center-along-with-locker-rooms-where-you-can-shower-after

Each terminal has an Ambassador Transit Hotel, where passengers can rent hotel rooms for a minimum of six hours — perfect if you're exhausted and have a long layover. Room rates start at S$76 for a six-hour block and are charged hourly after that.
each-terminal-has-an-ambassador-transit-hotel-where-passengers-can-rent-hotel-rooms-for-a-minimum-of-six-hours--perfect-if-youre-exhausted-and-have-a-long-layover-room-rates-start-at-s76-for-a-6-hour-block-and-a

Rooms here look like normal hotel rooms, with two twin beds or one double bed, bathrooms, TVs, and desks. Some rooms have windows that look out onto the tarmac.

rooms-here-look-like-normal-hotel-rooms-with-two-twin-beds-or-one-double-bed-bathrooms-tvs-and-desks-some-rooms-have-windows-that-look-out-onto-the-tarmac Jennifer Polland Jennifer Polland

The airport has a nature trail, which encourages passengers to go outdoors and breathe in fresh air while at the airport. There are five gardens in the airport, including a rooftop sunflower garden.

the-airport-has-a-nature-trail-which-encourages-passengers-to-go-outdoors-and-breathe-in-fresh-air-while-at-the-airport-there-are-five-gardens-in-the-airport-including-a-rooftop-sunflower-garden

There's even an enclosed butterfly garden — the first such garden in an airport — which is home to butterflies, flowers, lush greenery, and a six-metre (20-ft) waterfall.
theres-even-an-enclosed-butterfly-garden--the-first-such-garden-in-an-airport--which-is-home-to-butterflies-flowers-lush-greenery-and-a-6-meter-20-ft-waterfall

Everything here is technologically savvy - even the bathrooms. Each bathroom has an electronic monitoring system where passengers can rate the cleanliness of the bathroom. If you're not happy with the service, simply tap the frowny face on the touchscreen monitor.

everything-here-is-technologically-savvyeven-the-bathrooms-each-bathroom-has-an-electronic-monitoring-system-where-passengers-can-rate-the-cleanliness-of-the-bathroom-if-youre-not-happy-with-the-service-simply-t Jennifer Polland Jennifer Polland

High-end designer shops, like Gucci, Burberry, and Hermes, keep shoppers occupied while they wait for their flights.

high-end-designer-shops-like-gucci-burberry-and-hermes-keep-shoppers-occupied-while-they-wait-for-their-flights Jennifer Polland Jennifer Polland

If you go to the first-class lounge, you can have a buffet lunch.

but-i-chose-to-eat-at-the-sumptuous-buffet-in-the-first-class-lounge Jennifer Polland Jennifer Polland

There are two movie theatres in the airport, which show a rotating roster of current movies.
when-youre-tired-of-eating-drinking-and-shopping-you-can-watch-a-movie-there-are-two-movie-theaters-in-the-airport-which-show-a-rotating-roster-of-current-movies

It even has a four-storey, 40-ft. slide. If you spend $10 at any airport venue, you're eligible to ride the slide.
kids-will-love-the-awesome-four-story-40-ft-slide-if-you-spend-10-at-any-airport-venue-youre-eligible-to-ride-the-slideSource: Wong Junhao via Flickr

Photos: Chiangi Airport Group/Business Insider unless otherwise stated. Business Insider's trip to Singapore, including travel and lodging expenses, was sponsored by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Read: It’s official – Dublin Airport is the 81st best airport in the world>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Published with permission from
View 50 comments
Close
50 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mary cooke
    Favourite mary cooke
    Report
    Oct 6th 2023, 11:27 PM

    Good man Lula, way to go!!!

    137
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John finn
    Favourite John finn
    Report
    Oct 6th 2023, 11:37 PM

    Just stop buying Brazilian beef…. They will always be deforestation there. Europe imports of Brazilian beef have increased 23 precent 2023. While China has banned it. Well done European Union.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan O'Brien
    Favourite Brendan O'Brien
    Report
    Oct 6th 2023, 11:40 PM

    @John finn: Individual countries within the EU, perhaps, which can take the blame. Not the EU per se.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David
    Favourite David
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 3:30 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Under the umbrella of the EU and the EU allow it, so yes, it is the EU.

    51
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
    Favourite ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 6:15 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Individual corporations, within the EU.

    Within the EU which controls trade, and allows it.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Timo
    Favourite Timo
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 2:48 PM

    @John finn: it must be fairly toxic of China banned it

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Godley
    Favourite Brendan Godley
    Report
    Oct 6th 2023, 11:32 PM

    Does this mean we can’t import as much Amazon rain forest mulsh to generate our green energy this year

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seanfhear míshásta
    Favourite Seanfhear míshásta
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 2:02 AM

    Well done Lula!

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pato
    Favourite Pato
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 9:37 AM

    Good man Lula. Stop being distracted by beef imports, a bigger problem is soy imports to Ireland to feed our famous “grass fed” cattle. Deforestation is used to clear space to grow soy.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
    Favourite eoin fitzpatrick
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 9:43 AM

    @Pato: and our pigs and chickens

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve O'Hara Smith.
    Favourite Steve O'Hara Smith.
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 12:11 PM

    Sometimes I think it’s a little hypocritical to complain about deforestation in other countries, after all the only reason we’re not doing the same thing is that here in Europe we ran out of forest to de centuries ago.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Timo
    Favourite Timo
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 2:45 PM

    Amazing, a desire by government to import beef from Brazil and Argentina who cut down the rainforests to make way for Grazing cattle and growing soy crops.
    Cull 50% of the Herd in Ireland, and the population growing like wildfire. Let’s eat grass
    You will have 1845 back again before you know it.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Moloney
    Favourite Paul Moloney
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 10:30 AM

    Just cut the whole thing down and move on to the next forestry

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Monetpenny
    Favourite Monetpenny
    Report
    Oct 7th 2023, 10:34 PM

    I have seen reports that as they remove amazon forests they are finding the ruins of ancient cities. This is evidence that there were civilisations previously where there are now forests. There are more forests in these areas than there was previously.
    A north American example is the ancient native American ruin (Cahokia) outside St. Louis in Missouri that dates from approx 1050-1350. At it’s height it was the largest human settlement in the world. The ‘Americas’ were much more ‘civilised’ & settled hundreds of years. These were more recently overrun by forests & the deforestation that is taking place is returning to the state that existed hundreds of years ago.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds