Alternative parking plans at airport are inconvenient

I read with frustration and incredulity the report “T1 open-air car park to close by year-end” (Sept 27) and wonder if the management at Changi Airport Group (CAG) has given this sufficient thought.

First, the issue of space. While measures have been put in place to encourage drivers to move from Terminal 2 (T2) Car Park 2B to Car Park 2A or the new South Car Park to free up space at the temporary Terminal 1 (T1) car park, how will CAG ensure that this happens? It is more likely that drivers who typically park at Car Park 2B will continue to do so as there is no impetus for them to move. This will mean that cars at T1 will add to the congestion at Car Park 2B when the T1 car park closes.

The coach stand has been designated to be the new arrival pick-up point, but where then will coach passengers go? Changi Airport today sees more tour groups arriving than before. From a layperson’s perspective, it looks like coach passengers will need to be moved to a less convenient location or confined to a smaller space as the temporary pick-up point begins operation. Either way, this is likely to cause some discomfort to arriving passengers.

Most significantly, however, there seems to be a great lack of thought put into the flow of passengers and visitors to T1 from the new car park at T2. While shuttle buses will be available, these operate only from 10am to 5am the next day — a confusing decision given the amount of air traffic arriving at and departing from T1 in the early morning.

The Skytrain was touted as an option for travelling between T1 and T2. I would like to ask if the planners involved in this decision had used the Skytrain during peak hours. If so, they would have found — as I and many others have — that the trains are often busy and run at frequencies of three to five minutes. If those headed for T1 have to park at T2 and take the Skytrain, it would probably result in extensive wait times and frustrated passengers.

Changi Airport has long been lauded as one of the finest airports in the world. It has achieved this reputation not through the availability of glitzy brands in transit areas, but by ensuring that the comfort and convenience of travellers remain the top priority.

Frequent travellers often lament the inconvenience brought by poorly-planned construction and renovation at global transport hubs such as London Heathrow Airport, and I have lost count of the number of times I have heard the phrase “why can’t they be more like Changi” on my travels. I sincerely hope CAG will reconsider its plans such that they do not create the same frustration in its visitors.