Main airports
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is the country's international gateway and handles virtually all scheduled passenger flights. It has several passenger terminals (Terminals 1 to 4) plus the Jewel Changi Airport retail and leisure complex connected to Terminal 1. A fifth terminal is under development. See Changi Airport for current terminal information and annual traffic figures.
Seletar Airport (XSP) in the north-east is mainly used for general and business aviation, with limited scheduled services. Check the operator, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), and your airline before booking anything to Seletar.
Singapore is a city-state, so there are no domestic flights. Every scheduled trip from Singapore is international, and Changi is the airport for nearly all of them.
Which airport for which airline
Almost every airline, including Singapore Airlines and Scoot, operates from Changi. The choice for travellers is therefore the terminal, not the airport.
- Terminals are allocated by airline and can change. Always check the terminal on your booking confirmation and on the Changi Airport flight information page before travelling.
- Singapore Airlines and Scoot may use different terminals, even on the same route. This matters on a self-booked connection between the two, or when travelling with someone on the other airline.
- Terminal 4 is a separate building from Terminals 1 to 3, so going to the wrong terminal costs extra time.
- Jewel is next to Terminal 1 and is not a departure terminal.
Getting between airports and into the city
Changi has an MRT (metro) station serving the airport terminals on the East-West Line, with trains running to the city centre. Taxis, private-hire cars and public buses also serve the terminals. Check Changi Airport's transport pages for current routes, fares and operating hours.
- Terminals 1 to 3 are linked by walkways and the free Skytrain inside the airport's transit areas and public areas.
- Terminal 4 has its own bus and taxi links; check signage on arrival.
- Since Singapore has only one commercial gateway, there is normally no need to transfer between airports in the city.
Airlines: full-service and low-cost
Singapore Airlines is the national full-service carrier, based at Changi. It is a member of the Star Alliance. Its low-cost subsidiary Scoot flies short- and long-haul routes from Changi.
Many other international airlines, both full-service and low-cost, also serve Changi.
- Full-service fares normally include checked baggage and meals; the allowance varies by route and fare class, so check the fare rules.
- Low-cost fares such as Scoot's cheapest options typically include a cabin bag only. Checked baggage, seat selection, meals and extras are usually added at booking or later at higher prices. Read the fare conditions on the airline's site before paying.
Lounges
Changi has airline and independent lounges across its terminals. Singapore Airlines operates SilverKris and other premium lounges for its own premium-cabin and top-tier passengers.
Travellers without status have several options:
- Independent pay-per-use lounges, bookable online or at the door, where capacity allows.
- Lounge membership programmes such as Priority Pass, and some credit and debit cards that include lounge access.
Lounge locations, access rules and prices change, so check the Changi Airport lounge listings for the terminal you are flying from.
When to fly
Singapore has a tropical climate with no dry season. The Meteorological Service Singapore describes two main monsoon periods, the north-east monsoon (around December to early March) and the south-west monsoon (around June to September), with inter-monsoon periods in between. Thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon, can cause delays at any time of year, and lightning can pause ground handling at the airport.
Regional haze from fires in neighbouring countries can occur, usually in the drier months. Check National Environment Agency updates.
Flights tend to fill around Chinese New Year, year-end holidays and school holidays in June and November-December. Public holiday dates are published each year by the Ministry of Manpower. See Visit Singapore for events.
