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Singapore's Changi Airport is encouraging even non-flyers to shop at duty-free stores that are experiencing slow business. The airport is also selling three-month passes to the Jewel shopping area. Changi saw a more than 99% drop in passenger numbers in April, May, and June compared to the previous year. Changi reduced capacity, leaving two of its four terminals vacant and postponing plans for a fifth. Previously, Changi was heavily invested in to become an upscale shopping destination, with Jewel being a nearly 140,000 square meter entertainment complex.2It includes shops and attractions such as a rainforest, a hedge maze, the world's tallest indoor waterfall, and more.
The Vilnius International Film Festival was held on the unused runway of the airport in the Lithuanian capital.
Meanwhile, the airport management in the Lithuanian capital came up with an interesting initiative. They utilized the unused runway space to support the Vilnius International Film Festival, a major cultural event taking place in the region. This open-air cinema not only contributed to the event's unexpected success but also provided effective entertainment for local residents amidst the ongoing pandemic.
Similarly, Ontario International Airport in Southern California (USA) opened a movie theater in its parking lot in June and July.
Munich Airport has reached an agreement with DHL Express to build a warehouse on its parking lot.
Munich Airport (Germany) reached an agreement in June with DHL Express to build an $82 million warehouse on land previously used as a parking lot. This is the second largest airport in Germany and the sixth largest in Europe, consistently ranking among the best airports in Europe and internationally for its modern facilities and smooth traffic flow.
Meanwhile, Edmonton International Airport in Alberta announced plans in July to open a 120-megawatt solar farm spanning over 250 hectares.
In addition, airports are also expanding. In Thailand, the first phase of a $9.4 billion airport expansion project south of Bangkok will be completed in 2024. Hong Kong will spend $18 billion on airport expansion. China and South Korea are also continuing to build expensive airport projects.
Many airports are taking advantage of the pandemic to upgrade and renovate.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, Changi Airport's Terminal 2 was closed for 18 months. In January 2020, CAG announced plans to upgrade Terminal 2 to accommodate an additional 5 million passengers per year. The 18-month closure not only saved the corporation and its partners a significant amount of money on cleaning and maintenance, but also allowed CAG to accelerate the upgrade process, aiming for completion a year ahead of the original 2024 schedule.
Greg Fordham, CEO of Airbiz, an airport project consulting firm in Melbourne, believes this crisis presents a great opportunity for airports to engage in activities they haven't done before.
When passengers return, airports need to reassess how they generate revenue. They could offer services such as arranging hotel accommodations for flight crews, catering services, and medical care for passengers.
