But the continually updated attractions do more than lighten the load of a long trip. They also serve a more practical purpose: by encouraging people to explore, they draw foot traffic to different corners of the terminal and help avoid the sense of crowdedness that plagues other airports.
Easy come, easy go
Some of this efficiency is born of pragmatism as much as ambition. It is Singapore’s labour constraints that have pushed the airport towards automation, from immigration clearance to cleaning and other passenger services.
“Immigration services need a lot of manpower, and not all Singaporeans are willing to do such work,” explained Ivan Tan, Changi Airport Group’s senior vice president for corporate and marketing communications. “So in part, we’re driven by need.”
In 2024, Changi became the first airport to fully implement passport-less immigration clearance, using biometric facial and iris recognition to shave time off one of the most frustrating parts of any international journey. Singapore residents can use it on arrival and departure, while foreign travellers can use passport-free clearance when leaving Singapore.
Biometric, passport-less immigration was fully rolled out across Changi’s terminals in late 2024, helping cut clearance time for many travelers.
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