These strategic initiatives will also enhance operational reliability and safety, and optimise turnaround times
[SINGAPORE] Catering and ground handling company Sats announced on Thursday (May 15) that it will invest over S$250 million to upgrade its ground operations and cargo handling infrastructure at Changi Airport.
These strategic initiatives will enhance operational reliability and safety, optimise turnaround times, and support growing cargo volumes at Changi Airport through to the mid-2030s when the new Terminal 5 (T5) and Changi East Industrial Zone are expected to begin operations, the group said.
T5, which will take around a decade to complete, will boost Changi’s total annual capacity to around 140 million passengers, up from 90 million now.
The S$250 million investment includes over S$150 million to be spent over the next five years for the renewal and expansion of Sats’ business division Singapore Hub (SG Hub)’s ground support equipment fleet. The fleet comprises specialised commercial vehicles used to support airport operations.
Another S$100 million is being invested to enhance cargo operations over the next two years.
“SG Hub will bolster cargo operations across its airfreight terminals to address growing volumes, with a multi-phase enhancement beginning from the middle of this year,” Sats said.
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The group will also focus on job redesign to enhance career pathways, upskilling initiatives for its staff, talent attraction and leveraging technology such as autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence to boost productivity.
Henry Low, chief executive officer of Sats Singapore Hub, said: “While the opening of Changi Airport T5 is about 10 years away, Sats is already undertaking extensive preparations to handle future operational demands by modernising our equipment and infrastructure alongside efforts to raise and sustain a future-ready and resilient workforce.”
“These upgrades and enhancements will enable us to support our airline customers more effectively and ensure that Singapore continues to excel as a world-leading air hub.”
Shares of Sats closed on Thursday 0.3 per cent or S$0.01 higher at S$2.97.
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