 AIR |
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Singapore’s
national airline is Singapore
Airlines (SQ). Singapore is a major travel destination
served by most major international airlines. There are direct
flights to Singapore from a number of cities in the UK, USA
and Canada. Airlines flying direct from London include British
Airways, Qantas and Singapore Airlines. There are also direct
flights from Singapore to all capital cities in Southeast
Asia.
Approximate flight
times
From Singapore
 To
London is 13 hours
To
Los Angeles is 20 hours
25 minutes
To
New York is 21 hours 55
minutes
To
Sydney is 9 hours 15 minutes
International airports
Singapore
Changi Airport (SIN) : Tel: 6541 2222. Fax: 6542
1231.
Changi is located 20km (12.4
miles) from Singapore centre. It consistently tops international
polls as the world’s best airport and
is currently the 24th busiest. More than 29 million passengers
passed through in 2002. A total of 63 airlines operate out
of Changi, with 3400 flights weekly to 141 cities in 49 countries
worldwide, making it the airport with the most air links in
the Asia Pacific region. To cater for growth in demand, an
extension to Terminal 1 was completed in 2000 and the building
of Terminal 3 is underway, due for completion in 2006.
Major airlines: Singapore
Airlines (tel: 6223 8888; fax: 6786 6947 (reservations)
or 6223 6030 (ticketing enquiries); fax: 6786 2937; e-mail:
singapore_ticketing@singaporeair.com.sg)
is the national airline, with direct connections to all the
major cities in Asia and 116 destinations in 42 countries.
Its subsidiary SilkAir covers 19 destinations
in South-East Asia, plus Trivandrum in India. Other major
airlines include Aeroflot, Air China, Air France, Air India,
Air Madagascar, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Alitalia,
All Nippon, American Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, British Airways,
Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Continental Airlines, Egypt
Air, Emirates, Garuda, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Japan Airlines,
KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Pakistan International
Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Scandinavian
Airlines, Singaporen Airlines, Swissair, Thai Airways, Turkish
Airlines and United Airlines.
Passengers may check in up to 48 hours before their flight,
at the Singapore Airlines office in the Paragon
Shopping Centre, Orchard Road. They
may also check in by telephone (tel: 6243 2546) to get a confirmed
allocated seat number. In these cases, passengers must still
bring their luggage to the airport at least one hour before
flying.
Approximate flight
times to Singapore
From
London is 13 hours
From
New York is 20 hours 35 minutes
From
Los Angeles is 18 hours
From
Toronto is 20 hours
From
Sydney is 8 hours
Airport facilities
While Changi’s legendary efficiency means travellers
need spend the minimum amount of time in the airport,
the facilities on offer mean that days could
happily be spent there. These include showers, gym and sauna,
fitness centres, putting green, rooftop pool and Jacuzzi,
hairdresser’s, laundry service, karaoke lounge, Science
Discovery Centre, mini supermarket, children’s play
area, nursery, smoking room, medical centre and prayer room.
To get back to nature, even in an airport, there are also
cactus, bamboo and orchid gardens and a Koi pond. There are
the usual banks, bureaux de change, ATMs, postal and telecommunications
offices, shops, restaurants, car hire (AB Budget Car Rental,
Sintat Rent-Acar and Hertz), hotel reservation counters, tourist
information and baggage storage facilities. Transit and transfer
passengers can also take advantage of free two-hour guided
coach tours of Singapore.
Business
facilities
The comprehensive range of services includes transit hotels
and business-class lounges. There is a business centre
located in the Terminal 2 transit hotel, level 3 (tel: 6541
9106/7; fax: 6542 6122). Facilities include workstations with
Internet connection, fax and photocopiers. There is a 24-hour
Internet centre, with a faster modem server, opposite the
Post Office.
Arrival/departure
tax
A S$21 Passenger Service Charge is incorporated
in the price of the ticket.
Transport
to the city
The MRT now has a station at the airport,
which is a quick and cheap option for getting anywhere in
Singapore. Trains run 0530–2318, approximately every
ten minutes. Tickets to the city centre cost S$1.80 (journey
time – 30 minutes).
Singapore
Bus Service (SBS) (tel: 1800 287 2727) operates regular
buses into the city. Public bus stations are located in Terminal
1 at Basement 2 and in Terminal 2 at basement level. Public
buses cost S$1.50 (exact fare only) and depart every
6–14 minutes 0600–2400. Bus number 36 goes along
Orchard Road (journey time –50 minutes).
The airport is about 20–30 minutes from Singapore centre
by taxi. Taxi fares are about S$15 (plus
a standard S$3 airport surcharge, S$5 weekends, as well as
any other surcharges – see Taxis in Getting Around).
Limousine taxi service counters are located
at the arrival hall on Level 1 of both terminals. They charge
a flat rate of S$35 to anywhere in the city and operate 0600–0200
daily.
The six-seater MaxiCab, the airport shuttle
service, run by CityCab (tel: 6542 8297), costs S$7 and stops
at almost every major hotel in the city centre. It leaves
from Terminal 1 and 2 every 30 minutes 0600–1800 and
every 15 minutes 1900–2100. |
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| SEA |
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The international
port is Singapore itself, the world’s
busiest in terms of tonnage. It is served by a growing number
of international passenger cruise lines. Cruising
is one of the fastest-growing tourist development
areas in Singapore and there are plans to considerably
expand the already extensive port facilities.
There is now also a number of international operators using
Singapore as a base for cruises throughout Southeast Asia.
For further details, contact the Singapore Tourism
Board (see Contact Addresses section).
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| RAIL |
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| Trains run to
Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru
and Malacca (Malaysia) on a route which extends
to Bangkok (Thailand). Services
operate daily between Singapore and
Kuala Lumpur; some offer air conditioning and dining
cars. There are also overnight trains with sleepers. |
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| ROAD |
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Singapore
is connected to Malaysia
and the mainland of Asia by two causeways:
one which crosses the Johor Strait; the other
linking Tuas in Singapore; bus and coach
services operate to the Malaysian town of Johor Bahru and
beyond.
For required documentation, see Travel – Internal section.
Buses arriving from Malaysia and Thailand terminate at the
Lavender Street terminal. |
| Useful
travel links |
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Spots |
air security
international daily reports |
| IATA |
international air
transport association |
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