The Force awakened Changi Airport Thursday morning when two iconic Star Wars spacecraft were unveiled at its departure halls.
A life-sized X-wing sits at Terminal 3, while a scale model of the TIE Fighter - about 80 per cent of the actual size - stands tall at Terminal 2. Visitors can climb into the cockpit of the X-wing to take pictures.
To celebrate the launch, 30 fans dressed as Stormtroopers and Starfighter pilots staged a special show, marching in unison through the airport from T3 to T2 on the link bridge with such gusto that the bridge started swaying.
The event and display were part of the airport's year-end celebrations as well as to promote the highly anticipated new movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh instalment of the cult film series that will open in Singapore on Dec 17.
Hundreds of fans and travellers eagerly trailed the march of Stormtroopers and Starfighter pilots, vying for prime spots to take pictures with the exhibits, which will be in the public areas until Jan 5.
Secondary 3 student Nur Effa Syaqilla, 15, said excitedly: "I'm a huge Star Wars fan, so to see the displays up close like this is just amazing. I'm actually sweating from excitement."
Fans may also collect eight Star Wars plush toys exclusive to Changi Airport from Nov 17 to Dec 18. Each costs $6 when fans spend a minimum sum at the airport's businesses.
On Thursday, journalists were also treated to a preview of the Star Wars-themed All Nippon Airways plane, which is parked at Changi for two nights until Saturday. Singapore is the first Asian stop outside of Japan for this chartered flight from Tokyo.
There may be plans for the plane to make regular scheduled flights to Singapore in the future.
Passers-by were audibly delighted to catch sight of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, whose exterior is painted to look like droid R2-D2.
The interiors of the 215-seater are also decked out in the Star Wars theme, from the R2-D2-decorated paper cups and napkins that go with the meals served inflight, to the R2-D2 headrest covers. All six Star Wars movies already released will be available on board for viewing.
Tickets for Star Wars: The Force Awakens will go on sale on cinema websites from 12.01am on Nov 17.
Tickets to the first screening of the movie in Singapore, to be held at Shaw Lido's Imax hall past midnight on Dec 17, will go on sale at Shaw House Urban Plaza (Level 1) in Orchard Road, from Monday at 9pm.
This first Imax 3D screening of the movie costs $180 for a package that includes two tickets on the day, two more tickets to another Imax screening of the movie on another date and two sets of limited-edition movie collectibles.
