PM Lee congratulates Changi Airport for its 500th best airport win

The arrival porch at Changi Airport's Terminal 3. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong extended his congratulations to Changi Airport in a Facebook post on Thursday (Nov 26) for clinching its 500th best airport award recently.

In the post, PM Lee said that the airport was the brainchild of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in the 1970s, who wanted to build a new international airport at the old Royal Air Force Changi Airbase in spite of recommendations to build it at Paya Lebar instead.

The airport's current location has allowed for its development and expansion.

PM Lee also included his photographs of various landmarks around the airport. Among his shots is an aerial view of the construction for Project Jewel, due to open in 2018.

Project Jewel, a new retail and lifestyle complex, will connect airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3 when completed.

The airport received the award on Tuesday (Nov 24) and it celebrated the milestone by handing out free coffee at its three terminals over two mornings.

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