SINGAPORE - A new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) will be built at Seletar Airport to accommodate a growth in air traffic, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced on Thursday (May 19).

The new PTB, which will be constructed at the eastern side of the airport, will boast improved facilities and amenities, and support growing general aviation activities as part of the larger Seletar Aerospace Park.

Construction is set to start in October, and the terminal building is expected to be ready by the end of 2018. A tender for the construction was called on Wednesday (May 18).

Operations at the current PTB located on the airport's western side will then cease, while turboprop aircraft operations will be shifted from Changi Airport to Seletar Airport.

The shift will help to free up capacity for jet aircraft operations at Changi, CAAS said.

"Seletar Airport will continue to be a valuable complement to Changi Airport," said CAAS Director-General Kevin Shum.

"The new investment will also enable more opportunities to thrive in the Seletar Aerospace Park, reinforcing Singapore's position as a vibrant aviation hub."

Mr Lee Seow Hiang, the chief executive officer of Changi Airport Group, which manages Seletar Airport, noted that it had seen upgrades to various airside facilities in recent years.

The new passenger terminal will allow us to better cater to the specific needs of the airport's different users and provide a more seamless travel experience," he added.