SINGAPORE, April 30 — Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 (T3) will undergo a significant overhaul to integrate advanced digital technologies and robotics, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said yesterday.

A tender for the project is expected in the second half of 2026, with construction slated to begin by the end of that year.

Speaking at the annual Changi Airline Awards, Siow explained that the upgrade will introduce automated solutions for self-service check-in, security screening, and maintenance, The Straits Times reported.

These systems will serve as a vital test bed for Terminal 5 (T5), which is scheduled to begin operations in the mid-2030s.

The primary goal of the renovation is to enhance the terminal’s passenger handling capacity, particularly during peak hours, as T3 has been in operation since 2008.

Changi Airport Group (CAG) chief executive Yam Kum Weng detailed several infrastructure improvements, including a 65 per cent expansion of early bag storage to manage rising transfer volumes.

The project will also see the Skytrain’s operating fleet grow by nearly 30 per cent and the installation of four additional bus gates, bringing the total to seven. To further streamline operations, a new inter-terminal baggage system will be built to provide a secondary transfer path between T1 and T3.

Beyond terminal upgrades, CAG is preparing for next-generation aircraft. By mid-2026, over 50 aircraft stands will be modified to support the longer Boeing 777-9, which is expected for delivery starting in 2027.

Additionally, a new “off-airport” check-in service will soon allow passengers staying at Marina Bay Sands and The Fullerton hotels to drop off their luggage directly from the city centre.

The T3 project is part of a broader S$3 billion (RM9.3 billion) investment into Changi’s existing four terminals.

Despite regional challenges and high fuel prices, the airport remains on an upward trajectory, with cargo volumes rising nearly 8 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

At the awards, Scoot was named Partner of the Year for its 2025 expansion, while Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and AirAsia remained the top three carriers by passenger volume.

PUTRAJAYA, April 27 — Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) recorded strong growth across its local network in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, with Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) registering 16.9 million passenger movements, a 14.4 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

In a statement today, MAHB said that in March alone, local airports handled 9.1 million passenger movements, of which 5.6 million travelled through KLIA, while the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period from March 14 to 29 saw more than 3.1 million passengers passing through the airport.

MAHB managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said the continued growth across the network demonstrates the increasing relevance of Malaysia’s airports as regional gateways.

“Our priority is to match this momentum with the right capacity, seamless operations and targeted improvements on the ground, ensuring we remain competitive while unlocking further growth opportunities for Malaysia,” he said.

MAHB said during the same month, Penang International Airport (PEN) saw an 11 per cent rise in international passenger numbers, moving from 371,601 in February to 412,958. Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) recorded a two per cent increase in domestic passenger numbers, rising from 541,248 in February to 551,049. 

It said this contributed to a total of 27.4 million passenger movements across the local network in the first quarter. 

“MAHB’s wholly owned international subsidiary, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISGIA), recorded 11.7 million passengers in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 12 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period last year,” it added.

Meanwhile, the airport operator said ongoing improvements to airport facilities and services are being implemented to enhance passenger comfort and operational efficiency across its network.

At KLIA, it said a large-scale ketupat-inspired installation brought festive cheer to the terminal, seamlessly blending cultural identity with modern design. Regional airports are also seeing targeted improvements, with Langkawi (LGK) and Kuching (KCH) introducing upgraded baby care rooms, while Alor Star (AOR), Kuantan (KUA), Labuan (LBU) and Lahad Datu (LDU) now welcome passengers with refreshed check-in counters.

According to MAHB, Operational enhancements have also been introduced to improve passenger flow, including the early baggage drop-off service for Malaysia Airlines passengers at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, providing greater flexibility and a smoother pre-departure experience.

Alongside these efforts, it said connectivity across the network continued to expand in March with the addition of three new international airlines, namely AeroDili from Timor-Leste, Air Algerie from Algeria and Chongqing Airlines from China.

MAHB said new routes introduced include Nanjing-Kuala Lumpur, Chongqing-Kota Kinabalu, Wuxi-Kuala Lumpur, Batam-Kuala Lumpur, Phuket-Penang, Guiyang-Kuala Lumpur, Guiyang-Kuching, Colombo-Kuala Lumpur and Yangzhou-Kuala Lumpur.

“In Penang, the introduction of the Qingdao-Penang route further strengthened the airport’s direct connectivity to China while complementing existing services within the Malaysia network,” it said. — Bernama

NEW DELHI, April 26 — ‌A Swiss International flight from Delhi to Zurich had to abort its takeoff early on ‌Sunday and six passengers were injured during an emergency evacuation, a source familiar with the matter said.

One of the aircraft’s engines failed and caught fire as the plane was accelerating for takeoff, prompting the crew to stop the plane and initiate an emergency evacuation, ‌the Economic Times reported.

The injured passengers have ⁠been sent to ⁠hospital, said the source, who ⁠was not authorised ⁠to speak ⁠to media and declined to be identified.

The aircraft was an Airbus A330, ⁠according to Flightradar24.

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport said earlier on X that it had declared an emergency following the incident on flight LX147.

Runway operations at ⁠the airport have since resumed and all other flights were on schedule, the ⁠source added.

Delhi airport, India’s busiest, has four ⁠operational runways.

Swiss ⁠International did not immediately respond to a Reuters email seeking comments. — Reuters

COLOMBO, April 26 — Twenty-two Sri Lankan monks returning from Thailand were arrested on Sunday at the main international airport with 110 kilogrammes (242 pounds) of powerful cannabis, officials said.

A Sri Lanka Customs spokesman said the group, returning home after a four-day holiday in the Thai capital, had Kush — a potent, plant-based strain of cannabis — hidden in their luggage.

“Each carried about five kilos of the narcotic concealed within false walls in their luggage,” the spokesman said, adding that the monks had been handed over to police.

They were to be taken before a magistrate later on Sunday.

The monks were mostly young students from temples across Sri Lanka and had been on a holiday sponsored by a businessman.

Customs officials said it was the largest single detection of Kush at the South Asian country’s main international airport.

A 21-year-old British woman was arrested in May last year with 46 kilogrammes (101 pounds) of the drug at the same airport. She was also travelling to Colombo from Bangkok.

Sri Lankan authorities have also made several detections of large hauls of heroin and other narcotics smuggled in via small fishing boats in recent years. — AFP

KOTA BHARU, April 26 — The motorcycle convoy to Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) here yesterday was not organised by the Kelantan state government, but was an individual initiative.

Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the state government had no involvement in the activity, stressing that all parties must comply with regulations, especially in public areas.

“All parties must always adhere to the law and prioritise safety, particularly in sensitive locations such as airports.

“Cooperation is essential to ensure public safety and to avoid disrupting operations at such facilities,” he told reporters here today.

He noted that airports are strategic locations requiring a high level of security to ensure smooth passenger movement.

Earlier, a social media post went viral about a programme called “Konvoi & Lepak Mat Motor Bersama YB”, allegedly organised by the Government Supporters Club and State PAS Youth Wing from 5 pm to 7 pm

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Anthony Loke was reported to have described the involvement of several Kelantan assemblymen in organising the convoy to LTSIP as highly irresponsible. — Bernama

KOTA BHARU, April 26 — A motorcycle convoy in Kelantan held without the approval of the police was proclaimed a success by the organising assemblyman after its participants used lorong tikus (side streets) to evade the blockades.

Melor assemblyman Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, who organised the ‘Konvoi Motosikal dan Lepak Anak Muda Bersama YB YB’, said the programme still proceeded and attracted about 3,000 motorcyclists despite delays caused by police checks, the New Straits Times reported.

“We had to shorten the programme because we were delayed by the roadblocks. I saw no fewer than seven roadblocks, but they were all outsmarted by us.

“When I found out there were many police roadblocks, we used side streets. Serves them right,” he was quoted as saying during the programme yesterday.

Wan Rohimi said he was satisfied with the turnout and planned to organise a larger-scale version of the programme in future.

The convoy reportedly did not enter the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport grounds, instead passed in front of the building towards Pantai Sabak as authorities were stationed at the entrance.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke had previously directed the Road Transport Department to work with police to inspect motorcycles, including those ridden by assemblymen, to prevent entry into the airport.

Loke described the convoy initiative involving several Kelantan assemblymen as highly irresponsible.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed that police did not receive any application from organisers for the programme and said roadblocks were mounted around Kota Bharu leading to the airport.

BIKEPILOT posted a photo:

Royal Aero Club RRRA Race School, Popham Airfield EGHP, Hampshire, UK. 2026/04/19.

BIKEPILOT posted a photo:

Royal Aero Club RRRA Race School, Popham Airfield EGHP, Hampshire, UK. 2026/04/19.

National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report further says crash prevention system didn’t generate alert

A firefighter whose truck collided with an Air Canada jet last month on a runway at New York’s LaGuardia airport, killing both pilots, heard an air traffic controller warn “stop, stop, stop” but didn’t know who it was for, federal investigators said Thursday.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on the 22 March collision that a crash prevention system for air traffic controllers didn’t generate an audio or visual alert, and lights on the runway that act as a stop light for crossing traffic were on until about three seconds before the collision.