The Hindu Business Line : Fly high, within budget

Enjoy the difference!’ These words greet travellers arriving at the Budget Terminal in Singapore. Off the plane and on to terra firma for a short walk to the building, followed by a long walk along non-AC passages to the very cold immigration counters and the arrival hall beyond, and out into the dramatic dawn breaking over Singapore.

Simplicity is the key word for the airport’s interior design — a single-storey structure with plain practical roofing and spread over 25,000 sq. metres — approximately the size of three football fields. Opened in March 2006, the airport was built at a moderate cost of S$45 million. It handles about 2.7 million passengers a year. Ten departure gates, 18 check-in counters and three baggage carousals at the departure hall ensure smooth movement. An open car park in front of the building can accommodate 300 cars, making it perfect for visitors.

No hassles, and no frills — cutting costs to a minimum, the budget terminal offers all essential comforts. Thirteen retail outlets in the moderate price range, including Hang Ten, Times News Link, DFS, Seven Eleven, Kopitiam, My Tea House and Secret Recipe, are open at all hours. Hanis Café and Bakery at the check-in hall serves pastries, muffins and sandwiches, as well as hot and cold drinks. The souvenir shops are perfect for last-minute buys, including the nominal ‘Three for 10$’ shops. Unlike at other airports, here the prices are the same as what you would pay in the city and, what’s more, you are promised a refund of ‘double the price difference’ if you can prove that you’ve been charged more! And if you’re unhappy with your purchase, you get a money-back assurance for full refund or exchange within 30 days.

Free Internet kiosks, laptop access and WiFi spots ensure connectivity, as also the free telephones for local calls and card-operated phones for international calls. A kids’ play area, meditation room, baggage storage room, and a free city tour for passengers in transit for five hours or more are among the other attractions offered by the budget terminal.

For S$9, you get dropped at a city hotel, courtesy the 24-hour airport shuttle service. A free shuttle service between the budget terminal and Terminal 2 operates at 10-minute intervals during the day and 30-minute intervals between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. — convenient for those with onward connections. The free shuttle also drops travellers at the nearby MRT station, providing cheap transport into town.

Budget airlines like Tiger Airways, with a 49 per cent holding by Singapore Airlines, use the budget terminal and secondary airports elsewhere to lower operating costs. Outsourcing aircraft maintenance to reputed companies like the Singapore Airlines Engineering Co, too, results in lower costs, as well as high quality maintenance and flight safety.

Smart ideas like charging extra for luggage upsize, sports equipment and seat selector allow the passenger to pay standard low fares, and extras only if necessary.

In-flight crew is dressed snazzily in corduroy jeans, a cream top and a tiger-print belt, keeping uniform costs at a simple elegant minimum. Luxury and budget accommodation too is arranged by Tiger Airways, as also car rental and travel insurance — all at special rates. A new fleet of A320 planes ensures fuel efficiency. Online booking and paper-free tickets further trim costs — even the boarding pass is just a printout slip!

Refreshment on board is chargeable, as also blankets, but then the difference is truly enjoyable. One does not feel the pinch of ever-inflating airfares. It all fits perfectly within the budget.

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