According to a recent report, businesses in the four terminals at Changi Airport are already feeling the heat with the competition from newly opened outlets at the new Jewel.
For some, the increased competition has translated into poorer businesses. Others benefited slightly at the from the spillover of customers at Jewel. However for them, their business has now waned.
Some report more empty shops than they were used to although for the halal F&B establishments, this could also be partially attributed to Muslim customers fasting in Ramadan.
Unlike many airports around the world, Changi Airport has gained a reputation for being a destination in and of itself. Over the past decades, the various terminals have continuously reinvented their offering.
They need to continue to do the same even with the introduction of Jewel.
Many Singaporeans go to the terminals to get away from the crowds for their meals. They are not really interested in the shopping.
Instead of shopping, what they can offer are more spaces for families to relax and unwind or to carry out activities together. For the very young children, the playground areas available now are fairly limited.
What they can is more space for such family and child-friendly actvities.
They can also rent out co-working spaces to cater to the the newer connected crowd from both abroad and locally. In this way those coming here for a short-stopover or transit do not have to check into hotels or travel further to rest and then get their work done. They can do it at the airport.
With these crowd, there will naturally be spillover for the F&B estblishments there.
More discounts and free lunchtime parking would serve to entice more people these terminals.
