The assistance aims to help concessionaires tide over the challenging retail climate due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) outbreak, which has adversely affected air passenger traffic and weakened consumer demand. It comes after the Minister for Finance’s budget announcement on Tuesday that the Government, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) will provide an Aviation Sector Assistance Package amounting to S$112 million to the airport community to help defray business costs and protect jobs, as well as safeguard Changi’s air connectivity. This amount includes a 15% property tax rebate which CAG will receive from the government that will be fully passed on to the aviation community under the Aviation Sector Assistance Package.

Current concessionaires in Changi Airport’s four terminals and in both the transit and public areas, will be offered a 50 per cent rebate on their monthly Basic Rental (BR) for a period of six months effective 1 February 2020 (or any later tenancy commencement date). This is in addition to an automatic rental offset tied to passenger movements at Changi Airport that these concessionaires will receive as part of their tenancy agreements.

Given the dynamic nature of the aviation environment, a sizeable portion of Changi Airport’s concessionaire rental is designed to vary in tandem with passenger traffic. For example, when there is a drop in passenger traffic, concessionaires will receive a corresponding reduction in their rent. Such a rental structure is unique to the airport.

“The shops and restaurants in Changi Airport are very much dependent on passenger traffic. The COVID-19 situation has affected air travel significantly and there has been a marked drop in business for our concessionaires. With our unique rental structure, our concessionaires will benefit from an “automatic” reduction in their rent in tandem with the reduction in passenger traffic. In addition, we have decided to provide further assistance by reducing the BR to help our concessionaires during this very difficult period,” said Ms Lim Peck Hoon, Executive Vice President of Commercial, Changi Airport Group.

As some businesses are taking a harder hit than others, CAG is also currently in discussion with individual concession partners to offer further assistance to these concessionaires to ease the pressure and help them grow sales.

Shorter operating hours

Besides the relief on rentals, CAG has also shortened the operating hours for its tenants in the transit area, including those previously operating round the clock, with the exception of retail and F&B outlets providing essential services to passengers. At the same time, tenants in the public areas will also be given the option to shorten their operating hours. Details of adjusted operating hours of individual tenants can be found on Changi Airport’s website. There are over 400 retail and services stores, and more than 140 F&B outlets in Changi Airport’s four terminals.

To drive consumer demand, CAG will also launch marketing and promotional initiatives to incentivise spending by visitors. Already, airport visitors enjoy all-day, two-hour free parking with a qualifying minimum spend. And from 6 March 2020, they can enjoy perks when shopping and dining in the public areas of Changi Airport on weekends – redeem a S$5 Changi gift card with S$50 spend or a S$10 Changi gift card with S$100 spend. They can also redeem two play slots at indoor playground PLAY! at KinderPlay and receive a S$20 credit at arcade Zone X, with S$50 spend. Airport workers will also receive additional discounts to encourage them to shop and dine at the airport with family and friends.

Under Aviation Sector Assistance Package, a set of measures will be introduced for a period of six months, effective 1 February 2020, to support other key stakeholders at Changi Airport. More details can be found in the Annex.