A Double-Decker Bus was spotted on test at Changi Airport on Wednesday morning, 26 June 2019.
A SMRT Volvo B9TL bus, SG5517G, was photographed at the Departure Hall of Changi Airport Terminal 3. It is said that the trial was conducted together with the Land Transport Authority and Changi Airport Group. (Photo: Behold Our Outstanding Buses Singapore)
https://www.facebook.com/BOOBSG/photos/p.1529253883877679/1529253883877679/
Double-decker buses should be deployed on airport services to cater to the high loading levels. However, airport bus services only can use single-deck and articulated (bendy) buses due to height limits at the basement of Changi Airport PTB 1, 2 and 3.
Increased ridership has caused overcrowding problems on these bus services, notably SMRT Bus Service 858 and SBS Transit Bus Service 53. SMRT Buses deployed MAN A24 bendy buses since late-2015 to cope with high loading levels. Following the opening of JEWEL Changi Airport, more bendy buses were deployed, and buses operated additional trips from Changi Airport in the evening.
Road infrastructure has to be made double-decker friendly first before such buses can be deployed on airport services. While the departure halls of Terminal 1 and 3 are able to cater to double-deckers, there is a 4.0m height limit on the slip road entering Terminal 2 Departure Hall. In addition, buses will have to ply a circuitous route involving U-Turns to get in between departure halls.
Hopefully, double-deckers can be deployed on airport services in the near future for a more comfortable journey!
Contingency Plan
Currently, public buses serving Changi Airport may be diverted to call at the departure halls of Terminals 1, 2 & 3 if the basement is closed due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. accident or vehicle breakdown).
Terminal 3 Departure Hall
During the Early Closure, Late Opening & Sunday Closures on the East-West Line from January 2018 to April 2018, Shuttle 8 and Express 12Â buses used Terminal 3 Departure Hall Gate 8 as a Pick-Up and Drop-Off Point.
I think people fail to understand this, airport services CAN NEVER use double decks, even if the routes are made double deck friendly. In an airport setting, people bring luggages everywhere, who is going to carry their heavy luggage up to the upper deck? Not to mention how some luggages could also not fit through the staircase. If Double Decks are deployed on airport services, it will just crowd the bus more rather than relieve the demand since people carrying luggage’s will all stay at the lower deck