The Singapore Airshow 2020 was held from 11th to 16th February 2020. Back for its seventh instalment, the biennial event since 2008 is Asia’s largest, and among the most important aerospace and defence exhibitions in the world. The last two days of the event are Public Days (15th & 16th Feb), opened to members of the public with valid tickets.
As with previous years, SMRT Buses was contracted to provide bidirectional Shuttle Bus Services to and from Changi Exhibition Centre. This year’s pick-up point is located at Singapore Expo.
Getting to Singapore Airshow 2020
The Singapore Airshow 2020 was held at Changi Exhibition Centre, 9 Aviation Park Road, Singapore 498760. For both Trade & Public Days, the Airshow Shuttle pick-up point was at Singapore Expo Hall 7, near Expo MRT station.
| Direction | Trade Days (11 – 14 Feb) |
Public Days (15 – 16 Feb) |
| Singapore Expo Hall 7 → Changi Exhibition Centre | 7:30am – 3:00pm | 7:30am – 3:00pm |
| Changi Exhibition Centre → Singapore Expo / Expo MRT Station | 8:30am – 6:00pm | 8:30am – 6:00pm |
For Public Days, visitors were encouraged to use the Airshow Shuttle which is included with the price of admission. Security checks were conducted at Singapore Expo Hall 7 prior to boarding the buses.
Shuttle buses are stated to operate at 15 & 5 minutes frequency during Trade & Public days respectively.
| Singapore Airshow 2020 – Shuttle Bus Service | |
| Towards Changi Exhibition Centre |
Towards Singapore Expo |
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Shuttle Buses (Trade Days)
For Singapore Airshow 2020, private buses were sub-contracted by Strides Transportation Pte Ltd during Trade Show days to ferry visitors to and from Singapore Expo.
Shuttle Bus rides were charged at $20 for 2-way service to and from Changi Exhibition Centre. Commuters could use the Rushtrail app by RushOwl to track the location of shuttle buses.
Shuttle Buses (Public Days)
As with previous years, SMRT Buses was contracted to provide the Shuttle. There was a mix of rigid, articulated and double-deck buses operating on the Airshow Shuttle.
The pick-up point for the Shuttle was at Singapore Expo. Carpark K behind Singapore Expo Hall 10 was used as a holding area for buses.
Passenger boarding was carried out on both sides of Singapore Expo Hall 7. Security screening and ticket validation were conducted at Hall 7 prior to boarding the Shuttle Buses.
Shuttle buses performed layovers at Changi Business Park where Bus Captains took breaks and consumed meals between driving duties. Buses were also dispatched in coordination with ground staff at Singapore Expo or Changi Exhibition Centre, wherever resources were required.
Finally, the shuttle alighting point was located behind Singapore Expo Halls 2 & 3.
Due to height restrictions, double-deck buses alighted passengers at Bus Stop 96229 – S’pore Expo along Xilin Avenue.
Bus Models
This year saw the debut of Double-deck buses chartered for the Airshow Shuttle, with the appearance of MAN A95 buses.
All rigid buses were MAN A22 buses. Articulated buses comprised both Mercedes-Benz O405G and MAN NG363F (A24) buses.
This would be the last Airshow Shuttle charter with Mercedes-Benz O405G buses, amidst the ongoing retirement of these buses to achieve the 100% wheelchair-accessible bus fleet by 2020 target.
As part of security procedures, tamper-evident security stickers were affixed across exterior and interior panels of every bus.
Airshow Shuttle (Public) - Past Routes
Past Singapore Airshow Shuttle Bus Routes:
- 2008 (19-24 Feb): Pasir Ris MRT Station ↔ Changi Exhibition Centre
- 2010 (2-7 Feb): Changi Airport Terminal 2/3 Coach Stand ↔ Changi Exhibition Centre
- 2012 (14-19 Feb): Changi Airport Terminal 2/3 Coach Stand ↔ Changi Exhibition Centre
- 2014 (11-16 Feb), 2016 (16-21 Feb) & 2018 (6-11 Feb): Singapore Expo Hall 7 → Changi Exhibition Centre, Changi Exhibition Centre → Expo MRT Station
So since 2024 Airshow Shuttle article hasn’t been published, so far there is a change to the route of the shuttle.
Direction 1:
Expo Hall 5, Changi South St 1, Xilin Ave, Tanah Merah Coast Rd, Aviation Park Rd, CEC
Direction 2:
CEC, Aviation Park Rd, Tanah Merah Coast Rd, Xilin Ave, Changi South St 1, Expo Dr, Upp Changi Rd East, Xilin Ave, Expo Coach Bay
Essentially, the starting point for D1 was changed, alongside the amendment to the realigned Tanah Merah Coast Rd.
For DD buses, the alighting point for D2 is at Expo MRT itself rather than 96229.
Can u get more bendy buses in Singapore LTA.Because in actual fact,bendy buses carry more people than double decks.Secondly,can u keep the tradition of SMRT using bendy buses for all airshow shuttles.
Don’t you think they should let private bus operators do the shuttle bus thing, rather than use public buses with the BCM and all?