SINGAPORE — The aviation industry has been battered by the novel coronavirus outbreak, and the authorities here are looking at ways to speed up transport projects, such as Changi Airport Terminal 5, to give firms and workers a leg-up, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said.

Mr Khaw, who spoke to reporters on Thursday (Feb 6) after visiting workers at Changi Airport Terminal 3, also said that the national Budget to be announced on Feb 18 would contain a “strong” package to help tide over the airlines and airport businesses, though he did not elaborate.

He warned that the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on airport retailers would be worse than that during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak of 2003.

This is because during the Sars crisis, travellers from China formed just 5 per cent of Changi Airport’s passenger traffic. It is now 11 per cent, and these visitors drive one-third of retail sales at the airport, he said.

Since Feb 1, Singapore has closed its borders to all visitors who have been to China recently. The authorities have also stopped issuing visas to those with Chinese passports, in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which has sickened nearly 30,000 people worldwide.

Mr Khaw said that as the aviation sector is experiencing a slowdown, businesses should seize the opportunity to focus on other priorities.

He pointed to the construction of the upcoming Terminal 5: “This is the time to see how some of the construction projects... if we can bring forward, speed them up, we should.

“On the land-transport side, we are going to ramp up cycling infrastructure. And I have told the Land Transport Authority (to) speed up, roll out as quickly as (it) can, because that will create jobs for the local construction companies… especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises.”

He also urged businesses to use the downtime to retrain and upskill workers.

HELP ON THE WAY FOR AIRPORT COMMUNITY

Mr Khaw declined to disclose the size of the package in the upcoming Budget, except to say that it would be “strong”.

The details will be revealed during the Budget, which will be delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is also Finance Minister.

Mr Khaw noted that during the Sars outbreak, the Government had extended help to the aviation sector, such as by giving airlines parking rebates.

As for retailers, he said that rental charges at the airport are already automatically adjusted as volumes drop.

“But I suspect that may not be enough,” he said, adding that the authorities are exploring other ways to help retailers.

Traffic between China and Singapore has sunk because there are fewer flights between the two countries, and volumes have declined by 60 to 70 per cent, Mr Khaw said.

Singapore carriers are also seeing emptier cabins on flights to China, with some carrying loads of below 20 or 30 per cent.

The retailers interviewed by TODAY said that business at the airport has taken a battering this past week.

Mrs Pamela Loo-Song, 30, retail director of FNA Singapore, which runs confectionery chain The Cocoa Trees, said that business has slumped by nearly half in the past five days. The Cocoa Trees has nine stores at the airport.

Mrs Goh Wee Nan, 63, who oversees pastry retailer Durian Mpire’s three stores at Changi Airport, said that sales have tumbled by at least 80 per cent in the past week.

The firm, which is running up losses, has ordered fewer supplies for its stores, and is considering closing its shops at Changi Airport Terminal 2 and Jewel Changi Airport because of poor business.

Jewel, a retail and leisure complex that opened last year, is accustomed to significant crowds and snaking queues at popular eateries.

However, on his way into the airport, Mr Khaw said that he was struck by a sign which shows the number of empty parking spaces at the sprawling complex. “There are now so many (empty spots).”

While the authorities are unsure how long the epidemic will last, Mr Khaw gave companies and workers the assurance that the Government would work with them.

“I am quite sure we can overcome this, provided we stay together, stay focused, be rational and make use of this opportunity to prepare ourselves for the recovery.” 

LENDING A HAND TO HAWKERS

Separately, on Thursday morning, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, visited the Tiong Bahru Market where she distributed to stallholders leaflets with guidelines on how to clean and disinfect their workplaces.

Speaking to reporters, Dr Khor said that the National Environment Agency (NEA) would work with the cleaning contractors of its hawker centres to raise the frequency of cleaning, especially in areas frequented by patrons, such as toilets.

NEA will also work with stallholders to clean and disinfect their premises should they come into contact with patients who have contracted the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the health authorities revealed that a patient who was infected had visited the Pasir Panjang Hawker Centre. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JANICE LIM