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Harry Potter Casts a Spell on Singapore Airport

Harry Potter Casts a Spell on Singapore Airport
Harry Potter's Dumbledore's Army © pottermore.com

You wouldn't think that an airport regularly named as the world's best would need any extra magic to help attract air passengers, but Singapore Changi is turning to young wizard Harry Potter for help. 

The Southeast Asia hub has installed full-size replicas of locations featured in the Potter books and movies, offering devotees of J.K. Rowling's creation another reason to fly.

A young fan is enthralled by the snow at a wintry Hogsmeade Village-inspired setup at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 Departure Hall. Image: Changi Airport/File
A young fan is enthralled by the snow at a wintry Hogsmeade Village-inspired setup at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 Departure Hall. Image: Changi Airport/File

Travelers not too overcome by jet lag or Potter fatigue can head to Terminal 3, which houses a Hogsmeade Village complete with Honeydukes sweet shop, Madam Puddifoot's tea shop, Zonko's joke shop, Owl Post and even the Hogwarts Express train.

Elsewhere in Terminal 3 visitors will find Diagon Alley, with shops such as Quality Quidditch Supplies and Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. In the Diagon Alley set-up, visitors can try on wizard robes, give "spell-casting" a shot and toss Quaffle balls used in the fictional sport of Quidditch in the Potter universe.  

Changi Airport brings festive cheer to fans and visitors at its annual year-end event. Image: Chnagi Airport Group
Changi Airport brings festive cheer to fans and visitors at its annual year-end event. Image: Chnagi Airport Group

Terminal 2, meanwhile, hosts the notorious Whomping Willow tree, while Newt Scamander's Menagerie, part of the new movie "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," awaits in Terminal 1.

Fans can also check out the collection of official Harry Potter memorabilia on sale,  such as plush dolls with the design of each character and 2-in-1 neck pillows designed according to the four Hogwarts houses. 

According to The Straits Times, this is the first such Harry Potter-themed event held outside the Universal Studios theme parks, and the first in an airport. 

Fans balance on a broomstick while attempting this activity based on the wizarding sport Quidditch. Image: Changi Airport Group
Fans balance on a broomstick while attempting this activity based on the wizarding sport Quidditch. Image: Changi Airport Group

 

The "Wizarding World Holiday at Changi's" event will be up till mid-February next year, while the activities will end on Jan 6.

Singapore Changi, which handled 62.2 million passengers in 2017, has been voted the world's best airport for six years in a row by the prestigious Skytrax awards, with the category dominated by Asian airports, CNN reported.

According to the Changi's CEO, Lee Seow Hiang, the award "spurs us to continue to deliver the best passenger experience for all who travel through Changi Airport."

And things are expected to get even better when the new "Jewel" terminal opens in 2019.

 

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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