The World's Best Airport to Get A Whole Lot Better

The best airport in the world is about to get a whole lot better — and has cost a staggering $1.7 billion in the process. More than 5 years since revealing plans for the airport's stunning new addition, officials have announced that the "Jewel Changi Airport" complex will open to the public on April 17, 2019.  The 10-storey (five above ground and five below) complex will span over 137,000 square metres, directly connecting to terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Changi Airport.

Four storeys will be the Forest Valley, featuring thousands of plants and trees as part of the indoor rainforest. 

A groundbreaking new feature that takes centre stage is the 40-metre high Rain Vortex, which will be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.

Up to 10,000 gallons a minute will be recycled through the building, and at night the water feature will transform into a light and sound show.  

The new lifestyle hub within the world’s best airport and a popular stop-off for Australian travellers will have 280 retail outlets, including a Pokemon Centre, adding to the 350 shops already operating in the airport terminals.

On the very top layer over the rainforest will be the glass-floored Canopy Bridge — a 14,000 square foot walk way suspended 82 feet above the ground. 

There will also be a Canopy Maze, featuring Singapore’s largest hedge maze.

Other attractions include Discovery Slides, for adults and children to enjoy; Foggy Bowls, where children can play in clouds of smoke; and Sky Nets, which allow you to bounce along the treetops.

The new development plans have been designed by architect Moshe Safdie, who also designed the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and new Chinese ‘horizontal skyscraper’.

Anyone who wants to see the new Jewel development before it opens can register for preview tickets on March 12, with 500,000 tickets available between April 11 and April 16, according to Business Insider.