was needed for the construction of the tunnel leading to the station, which passes directly underneath the runway and airport terminal. During the construction, CPG Consultants, which was designing Terminal 3 at the time, provided 20 staff to complement the LTA team on the Changi Airport line extension. As part of the President's Challenge 2001, a part of a charity walk goes through the tunnel between Expo and Changi Airport stations. The station opened on 8 February 2002, with the official opening ceremony of the Changi Airport MRT extension held on 27 February 2002. Since the station's opening, passenger traffic has been moderate, as most bus routes were maintained and continue to be a popular means of cheap, direct transport for local airport/airline employees, as well as travellers not living along the East West line. Many air travellers also prefer to continue taking taxis or private transport as not all of the MRT services have luggage racks in the trains. However, taxi drivers claimed that the station has put them at a disadvantage, reporting a loss of 20 percent in earnings, with about 20,500 commuters using the station daily as of March 2002. Incorporation into the TEL In July 2016, then Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced the possibility of extending the Thomson–East Coast line (TEL) to Changi Airport, to provide a more direct connection from the airport to the city. The extension will open along with the future Terminal 5 of the airport. On 25 May 2019, the LTA further announced that the stretch between Tanah Merah and Changi Airport will be part of the Thomson–East Coast line (TEL) when it extends to Changi Airport from Sungei Bedok MRT station via Terminal 5 and will open in 2040. Incidents On 24 July 2002, a glass panel of the atria wall shattered. The area was quickly closed off for repairs but train services were not affected. On 24 September 2003, a man died at the station, apparently having fallen five stories from the departure hall. On 16 January 2020, rail operator SMRT reported a crack in the crossing at Changi Airport MRT Station during inspection works that morning. Trains had to be diverted to only one platform and travel at a slower speed as they approached the affected crossing. The fault was rectified and normal services resumed afterwards. Station details Services Changi Airport station is served by the Changi Airport