Due to an issue with the automated immigration system, Singapore's Changi Airport (SIN) faced delays on Friday, March 31st, in both its departure and arrival terminals. At about 11:30 local time, Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) tweeted the first notice of the disruption:
[31 Mar, 11.28am] Intermittent slowness of our immigration clearance system across all Checkpoints. Delays are expected.
— ICA Singapore (@ICA_singapore) March 31, 2023
ICA regrets the inconvenience caused to travellers and seek their understanding and patience.
Refer to ICA's Facebook page for more official updates.
Travelers are being diverted to manual lanes for immigration clearance, according to the most recent ICA bulletin, which was provided at about 14:00 local time. The department also said that off-duty police were asked back to help out in several ways. Changi Airport's most recent tweet on Twitter recommended all travelers to get to the airport earlier than usual in order to prevent further delays to their flights.
[Travel advisory as of 1.35pm]
— Changi Airport (@ChangiAirport) March 31, 2023
In view of the immigration system disruption, passengers are advised to come to the airport earlier.
For departing passengers with flights within the next hour, please approach the on-ground staff for assistance.
Long lines in several areas of Changi Airport are seen in images uploaded by travellers to Channel News Asia. This is an unusual occurrence in an airport that is frequently named the best in the world.
IN PICTURES: Travellers share photos of long queues at Singapore's Changi Airport after an immigration system disruption affected the auto-lanes for departing and arriving passengers https://t.co/aLoGwDP9Sl
— CNA (@ChannelNewsAsia) March 31, 2023
(Photos: CNA/Kelwin Li; Facebook/Phuong Hua, C Tse Yang) pic.twitter.com/ayJqAra2gJ
Currently, Changi Airport advises departing passengers with flights within the next hour to approach on-ground staff for assistance.