Airport surcharges are a standard part of taxi fares in Singapore for trips that start from Changi Airport or Seletar Airport. These charges are set by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and are collected by taxi operators to cover the costs of operating at the airport, such as queue management, waiting areas, and administrative fees. Understanding these surcharges helps passengers avoid surprises and budget accurately for their journey.

This article explains the current airport surcharge amounts, the times they apply, how they interact with other surcharges, and practical tips for passengers. It also covers the separate surcharge for trips to the airport via the Seletar Airport route. For a broader overview of taxi fares, see our complete guide to taxis and ride-hailing in Singapore.

Changi Airport Surcharge: Current Rates and Applicable Times

The Changi Airport surcharge is a fixed fee added to the metered fare for all taxi trips that begin at any of Changi Airport's three terminals (Terminal 1, 2, 3, and the Budget Terminal which is now part of Terminal 2) and at the Changi Airport Coach Stand. The surcharge is not applied to trips that end at the airport. It is also not applied to trips that start from the Jewel Changi Airport complex, which is considered a separate location. However, Jewel Changi Airport has its own pick-up point at B2, and taxis waiting there may still be subject to the surcharge if they are part of the airport queue. The LTA specifies that the surcharge applies to trips from the airport taxi stands only.

As of 2025, the standard Changi Airport surcharge is SGD 8 for trips to destinations within Singapore, including Sentosa. This applies from 5:00 PM to 11:59 PM daily. For trips that start outside these hours, specifically from 12:00 AM to 4:59 PM, the surcharge is SGD 6. These rates have been in effect since 1 July 2023, when the LTA revised the surcharge structure to better reflect operating costs. The surcharge is clearly displayed on the taxi's electronic meter and is added automatically when the driver starts the trip from the airport queue.

How the Surcharge Is Applied

The airport surcharge is added to the final metered fare after all other charges, such as distance and time charges, peak period surcharges, and ERP surcharges, are calculated. This means the surcharge is not subject to the 25% peak period surcharge or other percentage-based add-ons. For example, if a trip from Changi Airport to Orchard Road costs SGD 25 in metered fare, and the trip starts at 7:00 PM, the total fare would be SGD 25 plus the SGD 8 airport surcharge, totaling SGD 33. If a peak period surcharge of 25% applies, that is calculated on the metered fare only: SGD 25 x 25% = SGD 6.25, then add the airport surcharge SGD 8, for a total of SGD 39.25. The airport surcharge is a flat fee, not a percentage.

For more details on how distance and time charges affect the base fare, see our distance and time charges article.

Seletar Airport Surcharge: A Smaller Fee

Seletar Airport, which handles mostly private and business aviation traffic, also has a taxi surcharge for trips starting from its terminal. The Seletar Airport surcharge is lower than Changi's because of lower traffic volumes and shorter waiting times for drivers. As of 2025, the Seletar Airport surcharge is SGD 3 for all trips starting from the airport, regardless of the time of day. This surcharge applies to trips from the Seletar Airport taxi stand, which is located just outside the arrival hall. The surcharge is added to the metered fare in the same way as Changi's surcharge: as a flat fee on top of the final metered fare.

It is important to note that Seletar Airport does not have a separate peak or off-peak surcharge structure. The SGD 3 fee is constant 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This makes Seletar Airport trips slightly more predictable for passengers, especially during late-night hours when Changi's surcharge is lower but still present. The Seletar Airport surcharge was last revised in 2020, when it was raised from SGD 2 to SGD 3 to align with increased operational costs at the airport.

Trips to Seletar Airport: No Surcharge

Just like Changi Airport, there is no surcharge for taxi trips that end at Seletar Airport. The surcharge only applies when the trip starts from the airport. If you are taking a taxi to Seletar Airport to catch a flight, you will pay the standard metered fare plus any applicable peak period surcharges or ERP charges, but no airport surcharge. This is consistent with LTA policy that airport surcharges are meant to compensate drivers for waiting time and queue management at the airport, not for dropping off passengers.

How Airport Surcharges Interact with Other Surcharges

Taxi fares in Singapore include several surcharges that can stack on top of the base fare. Understanding how these interact with airport surcharges is key to estimating your total cost. The main additional charges are peak period surcharges, ERP surcharges, and booking fees (for phone or app bookings). Airport surcharges are added after these are calculated, as a flat fee.

Peak Period Surcharge

The peak period surcharge is a 25% addition to the metered fare for trips that start during weekday peak hours: 6:00 AM to 9:29 AM and 6:00 PM to 11:59 PM. It also applies on weekends and public holidays from 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM. This surcharge is calculated on the metered fare only, not on the airport surcharge. So if you start a trip from Changi Airport at 7:00 PM on a weekday, you pay the 25% peak surcharge on the metered fare, then add the SGD 8 airport surcharge. For a more detailed breakdown of peak surcharges, see our peak period surcharges article.

ERP Surcharges

ERP (Electronic Road Pricing) surcharges are applied to taxi trips that pass through ERP gantries during operational hours. The ERP surcharge is either the exact ERP charge paid by the driver (if the passenger requests a specific route that includes ERP gantries) or a flat rate of SGD 1.00 per gantry if the driver passes through an ERP gantry during the trip, regardless of the actual ERP charge. This flat rate is set by LTA and applies to all taxis. The ERP surcharge is added to the metered fare before the airport surcharge is added. So if your trip from Changi Airport passes through two ERP gantries, you pay SGD 2.00 in ERP surcharges, then the 25% peak surcharge (if applicable) on the metered fare, then the airport surcharge. For more on ERP surcharges, see our ERP surcharges article.

Booking Fees

If you book a taxi via phone, app, or at a taxi stand outside the airport, you may incur a booking fee. This fee is separate from the airport surcharge and is set by the taxi operator. For example, ComfortDelGro charges SGD 2.30 for a phone booking and SGD 1.70 for an app booking (as of 2025). These fees are added to the total fare after all other charges, including the airport surcharge. However, if you hail a taxi from the airport taxi stand, there is no booking fee. The airport surcharge is applied regardless of how you get the taxi from the airport stand.

Practical Examples of Airport Surcharges

To illustrate how airport surcharges work in real scenarios, here are three common trips from Changi Airport and one from Seletar Airport. All examples assume a standard ComfortDelGro taxi with a flag-down fare of SGD 3.90 (for the first 1 km) and subsequent distance charges of SGD 0.22 per 400 meters (up to 10 km) and SGD 0.22 per 350 meters (after 10 km). Time charges apply if the speed is below 21.6 km/h.

Example 1: Changi Airport to Orchard Road (Evening Peak)

Distance: 20 km. Time: 30 minutes. Start time: 7:00 PM (weekday, peak period). No ERP gantries passed. Metered fare: SGD 12.50 (estimated, includes flag-down and distance/time charges). Peak surcharge: 25% of SGD 12.50 = SGD 3.13. Airport surcharge: SGD 8.00. Total: SGD 12.50 + SGD 3.13 + SGD 8.00 = SGD 23.63. The driver may round up to the nearest dollar, making it SGD 24.00.

Example 2: Changi Airport to Sentosa (Afternoon Off-Peak)

Distance: 25 km. Time: 35 minutes. Start time: 2:00 PM (weekday, off-peak). No peak surcharge. One ERP gantry passed (SGD 1.00 flat surcharge). Metered fare: SGD 15.00 (estimated). ERP surcharge: SGD 1.00. Airport surcharge: SGD 6.00 (off-peak rate). Total: SGD 15.00 + SGD 1.00 + SGD 6.00 = SGD 22.00. Rounding may apply.

Example 3: Changi Airport to Tampines (Late Night)

Distance: 7 km. Time: 15 minutes. Start time: 1:00 AM (off-peak). No peak surcharge. No ERP gantries (ERP gantries are not operational at this hour). Metered fare: SGD 6.50 (estimated). Airport surcharge: SGD 6.00 (off-peak rate). Total: SGD 6.50 + SGD 6.00 = SGD 12.50. This shows the off-peak advantage.

Example 4: Seletar Airport to City Hall (Noon)

Distance: 18 km. Time: 25 minutes. Start time: 12:00 PM (weekday, off-peak). No peak surcharge. No ERP gantries. Metered fare: SGD 11.00 (estimated). Seletar Airport surcharge: SGD 3.00. Total: SGD 11.00 + SGD 3.00 = SGD 14.00.

Why Airport Surcharges Exist

Airport surcharges are not unique to Singapore. Airports around the world impose similar fees on taxi trips to cover the costs of managing taxi queues, providing waiting areas for drivers, and ensuring a steady supply of taxis for arriving passengers. In Singapore, the LTA sets the surcharge rates in consultation with taxi operators and the Changi Airport Group (CAG). The surcharge is intended to make it financially viable for taxi drivers to queue at the airport, sometimes for 30 minutes or more, especially during off-peak hours when demand is low. Without the surcharge, drivers might avoid the airport, leading to long waits for passengers.

The surcharge also helps manage demand. By charging a higher fee during peak hours (SGD 8 from 5:00 PM to 11:59 PM), the LTA encourages passengers to consider alternative transport options like the MRT or private hire cars, reducing congestion at the taxi stands. The lower off-peak rate (SGD 6) still provides an incentive for drivers to serve the airport during quieter periods. Seletar Airport's lower surcharge reflects its smaller scale and shorter driver waiting times.

How to Avoid Airport Surcharges

While airport surcharges are mandatory for trips starting from the airport taxi stands, there are a few ways to avoid them, though they come with trade-offs.

  • Take public transport: The MRT serves Changi Airport via the Changi Airport MRT station (CG1/CG2) on the East West Line. A trip to City Hall costs around SGD 2.00, with no surcharge. For Seletar Airport, bus services 103, 117, and 165 connect to nearby MRT stations like Khatib or Yishun, but the journey is longer.
  • Use a ride-hailing app: Private hire cars like Grab, Gojek, and Tada do not charge an airport surcharge. They use dynamic pricing based on demand. However, during peak hours, surge pricing can result in fares higher than a taxi with the surcharge. For example, a Grab from Changi Airport to Orchard at 7:00 PM might cost SGD 25 to SGD 35, comparable to a taxi's SGD 23.63 plus rounding. Ride-hailing pick-up points are at designated areas at each terminal, usually at the arrival level.
  • Walk to Jewel Changi Airport: Taxi trips starting from Jewel Changi Airport (the shopping and entertainment complex connected to Terminal 1) are not subject to the Changi Airport surcharge. However, taxis at Jewel are not part of the airport queue, so availability may be lower. You can take a short walk from the arrival halls to Jewel's B2 taxi stand. This can save you SGD 6 to SGD 8, but factor in the walking time.
  • Take a taxi to the airport and then continue: If you are coming from elsewhere and need to go to a destination near the airport, you could take a taxi to the airport (no surcharge) and then take another taxi from the airport stand (with surcharge). This is rarely cost-effective unless you have a specific reason.

Recent Changes and Future Outlook

The last major revision to Changi Airport surcharges was in July 2023, when the peak hour surcharge increased from SGD 6 to SGD 8 and the off-peak surcharge from SGD 5 to SGD 6. This was the first increase since 2017. The LTA cited higher operating costs and the need to maintain a reliable taxi service at the airport. Seletar Airport's surcharge was last revised in 2020, from SGD 2 to SGD 3. No further changes have been announced as of early 2025, but the LTA reviews these rates periodically. Factors that could lead to future changes include inflation, changes in fuel prices, and shifts in passenger traffic at both airports.

The rise of ride-hailing services has also influenced airport transport. In 2024, the LTA reported that taxis accounted for about 30% of airport land transport, down from 40% in 2019. Private hire cars now make up a larger share. This could prompt the LTA to adjust surcharges to keep taxis competitive, or to introduce new structures such as time-based surcharges. For now, the current rates remain in effect.

Key Takeaways for Passengers

When planning a taxi trip from Changi or Seletar Airport, keep these points in mind:

  • Changi Airport surcharge: SGD 8 from 5:00 PM to 11:59 PM, SGD 6 from 12:00 AM to 4:59 PM.
  • Seletar Airport surcharge: SGD 3 at all times.
  • The surcharge is a flat fee added after all other charges (metered fare, peak surcharge, ERP surcharge).
  • No surcharge for trips ending at either airport.
  • Consider taking the MRT or a ride-hailing service to avoid the surcharge, but compare total costs.
  • If you are at Changi Airport, walking to Jewel can save you the surcharge, but availability of taxis may be lower.

For a complete overview of all taxi fare components, including flag-down rates and distance charges, see our flagdown fare breakdown article. Understanding these charges helps you make informed choices and avoid unexpected costs.

Related articles

  • The Complete Guide to Taxis and Ride-Hailing in Singapore
  • Flagdown Fare Breakdown
  • Distance and Time Charges
  • ERP Surcharges for Taxis
  • Peak Period Surcharges