SINGAPORE’S secondary civilian airport, Seletar Airport, has extended its runway by about 250m, paving the way for larger jet operations, heavier take-off loads, as well as for business jets and charter flights to take advantage of its enhanced facilities.

Managed by Changi Airport Group (CAG), Seletar Airport is due to resume normal operations from today.

Lim Ching Kiat, Seletar Airport general manager, and senior vice president, market development of CAG, said: “The upgrading of the facilities at Seletar Airport will better support our airport partners’ growth plans. We believe that this region presents strong growth potential for business aviation, general aviation, and maintenance, repair and overhaul activities.”

According to a statement from CAG, Singapore has seen strong growth in the business aviation sector, with aircraft movements growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 17 per cent from 2007 to 2010.

CAG expects the growth in traffic at Seletar Airport to continue in the coming years, driven by the increase in private jet usage in Asia, as well as the Singapore government’s efforts to develop Seletar Aerospace Park into a world-class aerospace facility.

Yap Ong Heng, director-general, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, said: “The transformation of Seletar Airport and its surrounding areas into the Seletar Aerospace Park will support the aviation industry to tap Asia’s strong growth momentum, to expand business aviation, general aviation and aerospace activities in Singapore.”