Did you know Singapore is considered as the Lightning capital of the world? Singapore gets “hit” by lightning between 171 and 186 days a year on average.
During the monsoon season (April, May November, December), you’ll see thundery showers happen frequently.
If you’re travelling into Singapore, either as a visitor or returning from a trip overseas, Changi Airport has asked travellers to expect delays in retrieving their luggage due to the monsoon season.
Heavy rain and lightning may force ground handlers to halt retrieval of baggage from the aircraft for safety reasons.
“When there is lightning activity, there is also the possibility of a ‘side flash’, where dangerous static electric discharge occurs even when the workers are standing close to the aircraft and not in contact with any object,” – Changi Airport Group
In November, 1.5% of arrival flights saw baggage delays as a result of bad weather.
Out of the 14,971 flights, there were baggage delays for 225 flights, which is almost triple the average of 78 cases a month from January to October this year.
In a Facebook post, Changi Airport says that it aims to get luggages on the belt no later than 35 minutes after the aircraft is parked, but when there’s a lightning risk, they have to protect the safety of ground handling agents.
In case you luggages get delayed, Changi Airport Group says that it will activate messages on the monitor displays at the baggage claim belts and issue public announcements. A sign or “lightning cubes” will also be places on the relevant baggage claim belts.
Affected passengers will also be offered refreshments while they wait for their bags. Some space in the Baggage Claim Hall of Terminals 2 and 3 have been converted into lounges where passengers can access WiFi and power plugs.
Changi Airport Group said it has measures in place to protect staff.
Ground Handlers wear wireless headsets which help to remove the possibility of lightning-induced static discharge from the aircraft.
in August, CAG also made it compulsory for all aircraft to perform three point aircraft grounding to prevent the accumulation of electrical charge by dissipating them to the ground safely.
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