Good news if you regularly commute to Changi Airport by public bus. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on 22 July 2026 that 12 single-deck Bus 36 vehicles will be fitted with three-tiered luggage racks starting in 2027. The rollout is expected to be completed by the second quarter of that year.
The decision follows a three-month trial that LTA ran from August to November 2025. During that period, a single Bus 36 vehicle was fitted with a luggage rack to gauge how much it would actually help passengers travelling with heavy bags.
LTA's choice of route 36 makes sense once you look at the numbers. It is the only direct bus service connecting Changi Airport to the city, so it naturally sees far more passengers travelling with luggage than any other route.
Operated by Go-Ahead Singapore, Bus 36 runs from Changi Airport to Orchard Road and back. Along the way, it passes through key spots such as Parkway Parade, Suntec City, Singapore Management University, and the Four Seasons Hotel, which explains why it is popular with travellers staying at hotels in the city area.
If you're wondering why this took so long to roll out, the answer lies in the encouraging trial results. Sixty percent of surveyed passengers said they had used the luggage rack during the trial period, and most felt it genuinely helped keep aisles and priority areas from being blocked by bags.
The rack itself has three tiers and can safely hold up to six large pieces of luggage. The top and middle tiers feature sloped platforms to keep bags from sliding around, while the bottom tier comes with a movable horizontal bar to stop luggage from rolling out.
That's not all. The bottom tier also has anti-slip flooring and an anti-roll hump, so your suitcase should stay put even if the bus brakes suddenly or takes a sharp turn.
Notably, LTA has confirmed that wheelchair space will remain available on every bus, including those fitted with the new racks. The 12 buses will be deployed at staggered intervals, meaning every alternate bus on the route will come with a luggage rack. This way, the needs of airport-bound travellers and those requiring wheelchair space can both be accommodated without one crowding out the other.
One thing worth knowing, there will be no fare changes for riding a bus with the luggage rack installed. You'll pay the same fare as always, just with a much smoother ride since you won't have to hold your suitcase on your lap or stand while guarding your bags.
Before this announcement, videos circulated on social media showing piles of luggage crowding the priority area on Bus 36, at times blocking priority seats and the wheelchair bay entirely. Many netizens questioned why an airport-bound bus still lacked proper luggage facilities, especially since the issue had been going on for a while.
With permanent luggage racks now coming to 12 buses, that problem should ease considerably. LTA has noted there are currently no plans to extend the initiative to the seven other bus services that also serve Changi Airport, since those routes primarily cater to residents in nearby neighbourhoods with more varied mobility needs.
If you're someone who regularly takes public transport to Changi to save on taxi or ride-hailing fares, now's a good time to start keeping an eye on Bus 36 schedules. From 2027 onwards, your airport run could be a lot less stressful, with no more scrambling for space to fit your suitcase.
