Singapore Flyer

1°17′21.83″N 103°51′47.63″E / 1.2893972°N 103.8632306°E / 1.2893972; 103.8632306

Singapore Flyer
Singapore Flyer in September 2025
Interactive map of the Singapore Flyer area
General information
TypeFerris wheel
LocationSingapore, 30 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039803
Construction started2005[1]
Completed2008[1]
Opening11 February 2008 (restricted)[2]
1 March 2008 (soft)
15 April 2008 (official)
CostS$240 million
OwnerStraco Corporation Limited (90%), WTS Leisure Pte Ltd (10%)[4]
Height165 m (541 ft)
Dimensions
Diameter150 metres (492 ft)
Technical details
Floor area33,700 m2 (362,700 sq ft)
Design and construction
ArchitectsKisho Kurokawa Architects & Associates, DP Architects
DeveloperMelchers Singapore
EngineerArup
Main contractorMitsubishi – Takenaka Consortium[3]
Other information
Seating capacity784
Website
singaporeflyer.com

The Singapore Flyer[a] is an observation wheel at the Downtown Core district of Singapore. Officially opened on 15 April 2008, it has 28 air-conditioned capsules, each able to accommodate 28 passengers, and incorporates a three-story terminal building.[5][6] The flyer has made numerous appearances in media and popular culture that features Singapore.

The Flyer has an overall height of 165 metres (541 ft), making it the world's tallest Ferris wheel upon completion. It was surpassed by the High Roller Ferris wheel which opened in 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, with a height of 167.6 m (550 ft), making it 2.6 m (9 ft) taller than the Flyer.[7][8]

History

The Singapore Flyer was first conceived in the early 2000s by Patrick MacMahon of Melchers Project Management, a subsidiary of German company Melchers. Formal planning commenced in 2002. A new company, Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd, was formed as the developer, with Melchers Project Management holding a 75% stake, and the remainder held by Orient & Pacific Management.[1][9]

The project was formally announced and endorsed on 27 June 2003 by the Singapore Tourism Board with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, formalising the understanding between the developer and tourism board with regard to the land-acquisition process.[1][9]

Under this agreement, the tourism board was to purchase the plot of land in Marina Centre from the Singapore Land Authority, and lease it to Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd for 30 years with an option to extend the lease by another 15 years. The land was to be rent-free during the construction phase of the project. In July 2003, Jones Lang LaSalle was appointed as the real estate advisor. Takenaka and Mitsubishi were selected as the main contractors, and Arup as the structural engineer.[1][9]

In April 2005, it was announced that the completion of the Flyer was delayed to the end of 2007, instead of the end of 2005, due to financing issues by the developer.[10] In September, two German banks, Delbrueck Bethmann Maffei, the private banking arm of ABN Amro, and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank, funded $240 million resolving the financial issues faced by the developer.[11]

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on 27 September with Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan as guest of honour. The spindle was fitted on 13 December 2006, and the outer rim was completed on 9 April 2007. Installation of the passenger capsules began on 3 August and was completed on 2 October.[12][1]

In August 2007, Florian Bollen, Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd chairman, raised his stake in the Singapore Flyer from 60% to 90% through acquisition of Melchers Project Management's 30% stake. The deal was done via AAA Equity Holdings, a private investment vehicle headed by Bollen. Orient & Pacific Management, which spearheaded the project development management, owns the remaining 10%.[1][9]

The Flyer opened in 2008. During Chinese New Year, corporate 'inaugural flights' were held from 11 to 13 February, tickets for which sold out for S$8,888, an auspicious number in Eastern culture. The first public rides were on Valentine's Day, 14 February, the soft launch on 1 March,[2] and the official opening on 15 April, at which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was the guest of honour.[1][13]

In end May 2013, the Flyer was placed under receivership after failing to repay financial obligations to its financing banks.[14] In July, Merlin Entertainments, operator of the London Eye was interested to acquire the Flyer but the idea were abandoned by May 2014.[14]

On 28 August 2014, Straco Leisure Pte Ltd announced the acquisition of Singapore Flyer at S$140 million after embezzlement and financial issues with the now defunct predecessor company, Great Wheel Corporation.[14][15] Straco Leisure Pte Ltd is 90% owned by Straco Corporation Limited, a Singaporean listed company that operates tourist attractions in China such as the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium and Underwater World Xiamen. The remaining 10% is owned by WTS Leisure Pte Ltd, one of the largest private tour bus operators in Singapore.[4]

Design

Aerial perspective of the Singapore Flyer during the Chingay Festival preparations, February 2018. The last two corners of the Marina Bay Street Circuit are visible, indicated by the Singapore Airlines branding.

The development has a gross building area of approximately 16,000 m2 (172,000 sq ft), built on a 33,700 m2 (362,700 sq ft) site along the Marina Promenade. Designed by Arup and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with a capacity of up to 7.3 million passengers a year, the normally constant rotation of the wheel means that a complete trip lasts approximately 32 minutes.[16]

The Flyer's 28 air-conditioned capsules are mounted outboard of the rim of the wheel structure, providing continuously unobstructed views. Each capsule has a floor area of 26 m2 (280 sq ft) and is capable of holding 28 passengers, or up to five wheelchairs and 15 other visitors when booked in advance for use by disabled guests.[17]

The wheel initially rotated in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed from Marina Centre, but on 4 August 2008 this was reversed on the advice of Feng shui masters.[18]

Wheelchair ramps and lifts, handicapped toilets and a dedicated parking lot for the disabled are also provided.[19]

Incidents

On 4 December 2008, about 70 people were stranded on the wheel for nearly five hours due to bad weather.[20]

At 4.50 pm on 23 December 2008, the Flyer suffered its fourth electrical issues with an electrical fire in the control room of the Flyer causing a technical malfunction, leading the Flyer to stop.[21][22] 173 passengers were stranded in the capsules.[21] Ten passengers were evacuated from the Flyer via ropes, one at a time, while the remaining passengers eventually left the Flyer after it resumed operation about six hours later at 11.10 pm.[20] Two passengers were hospitalised and were discharged the next morning.[20]

The Flyer was closed by the police for investigation into the fire.[20] During the closure, repair works on the Flyer and new backup systems were implemented. It was later reopened on 26 January 2009.[23]

On 25 January 2018, the Flyer was suspended after an issue was found with the mechanism which allows the wheel to rotate.[24] 61 Passengers were evacuated from the ride.[24] The issue was believed not to have caused any structural issues with the wheel nor the cabins.[24] The Flyer was reopened about two months later on 1 April.[24]

On 20 January 2022, the Flyer was suspended again after detection of a technical issue during a routine maintenance inspection.[25]

In media

  • Exterior view inside a capsule
    Exterior view inside a capsule
  • View within a capsule
    View within a capsule
  • Marina Bay in 2012, one of the many views from the Flyer's capsules
    Marina Bay in 2012, one of the many views from the Flyer's capsules
  • The site includes a tropical rainforest garden[30]
    The site includes a tropical rainforest garden[30]
  • Singapore Flyer in the day
    Singapore Flyer in the day
  • Singapore Skyline at Sunset from Gardens by the Bay
    Singapore Skyline at Sunset from Gardens by the Bay
  • A view of Singapore Flyer at Dusk, 2012
    A view of Singapore Flyer at Dusk, 2012
  • From Gardens by the Bay
    From Gardens by the Bay

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Chinese: 新加坡摩天观景轮;
    Malay: Pelayang Singapura;
    Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் ராட்டினம்

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "History & Milestones". Singapore Flyer. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Singapore Flyer opens to the public from Saturday". Channel NewsAsia. 1 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
  3. ^ "The Singapore Flyer – An Engineering Feat" (PDF). Singapore Flyer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Straco Leisure Pte Ltd signs agreement to purchase the Singapore Flyer". Singapore Tourism Board. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  5. ^ "S'pore flyer set to spin on Monday night". Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  6. ^ "5 things about Singapore Flyer and new owner Straco". 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  7. ^ "High Roller: world's largest Ferris wheel hoisted into place in Las Vegas". Associated Press. 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  8. ^ Santorelli, Tom. "'World's tallest' Ferris wheel opens in Las Vegas". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d "The Singapore Flyer – an engineering feat" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  10. ^ Rashiwala, Kalpana (1 April 2005). "Singapore Flyer now slated for completion by end-07". The Business Times. p. 8.
  11. ^ Pereira, Marcel Lee (13 September 2005). "Work on iconic Ferris wheel starts later this month; it may even have a sushi capsule". Channel NewsAsia.
  12. ^ Singapore Flyer may open to public earlier than scheduled
  13. ^ "PM Lee officially opens Singapore Flyer". Channel NewsAsia. 15 April 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  14. ^ a b c Tan, Weizhen (8 May 2014). "Singapore Flyer's woes take a new spin after Merlin talks collapse". Today. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  15. ^ Tan, Weizhen (8 May 2014). "Singapore Flyer's woes takes a new spin after Merlin talks collapse – TODAYonline". TODAY. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Fun Facts about the Flyer". Singapore Flyer. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Design Concepts". Singapore Flyer. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  18. ^ "Feng Shui turns this wheel". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 4 August 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  19. ^ "Wheelchair Access – Singapore Flyer". Singaporeflyer.com. 16 December 2007. Archived from the original on 9 September 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  20. ^ a b c d Ong, Dai Lin; Teo, Xuanwei (24 December 2008). "Stuck for 6 hours". Today. p. 3.
  21. ^ a b Ong, Dai Lin; Teo, Xuanwei (24 December 2008). "Stuck for 6 hours". Today. p. 1.
  22. ^ Yong, Clement (21 March 2020). "Singapore Flyer reopens after 4-month suspension". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  23. ^ Wong, Tessa (28 January 2009). "Crowds return as Flyer turns again". The Straits Times. p. 3.
  24. ^ a b c d Abdullah, Zhaki (1 April 2018). "Singapore Flyer operating again after receiving go-ahead". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  25. ^ Toh, Ting Wei; Lim, Kolette (20 January 2022). "Singapore Flyer suspends flight operations after detection of technical issue". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  26. ^ "High Flyers for Bloomberg". 14 March 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  27. ^ Shaw, Jessica (12 April 2010). "The Amazing Race recap: Singapore Sting". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  28. ^ "Tyler and Nathan Win the First Amazing Race Australia Series!". PopSugar. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  29. ^ "[V LIVE] TWICE TV6 -TWICE in SINGAPORE- EP.02". www.vlive.tv. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  30. ^ "English Brochure" (PDF). Singapore Flyer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2013.
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