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Changi Travel Services retrenches 30 staff amidst restructuring efforts
Eight staff were also laid off earlier in April.Gawain Pek
August 20, 2025, 03:16 PM
A total of 30 staff from Changi Travel Services (CTS) were laid off during a retrenchment exercise on Aug. 1.
This was the second round of layoffs since April 2025, Mothership has learned.
Changi Travel Services a wholly owned subsidiary of Changi Airport Group established in 2012, operates brands such as Changi Recommends and ChangiFX.
Its brands offer a range of services, such as pocket wifi rental, airport transfer arrangements, and currency exchange.
Second round of layoffs a surprise
Speaking to Mothership, Lisa (not her real name) said the Aug. 1 retrenchment came as a surprise.She has been with CTS for more than five years.
“While I had heard that the company was not doing well, I did not expect the company to suddenly haul us to a meeting room on Aug. 1 to hand us our retrenchment letters,” Lisa said.
Affected staff were reportedly given a notice period of either one or two months.
The retrenchment exercise apparently affected positions across the company, from department heads to administrative staff.
The previous round of layoffs in April saw eight staff affected.
Lisa also said the staff affected by the Aug. 1 layoffs were not clear on the specifics of why they were retrenched.
None of the staff were previously on performance review.
While they had asked management about the basis for their retrenchment, they have received no clear answer.
Confusion and worry
While affected staff were previously told that they could encash their remaining leave, they have purportedly been reminded by human resources to utilise them.This has left them confused as to whether unused leaves can be encashed.
Lisa said affected staff had approached the Ministry of Manpower on the issue of leave encashment, but received "mixed answers".
CTS staff understand there may be another round of retrenchment in October or November, Lisa told Mothership.
While the current number of affected staff is at least 30, she heard that the number may eventually go up to as high as 90, if another retrenchment exercise takes place.
This would represent about one-third of CTS' workforce, according to Lisa.“Those of us remaining are concerned that retrenchment benefits will be reduced or even removed for later rounds,” Lisa said.
In the April layoffs, affected staff were apparently provided with a month's pay per year of service, compared to the four weeks' for the Aug. 1 round.
Lisa described the retrenchments as “heart-wrenching”, saying that the affected staff included a single mother and a father of five, among others.
She wondered if cost-cutting measures, such as pay cuts, were explored before retrenchments were considered.
Layoffs part of restructuring: CTS
Responding to queries from Mothership, a CTS spokesperson confirmed that 30 roles in Singapore were impacted by the Aug. 1 retrenchment."The decision was made after careful consideration and is aimed at strengthening CTS' positioning and ensuring sustainable growth," the spokesperson added.
All affected employees will receive a severance package of four weeks for every year of service with no minimum service period.
CTS is currently restructuring its business and operations following a strategic review "amid evolving market conditions", the spokesperson explained.
"We are committed to supporting the affected staff through this transition, including working with relevant parties to identify suitable vacancies in Changi Airport and elsewhere," the spokesperson said.The spokesperson also confirmed that eight roles were impacted by a retrenchment in April following the loss of "business accounts".
On notice periods, the spokesperson shared that they are guided by individual employment contracts.
They also take into account business and operational needs.
"This applies to leave utilisation and encashment as well," the CTS spokesperson explained.
Mothership has reached out to the National Trade Unions Congress for comments.
