Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)'s Master Plan, Paya Lebar Air Base is scheduled to be decommissioned by around 2030 to make way for residential and commercial developments as a new town, with the RSAF relocating to other airbases throughout the country such as at Changi and Tengah, which will be expanded throughout the 2020s.

[6] It was one of the two hubs for Malayan Airways at this time, and the airline had its first flight outside Southeast Asia in 1958, using a DC-4 plane leased from Qantas, flying to Hong Kong.

In 1966, the company focused more on Singapore, buying Boeing 707s, headquartering itself in that country, and renaming itself Malaysia-Singapore Airlines – with a notable fluorescent yellow livery.

It became a complete military airbase in 1981 when Singapore Changi Airport was opened and was subsequently renamed as Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) in the same year.

[11] Air Force Two carrying Vice-President Dick Cheney also made a refuelling stop and underwent minor repairs en route from Australia in 2007.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un landed at Changi Airport instead, on a chartered Air China Boeing 747.

[14] PLAB was chosen to host Air Force One for the 12 June 2018 North Korea–United States summit between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un.

[23] With the closure of the airbase, height restrictions imposed at Singapore's central business district (CBD) which limits buildings to a maximum height of 280 meters unless special permissions are granted will be lifted, and the airbase's area will be redeveloped into a new town with residential housing projects, offices, factories, and parks.

[26] Being Singapore's first major international airport, the old passenger terminal building and control tower still stands, though they now house air force units and are off-limits to the public.