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Singapore says conditions “ripe” for May 26 launch of Hong Kong air travel bubble
April 26th 2021
Hong Kong and Singapore today announced Wednesday May 26 would be the starting date of quarantine free travel between the two countries. Read More » The air travel bubble (ATB) scheme had been due to kick off in November, but a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong forced the two governments to delay the launch. Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said the risk profiles of both countries were now similar given the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong had improved. There were very few local unlinked cases in recent few weeks and community cases in Singapore had remained low. "I am happy Hong Kong got the COVID-19 situation under control. It has been a long few months, but the conditions are ripe again to re-launch the ATB," Singapore Minister for Transport, Ong Ye Kung, said.
For the first two weeks of the ATB, there will be one flight a day in each direction between Singapore and Hong Kong, with a maximum of 200 passengers on each flight. Airline schedules showed Singapore Airlines (SIA) planned to commence ATB flights with A350-900s before switching to 777-300ERs at the start of June. Cathay Pacific will serve the route with A350-900s. SIA and Cathay will fly the route daily from June 9 and June 10, respectively.
Passengers departing Hong Kong must be fully vaccinated to be eligible for travel. There is no requirement for passengers departing Singapore to be vaccinated. "Our goal is striking a right balance between public health and travel convenience so that the public will feel assured while providing certainty,” the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau, said.
