The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has announced that Singapore has formed an air travel bubble (ATB) arrangement with Hong Kong.
The first ATB flight between Singapore and Hong Kong is scheduled for November 22, 2020.
The arrangement will start with one flight a day into each city with a quota of 200 travellers per flight, announced Ong Ye Kung, minister for transport, Singapore. This will be increased to two flights a day into each city with a quota of 200 travellers per flight from December 7, 2020.
However, if the Covid-19 situation deteriorates in either city, the air travel bubble arrangement will be suspended.
Travellers are required to fill in an application to travel seven days before travelling.
They then also need to take a pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the designated ATB flight and obtain a negative test result.
Travellers must also book and pay for the post-arrival Covid-19 PCR test that they will need to take on arrival at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) before departing Singapore. They then take that test on arrival at Hong Kong International Airport. This result should be available in between two and four hours.
However, passengers are not required to take another test when arriving in Singapore.
“There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship. But travellers must also meet the eligibility criteria and adhere to the prevailing border control measures and public health requirements of both cities,” said CAAS in a statement.
Commenting on the news, Ong Ye Kung said:
“The Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble enables us to achieve two objectives at the same time – open up our borders in a controlled manner, while maintaining safety in our societies. While we may be starting small, this is an important step forward. I have no doubt both Singapore and Hong Kong will co-operate fully to make this scheme work. It will be a useful reference for other countries and regions that have controlled the epidemic, and are contemplating opening their borders”.
For a complete flight schedule, click here.
Qualification for travel bubble flights
Cathay Pacific has published details on the Travel Bubble Flights.
How to qualify for the travel bubble
To be eligible to fly within the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble, you must:
- Have no travel history to anywhere other than Hong Kong or Singapore in the last 14 days
- Have proof of a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from a recognised laboratory or health care institution
.The specimen must be taken within 72 hours before your scheduled flight departure time. - Have an Air Travel Pass
- Have a booking on a flight designated specifically for the Air Travel Bubble. Designated bubble flights are marked with “Travel Bubble” on cathaypacific.com
- Have the right to enter both Hong Kong and Singapore, such as having the necessary visas or residency permits
- Have a mobile device, with Singapore’s TraceTogether app already downloaded and registered
- Submit a health declaration electronically via the SG Arrival Card Service (for travellers who are not Singapore citizens, permanent residents or Long-Term Pass holders)
- An approval of entry letter issued by the Singapore government authorities (for Long-Term Pass holder)
- Follow this link to learn more about the travel bubble.
