Cathay Pacific has announced that it will launch quarantine-free flights on May 26 between Hong Kong and Singapore, following the resumption of an air travel bubble (ATB) arrangement between the two cities.
The ATB arrangement was initially set to launch in November 2020 but was delayed due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong. It will now relaunch on May 26, with Singapore’s Minister for Transport, Ong Ye Kung, stating:
“I am happy that Hong Kong got the Covid-19 situation under control. It has been a long few months, but the conditions are now ripe again to re-launch the ATB. Both sides will need to stay very vigilant in the next one month, so that we can launch the first flights smoothly. It is a significant ATB between two aviation and financial services hubs in Asia.”
Cathay Pacific’s ‘Air Travel Bubble’ flights will be operated by A350-900 aircraft, with the inaugural CX759 departing Hong Kong on May 26 at 0910 and arriving in Singapore at 1305. This will be followed by the first CX734 flight from Singapore on May 27, departing at 1445 and arriving in Hong Kong at 1900.
The flights will also be operated by fully vaccinated pilots and cabin crew. From June 10, the airline will operate daily return air travel bubble flights to Singapore.
The flights will then operate as follows:
| Flight | Days of operation | Departing | STD | Arriving | STA |
| CX759 | May 27, 29
June 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 |
HKG | 09:10 | SIN | 13:05 |
| CX734 | May 27, 29
June 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 |
SIN | 14:45 | HKG | 19:00 |
The airline stated:
“We believe the safe and secure bubble flights will be a milestone showcase for the opening of similar travel arrangements with other popular destinations”.
For information on how to qualify for the travel bubble flights, see Cathay Pacific’s website.
Cathay Pacific has also welcomed the news of Hong Kong’s ‘Return2hk’ scheme, which allows Hong Kong residents arriving from anywhere in the Chinese mainland to enter the city without the need to undergo quarantine.
The airline is currently operating flights between Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xiamen and Hong Kong, and is set to add further routes “in the coming months”.
The airline added:
“The ability for passengers to travel quarantine-free is vital to bringing cross-border air travel back to normal, pre-pandemic levels and we look forward to further relaxation of quarantine requirements in future.”
This news comes after the launch of a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand earlier this month.
