Travel Industry News at TravelNewsAsia.com since 1997. Interviews, podcasts, videos, pictures and more
Wed, 11 November 2020

Hong Kong - Singapore Air Travel Bubble to Take Off on 22 November

The inaugural Air Travel Bubble (ATB) flights between Singapore and Hong Kong will take off on 22 November 2020, following the conclusion of negotiations earlier this week.

Under the ATB, travellers between Singapore and Hong Kong will be subject to COVID19 tests, in lieu of quarantine or Stay-Home Notice. There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.

Any person who has remained in Singapore and/or Hong Kong in the 14 consecutive days prior to departure is eligible to travel. However, holders of Work Permits or S-Passes issued by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower working in the construction, marine shipyard, or process sectors are excluded from travelling from Singapore to Hong Kong on the ATB.

Travellers from both cities must travel on designated flights serving only ATB travellers.. Click to enlarge.

Travellers from both cities must travel on designated ATB flights that will only serve ATB travellers.

As a start, there will be one flight a day into each city with a quota of 200 travellers per flight. This will be increased to two flights per day into each city with a quota of 200 travellers per flight from 7 December 2020.

Mr Ong Ye Kung, Singapore's Minister for Transport, 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.”

Travellers are required to take a pre-departure COVID19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the designated ATB flight and obtain a negative test result.

Departing from Singapore: All travellers departing from Singapore to Hong Kong will need to apply for approval to take their pre-departure COVID19 PCR test if they plan to take their COVID19 PCR test before 1 December 2020. They need to apply for approval at least 7 days before departure and will need a confirmed flight ticket to Hong Kong in order to apply. Upon the receipt of an application approval via email, travellers can contact and take their test at one of the recognised clinics/testing centres in Singapore.

Departing from Hong Kong: Travellers are required to take a pre-departure COVID19 PCR test within 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the designated ATB flight and obtain a negative test result. Travellers can contact and take their test at one of the recognised clinics/testing centres in Hong Kong.

Air Travel Pass: Foreign travellers from Hong Kong will need to apply for Air Travel Pass between seven and thirty calendar days prior to their intended date of entry into Singapore. Travellers can apply for the ATP from 12 November 2020, 8am (Singapore time) for entry into Singapore on or after 22 November 2020.

Post-Arrival COVID-19 Testing: All travellers arriving in Hong Kong are required to take a COVID19 test upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). Travellers must book and pay for the post-arrival COVID19 PCR test at Hong Kong International Airport before departing Singapore.Travellers must remain in HKIA until they receive their negative
test results.

Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific, said, “International air travel in Asia Pacific is practically non-existent. Our latest figures for September show passenger demand at about 95% below the same period last year. The Hong Kong-Singapore air travel bubble, though starting small, is a step in the right direction to reboot international travel in the region. We look forward to seeing Hong Kong and Singapore expand this arrangement with other destinations, and for other governments to adopt a similar approach.

“What is significant is that quarantine measures have been lifted for any travel between Hong Kong and Singapore, and is not limited to just business or essential travel. Replacing quarantine measures with COVID19 testing will help in re-opening borders, restore connectivity that jobs and the economy depend on, and give passengers confidence to travel.

“Standards and technological solutions will also be needed to facilitate the management, communication and verification of test results by the multiple stakeholders involved in the travel process. This is something we are working on with the parties in Hong Kong and Singapore.”

Should travellers become COVID19 positive while in Singapore or Hong Kong, they will need to bear the full cost of any medical treatment, subject to the respective cities’ prevailing medical and healthcare policies.

The ATB will be suspended for two weeks if the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked COVID19 cases is more than five in either Singapore or Hong Kong.

If the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked COVID19 cases on the last day of the suspension period is five or less, the ATB arrangement will resume.

IMPORTANT UPDATE TWO 21 November 2020:

UPDATED at 17:05 Bangkok time on 21/11/20: After the below news was published about Hong Kong travellers being required to take an additional COVID19 PCR test on arrival at Changi Airport in Singapore, it has since been announced that the Air Travel Bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore has been suspended. The decision was taken after an even larger than had been expected spike of COVID19 cases was reported in Hong Kong on Saturday. The ATB will now not happen until sometime in December, at the earliest, after both cities review the situation. Travellers can still continue their journey on non-designated ATB flights. However, such travellers will be subject to the prevailing border control and health requirements of both cities. More on this to come. /END OF UPDATE TWO.

IMPORTANT UPDATE ONE 21 November 2020:

Hong Kong Travellers Now Required to Take Additional COVID19 Test On-Arrival at Changi

Because of an increase in the number of COVID19 cases in Hong Kong in recent days, all travellers from the city arriving in Singapore under the Air Travel Bubble arrangement are required to take an on-arrival COVID19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at Changi Airport.

Under the terms of the ATB, flights will be suspended if the seven-day moving average of unlinked cases exceeds five per day. The figure for Hong Kong is currently at 2.14. The threshold will be exceeded if there are more than 22 unlinked cases in Hong Kong over the next three days. This will trigger a two-day notice period, after which suspension will come into effect. Prevailing border measures – a 7-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in the case of travellers from Hong Kong – will then apply upon entry into Singapore.

In the meantime, the Singapore - Hong Kong ATB arrangement will be launched as scheduled on 22 November 2020.

All travellers under the ATB are already required to take a pre-departure COVID19 PCR test and obtain a negative  test result before departing for Singapore. Now they also have to undergo an on-arrival COVID19 PCR test.

The on-arrival COVID19 PCR test will cost S$196 (including GST) per traveller. However, to give travellers under the Singapore - Hong Kong ATB time to adjust to the sudden change, they will not need to pay for the on-arrival COVID19 PCR test for the first week, from 22 to 28 November 2020.

After the test, travellers must self-isolate in their place of residence, whether a hotel or a home (for Singapore Residents), while waiting for the results, which will take about six to eight hours. They are to take private transportation, taxi, or private hire car from the airport to their declared place of accommodation.

Given the evolving COVID19 situation, passengers travelling to Hong Kong are advised to stay vigilant, exercise precaution by avoiding crowded places and to adhere to Hong Kong’s prevailing public health measures at all times. They are also advised to make contingency plans, because should the ATB be suspended, they may have to change their flights, and will have to undergo 7-day SHN upon return. /END UP UPDATE ONE.

See latest Travel News, Video Interviews, Podcasts and other news regarding: COVID19, Hong Kong, Singapore.

Headlines: AirAsia Cambodia Prepares for Take Off  Alex Schellenberger Joins Mandarin Oriental as Senior Vice President Brand  Ethiopian Airlines Opens E-Commerce Logistics Facility at Bole Addis Ababa Airport  Routes Americas 2024 Taking Place in Bogota, Colombia  Air Botswana Appoints APG as GSA in 16 Markets  Korean Air to Resume More Flights; Increase Services to Select Destinations  WestJet Appoints APG as Representative in South Korea; Airline to Launch YYC-ICN Flights in May  Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Opens in Fukui, Japan  Rolls-Royce to Expand Engine Build and Services Capacity in UK and Germany  United Airlines to Launch Los Angeles - Shanghai Flights; Increase LAX - HKG Service  Nine Exclusive HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia  AirAsia X Launches Direct Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty, Kazakhstan  Singapore Airlines Revamps Premium Economy Class with New Menu and Amenity Kit  Amadeus Completes Acquisition of Voxel  Minor to Rebrand NH Museum Quarter Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands  U-Tapao Airport (UTP) in Rayong / Pattaya, Thailand - HD Video Interview with Ampika Chadawong  IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Mumbai and Colombo, Sri Lanka  Perth Airport (PER) in Western Australia - HD Video Interview with Stephanie Juszkiewicz  China Airlines to Launch Flights Between Taipei and Seattle, USA  TUMI Launches Capsule Collection in Partnership with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team  AirAsia Malaysia to Resume Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Pattaya, Thailand  Thai Airways to Launch Flights from Bangkok to Colombo, Kochi and Perth  Munich Airport (MUC) in Bavaria, Germany - HD Video Interview with Michael Haeffner  Japan Tourism, World Expo 2025 and Japan Expo 2025 - HD Video Interview with Akira Watabe of JNTO  BBN Airlines Indonesia Receives Additional AOC from DGCA  Vietnam Airlines to Launch Flights from HAN and SGN to Munich Airport in Bavaria, Germany  Sabre Launches Booking Solution for New and Independent Travel Consultants  AirAsia Malaysia Launches A321neo Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Perth, Australia  Saudi Arabia's Air Connectivity Program - HD Video Interview with Rashed Alshammari, Vice President Commercial  Lui Chong Chee to Succeed Bob Tan as Chairman of the Boards of CapitaLand Ascott Trust  Sabah Tourism Board - HD Video Interview with Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Chief Executive Officer  Berlin Airport (BER) - HD Video Interview with Simon Miller, Senior Manager Market Intelligence  IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Chandigarh and Dharamshala, India  Skyco Partners Airbus; Orders Six H175 Helicopters  Jumeirah Appoints Michael Grieve as Chief Brand Officer  Cam Ranh Airport (CXR) in Nha Trang, Vietnam - HD Video Interview with Le Thi Hong Minh  Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang - HD Video Interview with Hotel GM, Jasmine Keh  Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh Appoints Lenen Mar Porras as ADOSM  United Confirms Flights to Cebu, Philippines as Airline Expands Network  Jumeirah Soft Opens First Hotel in Saudi Arabia  IHG Signs Two Luxury Hotels in KAFD Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Qatar Airways' NDC Content Now Available on Travelport+  Estelle Vassallo Moves to Italy as GM of Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel  Aviation: International RPK Up 20.8% in January 2024  Amora Completes Refurbishment and Rebranding of Hotel in Brisbane, Australia  Scoot Unveils Embraer E190-E2 Routes  IndiGo to Launch Flights from Jagdalpur to Hyderabad and Raipur  Jazeera Airways Appoints Barathan Pasupathi as CEO  Marriott Signs Le Meridien Hotel in Zanzibar  IATA Reports Air Cargo Data for January 2024  BFS Receives GDP Certification for Dedicated Pharma Handling Facility at BKK  Solomon Islands Welcomed 26,036 Visitors in 2023; Positive Outlook for 2024  Vietjet Signs MOU with Airbus for 20 A330-900 Aircraft  Hong Kong Airport Reports January 2024 Passenger and Cargo Numbers  Malaysia Aviation Group Becomes Official Airline Partner of MATTA Fair 2024  AirAsia Malaysia Launches Flights Between Kota Kinabalu and Shanghai, China  Taiwan's Starlux Airlines Orders Five Airbus A350 Freighters and Three A330neos  United Airlines to Resume Flights to Tel Aviv, Israel  Hahnair Appoints Stephen Chung as Regional Vice President Asia Pacific  Korean Air Cargo Expands Partnership with Vienna Airport  IndiGo to Launch Daily Flights Between Bengaluru and Bali, Indonesia  Thai Airways Confirms Boeing 787-9 Order  SkyScape Becomes Eve Air Mobility's First Urban ATM Customer in Japan  Royal Brunei Airlines Orders Four Boeing 787-9 Aircraft  TransNusa Airlines Rebranding as a Premium Service Carrier  Moxy Hotel Opens in Bangkok, Thailand  Peninsula Bangkok Appoints Masahisa Oba as Managing Director  Silk Avia Takes Delivery of First New ATR 72-600 Turboprop Aircraft in Central Asia  Korean Air to Enhance Retailing Strategy with Accelya's FLX Platform  Rohit Pandey Returns to Minor as GM of the Anantara Jaipur Hotel  Marriott Soft Opens First Moxy Hotel in Malaysia  AirAsia X to Launch Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty, Kazakhstan on 14 March  Malaysia Airlines Opens Ticketing Outlet at Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya  Marriott Expands Apartments with Properties Signed in Italy, USA and Saudi Arabia  Stockholders of Hawaiian Holdings Vote to Adopt Merger Agreement with Alaska Airlines  Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2024 Opens Online Registration for Buyers and Sellers  Lore Group's Five Design-Led Hotels Join Global Hotel Alliance  Hilton Partners Small Luxury Hotels of the World  British Airways Using E-Logs Platform to Predict and Enhance Aircraft Maintenance Issues  Surf Air Mobility Secures Early Delivery Positions for 90 Electra eSTOL Aircraft  Nine Exclusive Video Interviews with VIPs at ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos  Thai Airways to Unveil Details of Boeing Aircraft Order at Singapore Air Show 2024  Hong Kong Reports Provisional Visitor Arrival Numbers for January 2024  Accor Hotels in New Zealand to Become Gold Standard Sustainable Tourism Businesses  American Express Opens World's Largest Centurion Lounge at ATL Airport in USA  Minor Hotels Reports Record Full Year Figures  Korean Air's Acquisition of Asiana Gets Conditional Clearance from European Commission  CapitaLand Establishes CLARA Fund II; Acquires Two lyf-Branded Properties as Seed Assets  ATR Receives B-Score from CDP Climate Change  Dassault to Showcase Falcon 6X and Falcon 2000LXS at the Singapore Air Show 2024  IHG's Expanding Hotel Portfolio in Vientiane - Interview with Murali Viswanathan, CGM  Settha Palace Hotel in Vientiane, Laos - Interview with Hala Krimi, General Manager  Vietjet Launches Flights Between Saigon and Chengdu, China  Inthira Vang Vieng Hotel in Laos - Interview with Charles-David Hay, General Manager  IHG Hotels at Dubai Festival City Appoints Pranav Vohra as Cluster Commercial Director  S Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel in Laos - Interview with Sengnikone Bouphaphanh  Full Moon Island Resort in Kaoh Sdach, Cambodia - Interview with Indra Khanitha Lay Prohas  Jetstar Launches Flights from Brisbane to Osaka and Seoul  IHG to Expand Six Senses Brand to Kyoto, Japan  DiscoverLaos - HD Video Interview with Southisack Sayasavanh, Tours Director  Cosi Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel - Interview with Pasin Nopsuwan, General Manager  Hyatt Expands JdV Brand of Hotels to Goa, India  Thailand to See Increase in Chinese New Year Tourism Spend  Lao Airlines - Exclusive Video Interview with Chanthanon Khampheng at ATF 2024  Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort in Laos - Interview with Michelle Wang, Travel Director  Marriott Hotel Opens on Gurney Drive in Penang, Malaysia  Emirates to Increase Capacity on Flights to Osaka, Japan  Michelle Lee Joins Pullman Bangkok Hotel G as General Manager  Rosewood Makes Changes to Senior Management Team  Smiths Detection to Upgrade Security at Fukuoka Airport in Japan  Standard to Open Residences in Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand; Video Interview with Amar Lalvani  AirAsia Indonesia Launches Flights Between Jakarta and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia  Philippine Airlines to Deploy Amadeus Traveler DNA  Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach Completes A$8 Million Refurbishment of All 160 Guestrooms  Vietjet Wet Leases Two Aircraft to Meet Surge in Lunar New Year Travel Demand  Singapore Cruise Centre to Upgrade Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal  IHG Signs New-Build 150-Key Holiday Inn Hotel in Guwahati, India  Thai AirAsia Launches Flights from Bangkok (DMK) to Shanghai and Kaohsiung  TFE Signs New-Build Apartment Hotel in Brisbane, Australia  Ritz-Carlton Hotel Opens in Las Colinas Area of Dallas, USA  8 NTO Press Conferences from the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos  13 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from World Travel Market 2023 in London, England  5 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from APG World Connect 2023 in Monaco, France  15 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye  Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan - Video Interview with Co-Founder  Pictures from Miss International Queen 2023 Transgender Beauty Pageant in Pattaya, Thailand  Exclusive Video Interviews with 17 Miss International Queen 2023 Contestants  Living With One Eye - Six Years On by Steven Howard  HD Videos and Interviews  Podcasts from HD Video Interviews  RSS Feed - Travel Industry News  Ticker - Travel Industry News  Travel Industry News Archives  Travel Trade Shows  High-Res Picture Galleries  Travel News Asia - Latest Travel Industry News 

Subscribe to our Travel Industry News RSS Feed Travel Industry News RSS Feed from TravelNewsAsia.com. To do that in Outlook, right-click the RSS Feeds folder, select Add a New RSS Feed, enter the URL of our RSS Feed which is: https://www.travelnewsasia.com/travelnews.xml and click Add. The feed can also be used to add the headlines to your website or channel via a customisable applet. Have questions? Please read our Travel News FAQ. Thank you.

     
Advertising
Advertising
Copyright © 1997-2024 TravelNewsAsia.com