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SINGAPORE: Flights from Singapore to Hong Kong on November 22 were sold out on Wednesday (November 11) several hours after Singapore’s Ministry of Transport announced the start date of an air travel bubble between the two cities.
A check on Google Flights around 4 pm showed that there were no seats available on Singapore Airlines (SIA) or Cathay Pacific on November 22, a Sunday.
Beginning Nov. 22, travelers on air travel bubble flights between Singapore and Hong Kong will not have to deliver a quarantine or stay-at-home notice, a significant relaxation of travel restrictions after months of strict border controls. due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 22 is also the second day of the end of the year school holidays in Singapore.
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To begin with, there will only be one bubble flight per day, but this will slowly increase. Travelers must test negative for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction within 72 hours of departure.
Prices on the SIA website for economy class fares departing November 22 have steadily increased from approximately S $ 800 at 10 a.m. Wednesday to more than S $ 1,100 at approximately 3 p.m.
SIA economy class round-trip fares between the two cities ranged from S $ 314 to S $ 533 for the week beginning Nov. 14, just one week since the start of the air travel bubble, according to the Google Flights price chart.
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“We have seen an increase in bookings since the government announcement on bubble-shaped flights. However, we are unable to disclose figures due to commercial sensitivity, “a SIA spokesperson said in response to inquiries.
Previously, the national airline had announced that the inaugural flight of the air travel bubble from Singapore to Hong Kong on November 22 will be SQ890 departing at 10 a.m., with another flight on November 23 at 8 a.m. The first flight from Hong Kong to Singapore will be on November 23 at 12.55 pm
(Table: Singapore Civil Aviation Authority)
Starting December 7, SIA and Cathay will operate daily roundtrip bubble flights between Singapore and Hong Kong.
The inaugural flight from Hong Kong to Singapore on Cathay Pacific is CX759 on November 22, which usually departs from Changi Airport at 9:10 AM. M. The return flight is CX734.
Searches on the Cathay Pacific website showed that air travel bubble flights in the week of November 22 were mostly booked. Budget rates rose to more than S $ 900 by the end of the afternoon.
The flights will be carried out on Airbus A350-900 for both airlines.
As part of the air travel bubble deal, SIA and Cathay Pacific will offer a special onboard menu for a month of local dishes from both cities, including dim sum, chicken noodles with soy sauce, carrot cake and nasi lemak.
READ: Requirements for Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble should not be ‘totally symmetrical’: Ong Ye Kung
The flying experience will be quite different from before the pandemic, with travelers being forced to wear masks on flights and measures to reduce direct contact between the crew and passengers, such as the withdrawal of hot towel service.
“Fixing the air transport bubble is an important step for both Singapore and Hong Kong as we recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and supports the ongoing recovery of the airline industry,” said the director SIA executive, Goh Choon Phong.
The Hong Kong-Singapore route was one of the busiest international air routes in 2019 with 13,654 flights a year operated by four airlines, according to travel data provider OAG.
Ronald Lam, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer for Cathay Pacific, said: “We believe this will be a milestone for the opening of more similar air travel bubbles with other popular destinations in the region and beyond.
“We look forward to welcoming our customers aboard our first travel bubble flights for a festive getaway as we head into the popular holiday season.”
