[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: Economy airline Jetstar Asia will begin operating transit flights through Changi Airport from December 1, becoming the fourth airline to do so as Singapore gradually reopens its borders.
Passengers from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Phnom Penh can transit through Singapore to nine destinations onwards served by the airline if their connection is within 48 hours, Jetstar Asia said on Friday ( November 20).
From June 2, travelers can transit through Changi Airport with COVID-19 prevention measures in place. So far, transit flights have been re-established by the three Singapore Airlines Group (SIA) airlines: SIA, SilkAir and Scoot.
READ: SIA, SilkAir passengers from some cities in Australia and New Zealand can transit through Changi Airport
READ: SIA passengers from some cities in China, Japan and South Korea can transit through Changi Airport
Passengers in transit should book the entire trip in a single booking and should verify with the relevant authorities that they meet the entry requirements for their destination, Jetstar Asia said in a press release.
At check-in, passengers will receive a wristband that they must wear throughout the trip to allow identification by airport and airline personnel.
On board the plane, you will be seated in the front and disembark first.
Upon arrival in Singapore, airport staff will meet transit passengers and guide them to a transit waiting area or transit hotel. Those with a tight connection time will be led directly to the exit gate.
READ: Security measures in the new transit waiting areas at Changi Airport
READ: Air travel during COVID-19, a familiar but disturbing experience
When the onward flight is ready to board, passengers will be escorted to their departure gate and taken to a designated area, from where they will board the aircraft after all other passengers.
These measures will not apply to transit passengers arriving from Vietnam, as Singapore has lifted border restrictions for travelers from the country, Jetstar Asia said.
All passengers arriving in Singapore must wear a mask at all times and practice social distancing.
READ: Airline Restructuring and Rapid Pre-Flight Testing: What the New Normal for Aviation Could Look Like
Singapore-based airline Jetstar Asia owned by Australia’s Qantas grounded its fleet in March before resuming some services between Singapore and Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila in April.
In August, it reintroduced services to Clark in the Philippines, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Medan and Penang.
In June, the airline announced it would cut up to 180 jobs, roughly 26 percent of its workforce, and extend the leave of most of its staff through December as part of its COVID-19 recovery plan.
The decision to reintroduce transit travel through Singapore was a positive step in the airline’s recovery, Jetstar Asia CEO Bara Pasupathi said on Friday.
“Pre-COVID, transit and transfer passengers accounted for up to a third of Changi Airport passenger traffic and many of these passengers traveled and transited on Jetstar Asia flights,” Pasupathi said.
He said the airline has worked with Changi Airport to “ensure a smooth and safe transfer experience” for passengers, and introduced additional measures for “added peace of mind.”
“Our low-fare services play an important role in helping our clients reconnect with family, get people back to work, and take other essential trips,” Pasupathi said.
“They also help boost the communities and economies of the destinations we fly to and it means more of our people are returning to work, which is also great news.”
CHECK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
