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SINGAPORE – Singapore’s roundtrip air travel bubble with Hong Kong will pave the way for leisure and other forms of travel between the two.
While details are still being worked out, people could travel between the two locations in several weeks.
Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions:
Q: Who can apply?
Anyone who has lived 14 days in the territory of either party, regardless of age and nationality, will be eligible to travel, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Thursday (October 15).
The only exception so far, at the request of Hong Kong, Mr. Ong said, are foreign workers living in dormitories in Singapore.
He said “for the sake of getting this started, we’ll probably exclude that group first,” but as the situation continues to stabilize, they may be included in time.
There will be a quota in the number of flights that ply on both sides, but neither has revealed numbers.
Details such as how close to the flights would have to be tested and which airlines can participate have not been finalized either.
Ong said people will be able to travel on a first-come, first-served basis, as with most flights to other locations.
There is more demand than supply, so it all depends on “the fastest fingers first,” he added.
The launch date for the Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble and other implementation details, such as how to apply, will be announced later.
Q: When will the flights launch and how much will they cost?
Mr. Ong said that the price of the flights will be “a business decision.”
“This is a very active sector and I am sure that the airlines will charge them the corresponding price.”
Travelers under the air travel bubble will also have to perform mutually recognized Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction tests and test negative for coronavirus.
This is similar to the requirements for agreements that Singapore has with other cities.
The Straits Times previously reported that such tests cost $ 186.
Q: Why Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is the 10th place with which Singapore has made special travel arrangements.
Mr. Ong said that a key factor in making decisions about travel arrangements is ensuring that there are low incidence rates in both territories.
“We monitored the data (of the cities) for several weeks, months and we noticed that they have controlled the virus with great success,” he said.
Hong Kong also has an impressive track record, Ong noted.
“I think between Singapore and Hong Kong, our risk profile is the same … The risk of a Hong Kong bringing the virus to Changi is not very different from someone coming from Jurong.”
However, he noted that both parties will have to “agree on a certain incidence rate that health officials on both sides are comfortable with.”
A second wave of Covid-19 cases is a possibility, and if it does occur, “the deal must have the ability to be reduced in a very short time.
Q: How are air transport bubbles different from other existing schemes?
Air travel bubbles are for general travelers and do not have requirements for a controlled itinerary.
Under this agreement, there will also be no restrictions on population segments or the purpose of travel on both sides.
Other existing schemes, such as bilateral greenway agreements, are for essential business and official travel.
Unilateral border openings, which are unilateral, “safely lift our border restrictions for these countries and regions, and welcome their travelers,” Ong said previously in Parliament.
The countries in this group are New Zealand, Brunei, Australia (excluding the state of Victoria) and Vietnam.
Visitors must apply for the Air Travel Pass which allows all forms of short-term travel, including leisure travel.
“Their governments will decide if and when they should reciprocate Singaporean travelers. Once they do, the aviation ties between us would have been reestablished … Although the other countries are not ready to lift their restrictions now, Singapore may be a priority. when they’re ready, “said Mr. Ong.
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