Travellers from Singapore will be able to travel to Hong Kong for leisure from Nov 22, in the first air travel bubble arrangement for the Republic since border restrictions were imposed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The scheme will start with one flight a day into each city with a quota of 200 travellers per flight, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung announced in Singapore on Wednesday (Nov 11).
This will be increased to two flights a day from Dec 7.
The arrangement will be suspended for two weeks if the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked Covid-19 cases is more than five in either Singapore or Hong Kong, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement.
As part of the air travel bubble, travellers between Singapore and Hong Kong will have to take Covid-19 tests, in lieu of serving quarantine or stay-home notices.
There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel, and no need for a controlled itinerary.
But travellers must meet eligibility criteria and adhere to the prevailing border control measures and public health requirements of both cities, said the CAAS.
Those departing from Singapore need to apply to CAAS to take the Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at least seven days before their trip, with a confirmed flight ticket to Hong Kong.
Those travelling from Dec 1 would not need to apply for approval, and can go directly to one about 600 clinics and private healthcare providers in Singapore to get their PCR tests done.
All travellers will be required to test negative 72 hours before their scheduled departure.
On arrival in Hong Kong, travellers from Singapore will be required to take another Covid-19 test and remain at the airport until the results are confirmed. This could take about four hours, Mr Ong said.
There is no such requirement for travellers from Hong Kong coming here.
Asked why, Mr Ong said that the scheme is “not designed to be symmetrical” and should allow flexibility within own territories.
