It has been announced that the Singapore - Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble (ATB) will commence from 26 May 2021. Eligible travellers can fly between both cities for any purpose, including leisure, without serving quarantine. This is the second attempt to establish the bubble after the first one didn’t get off the ground. The November 22, 2020 start date for the first travel bubble didn’t get off the ground when there was a resurgence of infections in Hong Kong.
While the news is good, there are requirements. There will be designated ATB flights between Singapore and Hong Kong. To travel via the ATB arrangement, you must meet all the requirements, including flying on designated ATB flights and undergoing Covid-19 tests at your own expense. No mention was made if fully vaccinated travellers would be required to have a Covid-19 test or if proof of vaccination would suffice.
In a written release SIA stated that “All passengers who booked flights between 5 March 2020 and 30 June 2021 will be eligible for our complimentary rebooking policy, providing peace of mind that you can change your travel plans should circumstances change closer to your flight date.”
Find out more about the ATB requirements here.
HKTB Chairman Welcomes Agreement
Dr YK Pang, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), (pictured right) welcomed the agreement between the Governments of the Hong Kong SAR and Singapore on relaunching the bilateral Hong Kong-Singapore ATB. Dr Pang said, “Relaunching the Air Travel Bubble with Singapore is the first step in Hong Kong’s resumption of international travel, and a milestone for preparing the city for gradually welcoming more visitors. We expect that travellers at the early stage of the launch of the ATB are those who travel for family visits or other essential reasons, and leisure travellers will return successively.”
Meanwhile, the HKTB will continue to work with the tourism-related sectors in enhancing Hong Kong overall anti-epidemic measures in the city, including a standardised hygiene protocol launched last year for hotels, restaurants, transportation, shopping malls, tour operators and other tourism-related sectors, establishing a healthy and safe tourism image for Hong Kong.
Cathay Pacific is Excited
Cathay Pacific is excited to welcome the resumption of the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble and is ready to fly passengers on board its two-way, all-purpose, quarantine-free Air Travel Bubble flights starting 26 May 2021. These flights will be operated by pilots and cabin crew who have all been fully vaccinated.
In its announcement Cathay Pacific noted: “With travel having been difficult for everyone over the past year, we know that our customers have been eagerly anticipating the launch of our Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble flights so that they can rediscover the joy of flying. We believe the safe and secure bubble flights will be a milestone showcase for the opening of similar travel arrangements with other popular destinations.”
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