Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble hits further turbulence

The delay is caused by COVID-19 cases remaining high in Hong Kong.

Singapore and Hong Kong will further delay the scheduled air travel bubble between the two amidst rising cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong.

“Singapore and Hong Kong have further reviewed the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong, and given that local unlinked cases are still high, both parties have decided to defer the commencement of the Singapore – Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble (ATB) to beyond December 2020. The exact start date of the ATB arrangement will be reviewed in late December,” the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said.

CAAS announced the postponement days before officials were supposed to meet and review the arrangements.

This is the second delay after the ATB was postponed a day before its inaugural launch on 22 November when a surge in COVID-19 cases was observed in Hong Kong.

Under the ATB, travellers between Singapore and Hong Kong are subjected to a series of COVID-19 PCR tests in lieu of a quarantine or Stay-At-Home notice and will have no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.