Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble (ATB) is off the cards for the second time

閱讀中文版本

As shared by Singapore's Minister of Transport, S Iswaran: “In light of the recent increase in unlinked community cases, Singapore is unable to meet the criteria to start the Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble.”

On 17 May, Singaporeans and Hong Kongers had their (air travel) bubbles burst. After Singapore’s Minister for Transport, S Iswaran, met Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Edward Yau, the Singapore–Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble (ATB) was announced to be deferred for the second time.

This was owing to the fact that Singapore, as of late, is facing a rising number of community cases. As reinforced by Minister Iswaran: “In light of the recent increase in unlinked community cases, Singapore is unable to meet the criteria to start the Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble.”

It was thus agreed that between the two countries that the launch will, again, be deferred to protect the health of travellers and the public.

This second edition of the ATB was earlier slated to launch on 26 May 2021; albeit under more stringent Covid-19 measures as compared to its predecessor.

The first travel bubble was due to launch on 22 November 2020; with plans, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), to have one flight of 200 passengers to each city per day. A day previously, however, former Singapore Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung announced that it will be further deferred into year 2021 with the Covid-19 situation in Hong Kong

Singapore and Hong Kong will now monitor the public health situation in both places, and review the new launch date of the ATB flights towards the end of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).

Image /Unsplash

Human Resources Online is on Telegram! Follow us @humanresourcesonline or click here for all the latest weekly HR and manpower news from around the region.