Quarantine free travel bubble to open between Hong Kong and Singapore
Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific welcomes the implementation of a quarantine-free air travel bubble between Hong Kong SAR and Singapore.
It claims that the arrangement, open to all types of travellers, is a much-needed progressive step towards recovery of the sector.
“This first-of-a-kind arrangement is a leading example of a risk-based approach that balances the risk of virus transmission with the need to re-establish connectivity based on a robust multi-layered approach of measures for the safety of all,” says Airports Council International Asia-Pacific director general, Stefano Baronci.
“We call upon governments in the region to take note and follow suit for the sake of the survival of the aviation industry.”
Traffic
The Air Transport Action Group estimates that approximately 26 million jobs supported by aviation across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are at risk because of the loss of connectivity caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of Singapore Changi operator, Changi Airport Group (CAG), notes.
“This is a positive and important first step to travel recovery for leisure travel, to revive the Changi air hub.
“In 2019, Hong Kong was among Changi Airport’s top routes for passenger traffic. CAG will work closely with both governments and relevant organisations to implement the necessary safeguards to ensure safe travel for the residents of both cities.” Airports Council International analysis shows the impact of COVID-19 crisis for full year 2020 revenue as –55.1per cent for AsiaPacific and –59.6per cent for the middle east. Airport Authority Hong Kong CEO, Fred Lam, says: “Hong Kong International Airport is delighted that the bilateral Air Travel Bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore will commence on 22 November.
“Although this appears to be a very modest start, it is the first of its kind and an important breakthrough which would hopefully pave the way for similar arrangements with other destinations in the near future.
“We have set up designated areas and procedures for travellers arriving from Singapore under the Bubble arrangements, with a view to ensuring health and safety, and making it convenient and welcoming for passengers at the airport.
“We are thankful to the governments and aviation industry partners in Hong Kong and Singapore for the concerted efforts in making it happen.”
Airports Council International has repeat
edly called for the safe re-opening of borders without quarantine by using a co-ordinated approach to testing, with authorities, in consultation with the industry, deciding on testing prior to departure or upon arrival and away or on airport premises.
“The expectation of increasingly performant rapid tests will facilitate the introduction of accurate, cost-effective and simplified testing available to large numbers of passengers,” adds Baronci.
“We encourage governments to mutually recognise test results based on a commonly-accepted protocol, preferably based on pre-departure tests, thereby saving the passenger the ordeal of being subjecting to multiple tests on a round trip.
“We further call on states to bear the cost of these health measures in accordance with the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations.”