Singapore and Hong Kong set 26 May 2021 as Target Launch Date for Air Travel Bubble

1.     Singapore and Hong Kong have agreed to set 26 May 2021 as the launch date of the Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble (ATB).

2.     The Singapore-Hong Kong ATB, originally planned to start in November 2020, was deferred by both parties due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong. In the meantime, both Parties have reviewed the arrangements and made several improvements to the agreement. This includes stricter conditions for resumption of the ATB, should it be suspended due to new COVID-19 community clusters in either cities.

3.     Since then, the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong has improved, with very few local unlinked COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. Community cases in Singapore remained very low throughout the time. The risk profiles of both cities are therefore now similar.

4.     Both Parties will closely monitor the COVID-19 situation from now to the targeted launch date of 26 May 2021, and will proceed with the launch if the situation continues to be steady and under control in both cities.

5.     Both Parties will start the Singapore-Hong Kong ATB cautiously, with one flight a day in each direction, capped at 200 passengers on each flight for the first two weeks, and review the numbers thereafter.

6.     “I am happy that Hong Kong got the COVID-19 situation under control. It has been a long few months, but the conditions are now ripe again to re-launch the ATB. Both sides will need to stay very vigilant in the next one month, so that we can launch the first flights smoothly. It is a significant ATB between two aviation and financial services hubs in Asia,” said Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Transport of the Republic of Singapore.

7.     “With gradual stabilisation of the fourth wave of epidemic in Hong Kong, we have been engaging in active discussion with Singapore on the re-launch of ATB. The two governments have reached consensus on the latest arrangements and will put in place more stringent public health protocols in response to the latest epidemic development. Our goal remains striking a right balance between public health and travel convenience so that the public will feel assured while providing certainty,” the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said.

8.     “The re-launch of ATB not only meets the aspirations of the people and business communities on cross-border travel, but also signifies that gradual resumption of cross-border travel is achievable through mutual collaborations among different places. We will continue to maintain communication with the Singapore Government and closely monitor the epidemic development of both places to ensure the smooth launch of ATB,” Mr Yau said.

9.     The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will provide more details of the Singapore-Hong Kong ATB.