Introduction to Air Travel Bubble Singapore-Hong Kong

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Introduction to Air Travel Bubble Singapore-Hong Kong

 

Singapore and Hong Kong have reached an in-principle agreement to establish a two-way Air Travel Bubble (“ATB”). This will allow travel between both cities without quarantine. The ATB is a milestone arrangement between two aviation hubs and seeks to revive air travel in a safe and progressive way.

 

  1. Eligibility Criteria for ATB

 

(1)     Flying from Singapore

 

You are eligible to fly from Singapore to Hong Kong under the ATB arrangement if you:

 

(a)     have stayed in Singapore and/or Hong Kong at least 14 consecutive days before departure.

 

(b)     fly direct on a designated ATB flight.

 

(c)     are not a Work Permit or S Pass holder working in construction, marine shipyard or process sectors.

 

(d)     test negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours before your flights and upon your arrival at Hong Kong International Airport. You will bear the cost of all required Covid-19 tests.

 

(2)     Flying from Hong Kong

 

You are eligible to fly from Hong Kong to Singapore under the ATB arrangement if you:

 

(a)     have stayed in Singapore and/or Hong Kong at least 14 consecutive days before departure.

 

(b)     fly direct on a designated ATB flight.

 

(c)     test negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours before your flights and upon your return to Hong Kong. You will bear the cost of all required Covid-19 tests.

 

  1. Pre-Departure and Post-Arrival Covid-19 Testing

 

(1)     Pre-departure Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (“PCR”) test

 

You must take a pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test 72 hours before each of your flights, and received a negative result. This applies even if you are returning to your home country.

 

You can take your pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test at an approved clinic or testing institution in Singapore or Hong Kong.

 

(a)     Children aged 12 and under are exempted from taking the pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test before their flight from Hong Kong to Singapore. However, they must still take the pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test before the Singapore to Hong Kong flight.

 

(b)     If you are returning to Singapore within 72 hours of your post-arrival Covid-19 PCR test at Hong Kong International Airport, you may be exempted from taking the pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test before your return flight.

 

(c)     You are required to pay for your pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test. The cost of the test may vary, depending on the hospital or clinic.

 

(d)     Your pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test must be conducted within 72 hours before your flight. You must also ensure that you have allocated enough time to receive the test results before your flight.

 

(e)     Due to the short testing window, you are encouraged to make an appointment as early as possible.

 

(f)     You must present your negative pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test result when you are checking in for your flight at the airport. If you are unable to do so, you will be denied boarding.

 

(2)     Post-arrival Covid-19 PCR test

 

You must take a Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival in Singapore and Hong Kong. This applies even if you are returning to your home country. ​​

 

(a)     Preparation for on-arrival test at Singapore Changi Airport

 

(i)      The on-arrival Covid-19 PCR test will cost SGD196 (including Goods and Services Tax) per traveller.

 

(ii)     After the test, travellers must self-isolate in their place of residence, whether at a hotel or a home, while waiting for the results, which will take about six to eight hours.

 

(iii)    They are to take private transportation, taxi, or private hire car from the airport to their declared place of accommodation. ​

 

(b)     Preparation for post-arrival tests at Hong Kong International Airport

 

Before your flight to Hong Kong, you must pre-book your post-arrival Covid-19 PCR test, which will be conducted before immigration at Hong Kong International Airport.​

 

This applies to everyone entering Hong Kong, including infants and children, as well as Hong Kong residents returning to Hong Kong.

 

After completing the post-arrival Covid-19 PCR test, you can proceed to clear immigration and collect your luggage. You must then remain at the airport until you receive a negative test result, which may take about four hours.

 

  1. Other Requirements for ATB

 

(1)     Public Health Measures

 

Travellers must comply with the prevailing public health and safe distancing measures in Singapore and Hong Kong. These include mask wearing and restrictions on group gatherings.

 

(2)     Medical costs

 

Should travellers become Covid-19 positive while in Singapore or Hong Kong, they will need to bear the full cost of any medical treatment, subject to the respective cities’ prevailing medical and healthcare policies.

 

  1. Suspension

 

         The ATB will be suspended for two weeks if the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked Covid-19 cases is more than five in either Singapore or Hong Kong.

 

If the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked Covid-19 cases on the last day of suspension period is five or less, the ATB arrangement will resume.

 

  1. Recent Development of ATB as of 21 November 2020

 

The ATB was originally slated to launch on Sunday, 22 November 2020, however, due to the rise in Hong Kong’s Covid-19 cases, the arrangement has been postponed for two weeks.

 

The authorities will review the situation within the next two weeks and will announce the new launch time later.

 

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