Jetstar Asia to resume some flights to Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur
20 April, 2020
Budget carrier Jetstar Asia will resume partial businesses to three key cities in Southeast Asia this week, with reduced onboard services and crew members decked out in masks and personal protective equipment.
From Tuesday (Apr 21), Jetstar Asia will operate five return services a week between Singapore and Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Services on the "temporary network" can be found only to citizens and everlasting residents who are returning home or people that have prior written approval for travel, said Jetstar in a media release on Monday.
The flights will operate until at least September, a Jetstar spokesperson told CNA separately, adding that the carrier is "assisting to repatriate citizens and help with freight in your community during this time period".
Passenger flights to Manila will are powered by Tuesdays, while those for Kuala Lumpur will be on Thursdays and Sundays.
Cargo flights to Bangkok will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
While the risk of contracting COVID-19 on an aircraft is regarded as low, several COVID-19 protective measures will be studied onflight, including reducing passenger numbers to allow for safe distancing, said Jetstar.
A maximum of 112 seats will be accessible on each flight, approximately 60 per cent of capacity, the airline added.
Onboard services may also be scaled back and passengers will be served only water during the flight.
"Consistent with new circuit breaker measures introduced by the Singapore Government, all passengers will be required to wear a mask, at all times. Crew members will also utilise masks and PPE in accordance with guidelines," said Jetstar.
Travel vouchers might not exactly be redeemed for these flights.
International flights have ground to a halt amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as countries put in place lockdowns and travel restrictions to curb the spread of the disease.
Several airlines have grounded most, if not absolutely all of their flights, and placed their cabin crew and pilots on leave.
At Changi Airport, passenger traffic plunged practically 71 % in March, while aircraft landings and takeoffs fell by about 50 %.
Jetstar announced last month it could suspend all services for three weeks until Apr 15. It subsequently extended the suspension until May 18, following strict circuit breaker measures announced by the Singapore Government.
Some of Jetstar's crew members have taken up positions as SG Clean Ambassadors to educate the public on safe distancing requirements.
In all, close to half of Jetstar’s crew and corporate associates have taken up temporary roles with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), National Environment Agency and Raffles Medical Group, CNA reported earlier this week.
Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur were chosen as a result of expected demand from those cities, the Jetstar spokesperson told CNA.
"They are where we expect demand for repatriation," said the spokesperson.
There are about 200,000 Singaporeans overseas. Around 200,000 Filipinos also live and work in Singapore, in line with the Philippines Embassy.
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