Singapore-Hong Kong flights bubble release deferred for 14 days just after COVID-19 cases spike in Hong Kong
22 November, 2020
The release of an air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong has been deferred for 14 days, Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Saturday afternoon (Nov 21).
This employs a spike in COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. The air travel bubble was supposed to begin on Sunday.
In a Facebook content on Saturday, Mr Ong said he has held discussions with Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau about the travel bubble.
"Given the evolving circumstances in Hong Kong, (Mr) Yau and I discussed further this afternoon and decided that it might be better to defer the launch of the air travel bubble by fourteen days," Mr Ong said.
"We will assessment within a fortnight on the brand new launch day and update again.
"I can fully understand the disappointment and frustration of travellers who've planned their excursions. But we think it is better to defer from a public health standpoint."
The airlines will be contacting travellers individually, the transport minister added.
On Saturday, Hong Kong reported 43 fresh COVID-19 cases, of which 36 were locally transmitted. Thirteen of Saturday's circumstances were from unknown transmission sources.
The town had reported 26 new COVID-19 infections on Friday.
"In the light of the latest surge of local conditions, we have decided, together with the Singapore federal government, to defer the air travel bubble's launch by fourteen days," Mr Yau explained, adding that the location will continue steadily to review the problem with the Singapore Federal government.
A good spokesperson for Hong Kong's Food and Wellness Bureau added: "The quantity of confirmed local situations with unknown sources of disease has been on a soaring tendency recently, indicating the existence of silent transmitting chains in the community."
On Saturday, Singapore reported five fresh COVID-19 conditions - all imported and positioned on stay-home notice upon arrival. It was the 11th consecutive day without the locally transmitted attacks in Singapore.
TRAVELLERS MAY TAKE NON TRAVEL BUBBLE FLIGHTS
Under the air travel bubble, travellers would need to take dedicated flights operated by Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Saturday that travellers may still continue their journey on non-designated air travel bubble flights.
"Even so, such travellers will get at the mercy of the prevailing border control and overall health requirements of both towns," stated CAAS in a good media release.
For example, Singapore citizens returning from Hong Kong will be at the mercy of a seven day time stay-home notice upon entry into Singapore.
Singapore Airlines said buyers who no longer desire to fly between Singapore and Hong Kong following the deferment announcement may request for a complete refund for the unused portion of their tickets, and also have cancellation fees waived.
In response to CNA's queries, Cathay Pacific said that its inaugural flights bubble flight (CX759) on Sunday has been cancelled. Passengers can transform their booking, demand a full refund or exchange their ticket for airline credits at no cost.
For passengers booked on Cathay Pacific flights bubble flights between Nov 24 and Dec 5, they have automatically been positioned on new, non-air travelling bubble flights departing at the same time and time as their original booking.
"Normal quarantine guidelines will apply" for these flights, the airline stated. Passengers can also switch or cancel their booking at no cost.
SITUATION IN HONG KONG "WILL STAY SEVERE SOON"
On Saturday morning hours, Mr Ong explained there is a "high prospect" of the flights bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong being suspended if the COVID-19 problem in Hong Kong continued on its current trajectory.
Under the conditions of the travel bubble, the arrangement would be suspended if the seven-day moving average of unlinked cases exceeds five per day in either city.
Hong Kong has experienced a spike on the amount of COVID-19 conditions, a situation the city's Secretary for Foodstuff and Wellbeing Sophia Chan defined on Friday as "extreme".
Following Saturday's announcement, the Hong Kong government said it is anticipated that the epidemic circumstances in the location "will still remain severe soon".
"If the flights bubble is to be launched as scheduled (on Sunday), chances of making quick adjustment are high," it said in a statement on its webpage.
"The deferral of the inaugural flights is the right and responsible set up to minimise the inconvenience caused to the flights bubble travellers and reduce the uncertainty in their itineraries."
Mr Ong said: "That is a good sober reminder that the COVID-19 virus is still with us, and once we attack to regain our regular lives, the journey will be packed with ups and downs. But we will press on and appearance forward to whenever we can safely start the flights bubble."
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