Singapore-HK air travel bubble start from May 26, limited flights are “selling fast”

Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said in a Monday statement that the city-state had agreed with Hong Kong to start an air travel bubble between the two on May 26.

It will be done “cautiously” with one flight per day in each direction, and capped at 200 passengers per flights, for at least the first two weeks.

Singapore is home to two casino resorts: Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands. The former is run by Genting Singapore and the latter is run by a unit of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Chairman of Las Vegas Sands, Robert Goldstein, said last week that it’s difficult to see Singapore return to pre-pandemic levels this year, as that market requires international travel to recover.

Under the latest arrangement, passengers from both places have to be tested negative before boarding the direct flights. People from Hong Kong traveling to Singapore must also be fully vaccinated before taking the flights.

It has already attracted interest from prospective passengers

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific, one of two airlines chosen to operate flights for travel bubble, said it has seen a “very positive response” to the announcement on Monday.

“Seats on our air travel bubble flights are selling fast, while some of the flights are sold out,” said a Cathay Pacific spokesperson. 

Checks on the website of Singapore Airlines showed that flights from Singapore to Hong Kong on May 26 were sold out on Monday evening, as were subsequent travel bubble flights until Jun 4. 

Travel agency Dynasty Travel has already received enquiries from whom are “already vaccinated and are keen to travel to Hong Kong once the borders are open”, said the director of public relations and communications. 

Editing by Rachel Hu