CAAS Confirms That S’pore & India Are Not Discussing Air Travel Bubble

By
Ashley Seek
-

Do you remember a time, not so long ago, during phase two?

Where there were talks of a Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble that would start before 2020 ended?

Flights were originally meant to start on 22 Nov 2020, and plans regarding virus testing were also set in stone.

However, as we know, the travel bubble had to be delayed due to a bunch of unlinked cases in Hong Kong.

Till this day, there is still no exact confirmation when it would start again.

But as of late, rumours have been floating of another travel bubble, this time between Singapore and India.

That’s just been debunked recently.

CAAS Confirms That S’pore & India Are Not Discussing Air Travel Bubble

There is some air travel, but it’s not what you think it is.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has confirmed that there’s no discussion of a travel bubble with India, CNA reported.

This was a response to questions regarding a CNBC interview on Monday with India’s High Commissioner to Singapore P Kumaran.

In it, he was responding to a question about a potential air travel bubble.

He said there was a “fair amount of interest on both sides” to enhance and restore connectivity.

Needless to say, people interpreted it as a Singapore-India Air Travel Bubble.

This initially incited a lot of concerns from Singaporeans online.

And understandably so, considering that India has 10.7 million COVID-19 cases and 150,000 recorded deaths from it.

This puts it just behind the US in terms of cases, and one of the highest death rates as well.

CAAS air transport director Daniel Ng said that different countries might have a different understanding of what an air travel bubble is, and this isn’t the air travel bubble we Singaporeans know about.

Restrictive Air Travel

We mentioned above that there was some semblance of air travel between both countries.

However, this is restricted only to special repatriation flights chartered by the Indian government.

Mr Ng says that both countries are willing to look into resuming commercial flights slowly.

But, of course, including travel restrictions, testing, stay-home notices and other border and health measures.

Not air travel bubble.

Forget about Air Travel Bubble Except to Sentosa

Besides Hong Kong, there was one other notable travel bubble that couldn’t take off.

In December, the idea of a travel bubble with Taiwan was hinted to not be happening.

This was due to the winter season, as the virus thrives in cold, as well as the status of the pandemic.

And looking at some of the news regarding new waves of COVID-19, it might’ve been a good call.

However, it’s not as if we have no air traffic, as our gradual reopening of borders saw some tourists and people coming in for work.

Featured Image: Nawadoln / Shutterstock.com

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Ashley Seek
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