We’ve waited a long time – around a year and seven months, to be precise – but leisure travel appears to be making a comeback.
The authorities have already launched Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) with Germany and Brunei, but we’re extending the scheme to eight more countries including Spain and the US from 19 Oct (that’s in four days!).
But it’s not just travellers who have a reason to smile, as Singapore’s aerospace industry also appears to be recovering.
Signs of Recovery
According to the Association of Aerospace Industries, there are already signs that the aerospace industry has been revived.
For one, once the VTLs with eight more countries go through, as well as another proposed one with South Korea on 15 Nov, Singapore will have vaccination travel arrangements with 11 countries.
Speaking to CNA, the association’s CEO Sia Kheng Yok said that air cargo is already at “pre-COVID levels”.
What’s more, the resumption of domestic travel in China, Europe, and the US stands to benefit Singapore as our aerospace maintenance and manufacturing industry serves a global market.
Mr Sia was so buoyant that he believes the worst seems to be over for the aviation and aerospace sectors.
Making the Best of a Bad Situation
It’s hard to see how the COVID-19 pandemic could have been beneficial in any way for the aerospace industry, with demand for travel vanishing overnight.
But the decline in demand has accelerated the pace of digital transformation for aviation and aerospace, Mr Sia said.
As you may see when you return to an airport, more digital services are being rolled out in a bid to reduce contact between staff and passengers.
The industry is also working on sustainable technologies such as sustainable aviation fuel, as well as electric and hydrogen propulsion.
But perhaps the biggest sign of recovery is that businesses in the sector are hiring again.
Aerospace Companies Including Pratt & Whitney to Hire 1,000 People in S’pore Over the Next 2 Years
In a speech on Monday (11 Oct), Manpower Minister Tan See Leng revealed that companies in the aerospace sector are looking to hire 1,000 people in Singapore over the next two years.
One such company on the lookout for new staff is the US-based firm Pratt & Whitney, which is reportedly looking to recruit 250 new employees by the end of 2021.
Other companies on the prowl for new talent include:
- business jet manufacturer Bombardier – 90 positions
- engine-maker and supplier GE Aviation – 200 positions
- Singapore Technologies (ST) Engineering – 200 positions
- Singapore Aero Engine Services – 170 positions
JTC also has vacancies for data analysts, robotics and automation engineers, as well as aircraft technicians, it said.
As for how long it’ll take for the sector to make a full recovery, we’ll have to wait and see. If there’s one thing we’ve learned during the pandemic, it’s that making any predictions related to COVID-19 is an exercise in futility.
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Featured Image: Sunnyday7 / Shutterstock.com (Image for illustration purpose only)
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