Singapore and Hong Kong will start an air travel bubble that will replace rule of mandatory quarantine upon arrival with COVID-19 tests starting on November 22, 2020.

After border restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the virus since late March, travelers from Singapore will be able to travel to Hong Kong for leisure, under the Republic’s first air travel bubble arrangement.

Mr. Ong Ye Kung, Transport Minister of Singapore, has confirmed during a news briefing on Wednesday (Nov 11) that the arrangements will start with one flight to each city every day, with a limit of 200 passengers per flight. From December 7, 2020, operations of these flights will be increased to 2 flights per day.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has said in a statement that the arrangement will be suspended for 14 days if the 7 days moving average of unlinked COVID-19 cases number per day exceeds five in Singapore or Hong Kong.

“The good progress in limiting the spread of the virus in Singapore and Hong Kong has given us the confidence to reopen country’s borders gradually, with safeguards in place to ensure the health and safety of the public,” the authority added.

As part of the air travel bubble arrangement, travelers between Singapore and Hong Kong will have to undergo COVID-19 tests instead of mandatory quarantine or stay at home notices (SHN).

There are no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement of controlled itinerary. However, they must meet the eligibility criteria and comply with the current border control measures and public health requirements of the two cities.

All passengers must receive a negative result of the COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test 72 hours prior to their scheduled departure time. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, Singaporean travelers will be required to take another COVID-19 test and stay at the airport until the result is confirmed. This may take at least 4 hours.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau has said in another briefing in Hong Kong that inbound visitors will be required to pay a cost of HKD 499 for the COVID-19 tests that will be conducted at the Hong Kong International Airport.

The arrangement was first announced in the mid-October 2020, allowing people to travel between two locations without isolation, but subject to few conditions such as a negative COVID-19 test.