Singapore and Hong Kong agree on quarantine-free travel

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific is ready to welcome the resumption of the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble and is ready to fly passengers onboard its two-way, all-purpose, quarantine-free Air Travel Bubble flights starting 26 May. These flights will be operated by pilots and cabin crew who have all been fully vaccinated.

In a statement, the airline said: “With travel having been difficult for everyone over the past year, we know that our customers have been eagerly anticipating the launch of our Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble flights so that they can rediscover the joy of flying. We believe the safe and secure bubble flights will be a milestone showcase for the opening of similar travel arrangements with other popular destinations.”

The inaugural CX759 flight from Hong Kong will depart on 26 May, while the first CX734 flight from Singapore will depart on 27 May. From 10 June, Cathay Pacific will operate daily return Air Travel Bubble flights to Singapore.

Expansion of Return to Hong Kong Scheme

In addition to the resumption of the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble, Cathay Pacific also welcomes the recently announced expansion of the Hong Kong Government’s Return2hk Scheme. This will enable Hong Kong residents arriving from anywhere in the Chinese mainland to enter the city without the need to undergo quarantine.

Cathay Pacific currently operates flights between Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xiamen and Hong Kong already and will add more routes in the coming months to enable Hong Kong residents to return more easily.

The airline concluded: “The ability for passengers to travel quarantine-free is vital to bringing cross-border air travel back to normal, pre-pandemic levels and we look forward to further relaxation of quarantine requirements in future.”

The two cities had a similar agreement in November last year, under which travellers were only allowed to use two airlines, and both offered travel insurance.