Singapore, Hong Kong to resume air travel

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - Singapore and Hong Kong have agreed to resume air travel without any need for passengers to quarantine as a measure against the pandemic.

Singapore’s Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said Thursday the agreement with Hong Kong “set the model for more partnerships to come to revive air travel”, daily Straits Times reported.

He termed the move a “small but significant step for the two aviation hubs”.

The air travelers will have to undergo tests before flying in and out of the two destinations.

Ong said the two destinations “posed a low risk of COVID-19 transmission”.

But no dates have been yet finalized to resume the air travel operations.

Singapore has made air travel agreements with at least 10 countries and regions, including China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Brunei, Australia -- except Victoria state -- and Vietnam.

Hong Kong has reported over 5,200 coronavirus cases, including 105 deaths, while Singapore has registered 57,889, mostly among migrant workers, and 28 virus-related fatalities.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a worldwide lockdown since early March as countries worked hard to stem the spread of the deadly infection which has affected over 38.5 million people globally.

More than 1.09 million people died to the coronavirus, with the US, India, and Brazil top three worst-hit countries.