The International Air Transport Association has applauded Singapore’s announcement to ease border restrictions for entry into the city state.
It is an important measure as Singapore’s Changi Airport is such a key aviation hub in Asia.
"This announcement is positive and a step in the right direction. We hope to work closely with the government so that Singapore’s aviation industry can restart safely while mitigating the possibility of Covid-19 transmission," said Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific.
Singapore is taking a ‘small, cautious step’ in a tourism recovery by allowing travellers from Brunei and New Zealand to visit starting next month.
Arrivals from Brunei and New Zealand will need to take a Covid-19 negative test in lieu of the 14-day quarantine.
Transport minister Ong Ye Kung said the cautious approach is to strike a balance between safety and reviving the aviation market and general economy.
"As a small open economy, to survive we’ve got to keep our borders open. To have connections with the world and to thrive and to prosper, we must be an aviation hub," Ong said.
The two countries were chosen as small nations which have contained the virus well.
Singapore’s mandatory quarantine period has been cut from 14 to seven days for travellers from select ‘low-risk’ regions including Australia except for Victoria state, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Singapore has also agreed a ‘green lane’ pact with neighbour Malaysia for essential business travel across the causeway.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Pacific editor
