Singapore’s air travel is recovering

Despite China’s border restrictions, air travel in Singapore is currently at 40 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, Transport Minister Shri S. Iswaran declared.

The passenger traffic from China is considerably important for Singapore, as during 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, around 3.6 million travellers from China visited Singapore. This accounts for 13 per cent of total visits, official data shows.

As for now, despite China’s recent border restrictions including multiple Covid tests and quarantine, air travel in Singapore is currently at 40 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, Transport Minister S. Iswaran declared. And, as many other countries are beginning to relax border regulations, air traffic is expected to further boost, with many opportunities ahead.

“We’ve seen a significant rebound in air travel coming through Singapore, in the space of less than two months from mid March to mid May. Our volumes have more than doubled to around 40 odd percent of pre-Covid, and we expect that momentum to continue,” Iswaran commented.

Starting September 2021, Singapore began allowing vaccinated travellers from selected areas to enter its territory quarantine-free and, gradually, it expanded its country selection to an international range. Moreover, no Covid testing is currently required upon arrival, while general public virus control measures have been reduced.

“Our focus has really been about how we can do this in a manner that is safe, so that we still are mindful of the potential risks from the pandemic, but at the same time, reconnecting to enable economic activity to take place,” Iswaran added.

According to official data from the health ministry, 92 per cent of the citizens in Singapore are vaccinated and 76 per cent have already received booster shots.

 

Source: cnbc.com