Singapore and Hong Kong put off 'travel bubble' announcement, report says

Singapore and Hong Kong called off an announcement planned for today on an 'air travel bubble,' according to people familiar with the matter, the second time in five months the highly anticipated arrangement appears to have run into obstacles, Bloomberg reports.

No reason was immediately provided on why the announcement – which Bloomberg reported Wednesday was expected today – was postponed and a new date has not been set, said the people, who asked not to be identified as they are not authorized to speak publicly. The cancellation was initiated by the Singapore side, one of the people said.

Singapore’s Ministry of Transport and Hong Kong’s Commerce and Economic Development Bureau did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new start date for the bubble was planned for May, people familiar have said, though that’s now uncertain. While it’s unclear what triggered the postponement of the announcement, it comes as Singapore faces new virus infections among its migrant workers.

Reopening to international travel is key for Singapore and Hong Kong, which don’t have domestic travel markets.

Singapore Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said earlier this month that he hopes an agreement on the air travel bubble would be announced “soon,” echoing Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s earlier comments.

On Wednesday, Singapore eased quarantine rules for those traveling to Hong Kong. Travelers from Hong Kong will have to stay in home isolation for seven days upon arriving in Singapore, down from a previous rule of 14 days in a government-chosen hotel.-Photo: CNA