Singapore: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday (October 22) that Australia is in the “final stage” of negotiations with Singapore to establish a new travel arrangement between the two countries, which may be in ” “Established next week or so.”
According to the “Sydney Morning Herald” report, the focus of the talks is to allow vaccinated students and business travelers to benefit from this arrangement first, and then open it to tourists.
According to the report, the travel bubble will depend on the quarantine arrangements of each state, but New South Wales and Victoria have cancelled mandatory hotel quarantine for international travelers who have been vaccinated since November 1.
“The first step (is) to bring the Australians home,” Mr Morrison said at a press conference on Friday.
He said that then the country will welcome students holding student visas, business travelers, skilled immigrants and international tourists in turn.
Mr Morrison added that Australia may welcome international tourists “before the end of the year”, but the country will not rush to reopen, and said the goal is “safe opening so that we can remain safe and open”.
After Mr. Morrison announced that he was “very happy”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a statement on Facebook.
“Singapore and Australia have strong economic and investment ties, as well as friendly non-governmental ties.
He said: “As we move towards the future of the new crown epidemic, we look forward to restoring close ties between the two countries.”
In March of this year, Singapore confirmed that it is negotiating with Australia on a possible travel bubble.
Singapore Airlines increases flights to Sydney
Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced on Friday that it will increase flights to Sydney from December 1. Flights between Singapore and Sydney will operate daily.
Flight SQ231 will depart from Changi Airport at 12.45 am local time and arrive in Sydney at 11.50 am local time. The return flight SQ222 will depart Sydney at 4.10 pm and arrive at Changi Airport at 9.20 pm.
Singapore Airlines said it has implemented “industry-leading health and safety measures”, including providing each customer with a wide range of cabin cleaning and personal care packages.
The airline added that the aircraft is also equipped with an advanced HEPA filter system that “replaces all cabin air every three minutes.”
Except during meals, all passengers and crew members must also wear masks during the flight.
In another media release, Qantas stated that it will restart flights between Singapore and Sydney on November 23, four weeks ahead of schedule.
The flight initially runs three days a week, and there will be daily flights from December 18th.
Jetstar will fly to Singapore from Melbourne and Darwin on December 16.
Without government waivers, Australians have been unable to travel internationally for more than 18 months. After Canberra imposed strict restrictions on the number of people entering to slow the spread of COVID-19, thousands of citizens and permanent residents were unable to return.
