A quarantine-free travel bubble has been agreed between Singapore and Hong Kong.
It will be the second major air route in the region to open after Australia and New Zealand resumed flights last week.
The delayed resumption of flights between the two Asian hubs is due to start on May 26 after being delayed from November after a sudden spike of Covid infections in Hong Kong.
The Air Travel Bubble (APT) is expected to provide a boost to the tourism sectors of both cities.
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Singapore Airlines plans an initial four flights a week before moving to a daily schedule from June 9.
Cathay Pacific will also run a reduced schedule, increasing to daily returns using Airbus A350 aircraft under the ATB.
The airline said: “Cathay Pacific is excited to welcome the resumption of the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble and is ready to fly passengers on board its two-way, all-purpose, quarantine-free Air Travel Bubble flights starting 26 May.
“These flights will be operated by pilots and cabin crew who have all been fully vaccinated.
“With travel having been difficult for everyone over the past year, we know that our customers have been eagerly anticipating the launch of our Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble flights so that they can rediscover the joy of flying.
“We believe the safe and secure bubble flights will be a milestone showcase for the opening of similar travel arrangements with other popular destinations.”
Dr YK Pang, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), said: “Relaunching the Air Travel Bubble with Singapore is the first step in Hong Kong’s resumption of international travel, and a milestone for preparing the city for gradually welcoming more visitors back.
“We expect that travellers at the early stage of the launch of the ATB are those who travel for family visits or other essential reasons, and leisure travellers will return successively.”
Meanwhile, the HKTB will continue to work with the tourism-related sectors in enhancing overall anti-epidemic measures in the city, including a standardised hygiene protocol launched last year for hotels, restaurants, transportation, shopping malls, tour operators and other tourism-related sectors, establishing a healthy and safe tourism image.
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