Singapore and Hong Kong delay launch of travel bubble yet again
Editor's Note
Singapore and Hong Kong have delayed the opening of their travel bubble yet again. On Monday, the travel bubble was put on hold for a second time amidst a rise in untraceable cases in Singapore, according to the South China Morning Post.
The two cities planned to launch their quarantine-free travel bubble from May 26, allowing travelers to journey between the two with few restrictions. However, governments from both Hong Kong and Singapore said the launch would be delayed, and there will be a further announcement regarding the future of the Air Travel Bubble (ATB) on or before June 13.
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The travel bubble between the two cities was originally set to launch in November 2020, however, it was delayed because of a spike in cases in Hong Kong. It was then pushed to May 26, though that has indefinitely been delayed again.
When the ATB was set to launch in May, just one flight per day was set to operate between Singapore (SIN) and Hong Kong (HKG), carrying a maximum of 200 passengers per day. Travelers were to be required to be fully vaccinated and take a test within three days of departure and again on arrival.
As of Monday, Singapore has seen a rise in cases with no link. The government has implemented new restrictions on social gatherings until June 13. The seven-day moving average of unlinked cases in Singapore rose from 4.57 to six, according to SCMP.
Authorities said last month that if there was an uptick in the seven-day moving average of community cases to more than five, the ATB would be suspended for at least two weeks.
The tourism and travel sectors — especially that of the aviation category — have welcomed the idea of a travel bubble. Singapore Airlines lost £1.19 billion in the nine months to December 2020 as its number of passengers shrank 97.6% Similarly, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific reported an annual loss of $2.8 billion in 2020.
Last month, Australia and New Zealand launched their travel bubble, allowing Aussies and Kiwi travelers to venture between the two countries without quarantine on either end. However, New Zealand later removed New South Wales from the travel bubble arrangement following a spike in cases.
It's possible that we could see new travel bubbles open around the world as countries look to reopen to tourism — but only for those coming from countries with low case rates and high vaccination rates.
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees