Hot stock: SIA down 1.6% on halt in VTL ticket sales

SHARES of Singapore Airlines (SIA) were heavily traded after Singapore said it was freezing ticket sales for Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights and buses into the Republic.

As at 11.28 am, shares of the national flag carrier reached a low of S$4.81, down 1.6 per cent or S$0.08, with 3.2 million shares changing hands.

No married deals were recorded, according to ShareInvestor data.

As at 3.23 pm, the counter had eased slightly to trade at S$4.83, down 1.2 per cent or S$0.06, with 5.3 million shares changing hands.

On Wednesday (Dec 22) morning, the Ministry of Health said it would freeze all new ticket sales for travel into Singapore from Thursday (Dec 23) to Jan 20 next year, to reduce the country's exposure to imported Omicron cases.

After Jan 20, VTL quotas and ticket sales will be temporarily reduced - from Jan 21, the capacity for the VTL (Land) with Malaysia will be halved and the total ticket sales for designated VTL flights will be capped at half of the allocated quota.

Meanwhile, travellers who already hold a ticket for a VTL flight or bus and meet all the other requirements can continue to travel under the VTL. The freeze does not affect sales of tickets for flights that enter Singapore after Jan 20, which can still be bought.

READ MORE

• Singapore freezes new bookings for VTL bus and flight entry before Jan 21
• Singapore-Malaysia land VTL extended to citizens of both countries from Dec 20
• Daily ART tests for all VTL travellers; seven more countries added to high-risk category