Singapore freezes new bookings for VTL bus and flight entry before Jan 21

ALL new ticket sales for Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights and buses for travel into Singapore from Thursday (Dec 23) to Jan 20 next year will be frozen, to reduce the country’s exposure to imported Omicron cases, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Wednesday morning.

After Jan 20, VTL quotas and ticket sales will be temporarily reduced. For the VTL (Land) with Malaysia, capacity will be halved from Jan 21 onwards, by the equivalent of 24 bus rides one way per day.

For designated VTL flights into Singapore, total ticket sales will be capped at half of the allocated quota from Jan 21, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in a separate release.

But all 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.

“We will continue to monitor developments closely and update this policy as the situation changes,” MOH added. 

Singapore currently allows quarantine-free air travel to Singapore with 24 countries under the VTL. The list of countries includes Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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The freeze on new VTL ticket sales, for both buses and flights, is for travel into Singapore from 11.59pm on Dec 22 to 11.59pm on Jan 20. 

MOH, meanwhile, announced stricter enforcement for VTL travellers here, who must undergo an on-arrival test and test themselves daily using self-administered antigen rapid tests (ARTs). This is with the exception of days 3 and 7, on which travellers are to undergo a supervised test at a Combined Test Centre or Quick Test Centre before going about any other activities on that day. 

Travellers must take their ARTs and submit their self-administered ART results as necessary in a timely manner, said MOH. Those who do not undergo the required tests or submit their results will be issued a stay order or stay-home notice, and will also face enforcement actions under the Infectious Diseases Act, it said.

“In view of the rise in Omicron cases globally, travellers should exercise personal responsibility, minimise their social interactions, and refrain from high-risk mask off activities, as well as avoid large gatherings and crowded places for 7 days from arrival, even if they have a negative daily ART result,” MOH added. High-risk mask off activities include dining at food and beverage establishments, exercising in gyms and attending fitness classes.

MOH noted that travellers who are unwell, including those showing early or mild symptoms, should be socially responsible and seek medical attention immediately.

CAAS said it will further step up the safeguards and requirements to protect the aviation community. All airport workers who interact with arriving passengers, including those working in public areas such as taxi stands, will have to don enhanced personal protective equipment, including N95 masks and face shields.

All frontline airport workers will be placed on 7-day polymerase chain reaction (PCR) rostered routine testing, instead of the current 7-day ART testing cycle, at the minimum. Those identified to be "higher risk" frontline airport workers will require an employer-supervised ART on the third day of their 7-day PCR testing cycle.

Singapore air crew will also come under an enhanced 7-day PCR rostered routine testing regime, with an employer-supervised ART on the third day of the cycle.

READ MORE:

• 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