Singapore, India interested in creating bilateral air bubble for commercial flights: CAAS

Air travel between Singapore and India is currently restricted only to special repatriation flights chartered by the Indian government, said Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) air transport director Daniel Ng.

Singapore is not discussing an air travel bubble arrangement with India as people here understand it to be, a CAAS statement read.
Singapore is not discussing an air travel bubble arrangement with India as people here understand it to be, a CAAS statement read. Photo courtesy: Singapore Airlines

"There is interest from both countries to explore resuming international scheduled commercial passenger flights between Singapore and India gradually," he added. 

However, travellers will be subject to travel restrictions and measures such as COVID-19 testing and stay-home notices, he said. 

Singapore is not discussing an air travel bubble arrangement with India as people here understand it to be, a CAAS statement read. 

Earlier this week, India's High Commissioner to Singapore P Kumaran, had said in a CNBC intervies that negotiations were ongoing for an air travel bubble between the two countries. 

"I think there is a fair amount of interest on both sides to try and enhance the connectivity, which we have enjoyed over the years," said HE Kumaran in the interview. 

A previously announced air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong would have seen residents be able to travel between the two cities subject only to COVID-19 tests, without the need for quarantine or isolation periods. 

India has reported the highest number of COVID-19 infections after the United States, with 10.7 million cases and more than 150,000 deaths.