Passengers at Changi airport (Source: straitstimes.com)

 

Singapore is stepping up measures to ensure safety once its border is reopened, including the establishment of a COVID-19 testing lab at Changi airport.

 

In his ministerial statement before the Parliament on October 6, new Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said that a dedicated Covid-19 testing laboratory will be set up in the next several months to support the old one which can offer rapid testing for 10,000 passengers a day.

 

In addition, Singapore will negotiate Air Travel Bubbles with safe countries or regions - an arrangement meant for general travellers that does not require a controlled itinerary.

 

These two-way travel bubbles are different from reciprocal green lane arrangements meant for business and official travellers.

 

Singapore unilaterally opened its borders to travellers from Brunei and New Zealand last month, and more recently to those from Vietnam and Australia - excluding the state of Victoria.

 

“Such unilateral opening is still meaningful, because it is like a standing invitation. Although the other countries are not ready to lift their restrictions now, Singapore can be top of mind when they are ready eventually,” he added.

 

Compared to pre-COVID-19, Changi Airport is serving 1.5 percent of its usual passenger volume, and 6 percent of the usual number of passenger flights. If cargo flights are included, that goes up to 17 percent. Changi fell from the seventh busiest airport in the world to the 58th.