Singapore (CU)_ According to Singapore Transport Minister S. Iswaran, Singapore would endeavor to keep its borders open and maintain connectivity with the rest of the globe even if a new strain of Covid-19 appears. Iswaran stated in an interview that the island nation had learnt lessons from its prior dealings with coronavirus strains. Singapore did not alter its reopening plans in reaction to the Omicron pandemic, instead decided to wait and see how things played out. He also indicated that this response was distinct from the Delta outbreak.
During the Changi Aviation Summit, Iswaran said, “We’ve all learned to adapt. We have more tools in the toolkit. It’s not as if you always only have a hammer. Now I’ve got you know, a wrench and a screwdriver and all kinds of other things as well. It really comes down to an assessment of the situation and the risk and then to take a calibrated response.”
Singapore was one of the first Asian countries to reopen its borders. In an effort to boost the country’s aviation and tourism sectors, the country at first allowed only fully vaccinated travelers from certain countries without quarantine. Since then, other limitations have been gradually lifted, and Changi Airport is currently striving to meet the demand.
However, Iswaran stated that while travel is on the upswing, a number of obstacles are tempering confidence as enterprises expand operations. To satisfy demand, the government is assisting airlines, airport ground handlers, and other businesses in hiring additional personnel. Iswaran added, “This is a challenge of transition. We’re working very hard at the system level and with aviation stakeholders individually and collectively, really pulling together. Our overriding objective is to make sure Changi is well prepared for this transition.”
According to the latest report from Singapore Airlines Ltd, it transported 1.45 million travelers in April, the highest number since the emergence of the virus. The airline has regained around sixty percent of its capacity prior to the pandemic, due to relaxed border restrictions that encourage people to fly again.
