Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) confirmed the news after signing an agreement with India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation to resume the operations of the planned commercial passenger flights.
The news comes only days after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Singapore Transport Minister S. Iswaran in the city state a few days ago and claimed they discussed strengthening transport arrangements. According to the statement from the CAAS, “This will facilitate quarantine-free travel on the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) from India to Singapore, which will start from November 29 with six designated VTL flights daily from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai”.
It stated that airlines may also fly non-VTL flights. But, passengers will have to meet the medical requirements of the Singapore Ministry of Health’s Country/Region Classification for Border Measures. According to the statement, the airlines will issue timetables for VTL and non-VTL flights as soon as they are available. To travel to Singapore under the VTL, short-term tourists and long-term pass holders must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP). Applications have been opened on November 22 for the VTP for short-term tourists and long-term pass holders traveling to Singapore from Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Finland, and Sweden.
The CAAS explained, “Under the VTL, fully vaccinated travellers from VTL countries may enter Singapore without quarantine and just need to undergo COVID-19 testing”. It also stated that kids under 12 years who are not immunized are permitted to travel under the VTL if they travel with a fully vaccinated VTL traveler who meets all requirements. It stated that all VTL passengers would be required to undergo two COVID-19 tests, a pre-departure test and an on-arrival PCR test at Changi Airport, and will be required to stay self-isolated until their test results are proven to be negative. These tests are not necessary for children under the age of two in the calendar year.
