Singapore to limit quarantine-free entry

Singapore to limit quarantine-free entry

The benefit may not be available for Vande Bharat passengers as of now, says statement by city-state

17/11/2021

Long wait: Passengers waiting to get tested for COVID-19 at the international airport in Chennai. B. Velankanni Raj VELANKANNI RAJ B

JAGRITI CHANDRA SUHASINI HAIDAR NEW DELHI

A day after including India on its Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) programme, Singaporean officials say quarantine-free entry may not be allowed for Indians taking Air India’s Vande Bharat flights, unless talks on a special bilateral arrangement result in an agreement.

In a detailed document on frequently asked questions on VTL, Singapore said only commercial scheduled passenger flights were eligible to be designated as VTL flights and since the Vande Bharat Mission flights were Government charter relief flights, they were not eligible. India has thus far not reopened regular international travel and has restricted flights to only those from 28 countries that have negotiated an “air travel bubble” system with the Government, that do not include Singapore.

“As Vande Bharat Mission flights are chartered repatriation flights, they are not eligible to be designated as VTL flights,” the statement released said, adding that negotiations with the Ministry of Civil Aviation was under way to work out a compromise that would allow a “partial” restoration of international flights for Singapore as a “temporary” measure.

In a statement on Tuesday, Singapore International Airlines on Tuesday asked passengers to be “patient” while talks were on.

Singaporean media had reported a surge in bookings for SIA flights after the announcement of the VTL programme, and at a press meet, Transport Minister S. Iswaran said Singapore aimed two flights a day each from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai by November 29. Travel agents in India said they were eager for the return of regular flights.