Singapore Airlines hoping for travel bubble deal with Australia

A new travel bubble with Australia may be on the cards, despite some airline bosses downplaying extensive overseas travel until mid-2021.

A much anticipated travel bubble between Australia and Singapore could be on the horizon, despite some airlines – including Qantas – downplaying any possible corridors until a vaccine is available.

Singapore was set to launch a bubble with Hong Kong but given the latter’s recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the arrangement is said to be delayed until 2021.

But despite Australia only having a one-way bubble with New Zealand, Singapore Airlines are holding on to hope that a bubble could be launched prior to a vaccine being distributed.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, the airline’s executive vice president of commercial Lee Lik Hsin said that “bubbles” were still a key component of restarting international travel.

“[In] the example of the Singapore-Hong Kong bubble … the governments had discussed and come to the conclusion that it was a safe way to resume mass travel, predicated under certain conditions,” Mr Lee said.

RELATED: Queensland will open to NZ from 1am on Saturday

There are hopes of more travel bubbles emerging. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“The preconditions changed because the infection rates in Hong Kong went up – that’s what’s setting the preconditions are for. As far as other countries go … we still look forward to it and we certainly hope Australians and the Australian government think the same.”

Along with Qatar, Singapore Airlines is one of the few international carriers that has continued to fly into Australia during the pandemic.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, while encouraging of future bubbles, said international passengers on board his airline will be required to have a vaccine prior to travel.

Mr Joyce said the rule will apply to anyone entering or leaving Australia on a Qantas flight, however some countries may be exempt from the requirement – such as New Zealand.

“We are looking at changing our terms and conditions, to say for international, that we will ask people to have a vaccination before getting on the aircraft,” Mr Joyce confirmed.

“We think for international visitors coming out, and people leaving the country, we think that’s a necessity.”

Alan Joyce says passengers will need to be vaccinated to travel on Qantas planes overseas. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone/NCA NewsWire

While a corridor across the ditch is still only one way (with Australians still needing to enter hotel quarantine in New Zealand), Queensland has announced they will open the gates to Kiwis from tomorrow.

Annastacia Palaszczuk told Today the “great success story of Queensland” and that of New Zealand had resulted in the chief health officer’s surprise decision.

“(Chief health officer) Dr Jeannette Young advised me late last night that New Zealand is good to go,” she said.

“So, visitors coming in from New Zealand from 1am tomorrow are welcome into Queensland.

“We are hoping that eventually New Zealand will not have to hotel quarantine upon return, and then there would be free flowing movement between the two.”

Currently, those returning from Australia still have to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival into New Zealand.