Singapore opens border to all Australians: Scoot resumes weekly Melbourne to Singapore flights

Scoot has resumed weekly flights from Melbourne to Singapore.

Singapore-based airline Scoot has resumed its weekly flights from Melbourne to Singapore, the first-time since the route was suspended in March when Australia closed its travel borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resumption comes as Singapore welcomes Victorians from November 6 with the lifting of border restrictions - the state being the last to be allowed entry into the south-east Asian city-state which lifted its borders to Australia on October 8. The first scheduled passenger flight took off on 2 November with the second scheduled flight to take off on November 9. Victorians can now also apply for an Air Travel Pass for entry into Singapore and will not need to complete hotel quarantine if they pass their checks on arrival.

Scoot is operating its wide-body 787 Dreamliner on the one-way flight route, which is operating weekly on Mondays, an 11.15am flight departing Melbourne Airport and landing at Changi Airport at 4.10pm (Singapore local time).

The airline will fly its Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the resumed Melbourne to Singapore route.

Due to Australian government travel restrictions, Scoot will not be operating a Singapore to Melbourne passenger flight until after 21 November, with the airline stating that this could be subject to change. The Singapore-Melbourne flight is scheduled as a weekly Sunday early morning flight departing Singapore at 6.55am and arriving in Melbourne at 5.35pm (AEST). The airline said the flight will currently fly without passengers and might carry cargo should it be required.

The airline has extended its one-time, free date change for all new bookings made from now until January 31, 2021, to help passengers plan their travels.

The airline is currently operating three-times weekly, return flights from Perth to Singapore. The route has been operating since December 2013, and resumed June 11 after it was suspended in March.

Flying with Scoot: COVID-19 measures

Passengers looking to fly with Scoot are asked to follow health and safety measures, including health checks for passengers and crew, enhanced cabin cleaning procedures, safe distancing measures and the adoption of a low-touch service model onboard.

Passengers can complete the check-in process online before heading to the airport to minimise touch/contact. There are self-service check-in kiosks available at Singapore Changi Airport and Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.

Passengers are reminded to wear a mask when they leave home in Melbourne including while in the airport, and they will be required to keep their mask on throughout the flight. In Singapore, mask wearing is also mandatory when leaving home. See flyscoot.com

Travelling to Singapore

From November 6, 2020, all Australians entering Singapore are required to apply for an Air Travel Pass. Travellers complete a COVID-19 test on arrival and will not need to serve the 14-day stay-home notice if their test result is negative. See smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/singapore

See also: Qantas to shut airport service desks, force customers onto self-service

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