6 airlines to provide VTL flights between Singapore, Malaysia: CAAS
SINGAPORE: Six airlines have been designated to provide vaccinated travel lane (VTL) flights between Singapore and Malaysia, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on Thursday (Nov 18).
The airlines are AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Scoot and Singapore Airlines (SIA).
The VTL between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which will launch on Nov 29, was announced earlier this month.
There will be six daily designated VTL services between Changi Airport and KLIA.
Applications for the Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) for travellers from Malaysia will open on Nov 22 at 10am.
"Singapore and Malaysia enjoy strong economic links and warm people-to-people ties," said CAAS in the media release.
"The joint VTL is an important step in reopening the borders between two close neighbours, facilitate business and allow many families to reunite."
Before the pandemic, Malaysia was amongst the top three markets for annual passenger arrivals at Changi Airport, said CAAS.
The Singapore-Kuala Lumpur link was also the busiest international air route in the world, with about 40 flights daily and an average of 7,000 arrivals per day at Changi Airport, said CAAS.
Singapore has announced plans for VTLs with 21 countries to date.
Under the quarantine-free travel scheme, fully vaccinated travellers from VTL countries may enter Singapore without quarantine and just need to undergo COVID-19 testing.
Children aged 12 and below who are not vaccinated will be allowed to travel under the scheme into Singapore if they are accompanied by another traveller who meets all VTL requirements.
The conditions for entry into Singapore under the VTL for Malaysia are the same as those for existing VTLs.
Under the VTL scheme, travellers must have remained in one or more of the VTL countries in the last 14 days before departure to Singapore.
They must take two COVID-19 tests.
The pre-departure test, which must be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a professionally-administered antigen rapid test (ART), within two days before departing for Singapore and obtain a negative test result.
They will also have to take an on-arrival PCR test at Changi Airport and self-isolate until their test result is confirmed to be negative.
Travellers who test negative on-arrival at KLIA may use their result to fulfil the pre-departure test requirement before returning to Singapore if it was taken within two days from departing Singapore.
"This will be particularly useful for VTL travellers who are intending to make day trips between Singapore and Malaysia," said CAAS.
Children aged two and below in the calendar year are not required to undergo these tests.
More details on the VTL requirements into Singapore can be found at ICA's website or Malaysia's immigration website.
