Travel News Wrap: 26 October Week

By Halal Trip | 30, Oct, 2020
Travel News Wrap: 26 October Week

Qantas Plans for ‘Flight to Somewhere’

Image Credit: Fezbot2000 on Unsplash

Carrying on with the theme of ‘flights to nowhere’ or ‘cruise to nowhere’ that has been ever so popular these days, Qantas has announced that they will be running a series of Scenic Getaway Flights. The first of these flights will take off from Sydney to Uluru on 5 December with 110 passengers on board. These flights will feature low-level flybys with Qantas even offering overnight stays at some of Australia’s most iconic spots.

To make this a reality, Qantas has partnered with tourism operators to offer these flights to destinations that are beyond the domestic borders, making use of the opening of said domestic borders in Australia.

Currently, the prices for the first Qantas Scenic Flight Getaway starts at AUD2499 per person and can be booked on Qantas.com.

 

United Airlines Launches Free COVID-19 testing program

Image Credit: Tim Gouw on Unsplash

Starting from 16 November to 11 December, United Airlines will be offering free COVID-19 tests to its customers on select transatlantic flights. The flights in this program have been reported to be the flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to London Heathrow. 

These tests will come in the form of Abbott Laboratories’ rapid molecular ID Now test which is said to take 15-20 minutes. The program is part of the effort of having COVID-19 testing as a replacement for the 14-day quarantines and restrictions that have badly affected the Airline Industry.

Passengers from Newark, Liberty International Airport with a negative test result would still be subject to the United Kingdom’s quarantine requirements.

This is not the first time United has run a program like this. Two weeks ago, United flights from San Francisco to Hawaii was also introduced with this program. Ever since its implementation, the number of people traveling has been reported to have doubled.

For more information on the travel and safety requirements and regulations please refer to the respective authorities.

 

Singapore keen to setup Air Travel Bubble with Malaysia

Image Credit: Muhammad Faiz Zulkeflee on Unsplash

Having recently reached an agreement on the establishment of a bilateral Air Travel Bubble with Hong Kong, Singapore now set its sights to have a similar arrangement with its closest neighbor, Malaysia.

Having implemented two travel arrangements with the Reciprocal Green Lane and the Periodic Communiting Arrangement, it looks like Singapore is waiting for the situation to improve in Malaysia before proceeding with the intended Air Travel Bubble. Although no timeline or dates have been set, it is nice to know that such an arrangement is currently being thought of.

For more information on the travel and safety requirements and regulations please refer to the respective authorities.

 

Heathrow loses ‘Europe’s busiest Airport

Image Credit: Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Following recent numbers, Britain’s Heathrow Airport has been knocked off the title of being Europe’s Busiest Airport. With France’s Charles De Gaulle taking over the mantle. Heathrow saw 19 million passengers in the first nine months of 2020 as compared to 19.3 million passengers at Paris Charles De Gaulle.

This has influenced a movement towards the intention to introduce COVID-19 testing for passengers from high-risk countries by 1 December 2020. Similar to the other testing regimes which are already operational in France’s Charles De Gaulle, Amsterdam’s Schipol and Frankfurt airports, all closely competing for the title of Europe’s busiest Airport.

For more information on the travel and safety requirements and regulations please refer to the respective authorities.

 

Singapore to allow visitors from Victoria State, Australia

Image Credit: Dylan Lu on Unsplash

Singapore has lifted its border restrictions for visitors from Victoria state in Australia starting from midnight Friday, 6 November 2020. This will mean that all travelers who are not Singapore Citizens, PRs, and Long-term pass holders will benefit from this arrangement.

From 12 PM today, 30 October, visitors can apply for the Air Travel Pass for entry into Singapore on or after 6 November. Applicants to this pass must have remained in Australia in the last 14 consecutive days prior to their entry to Singapore. Travelers will also be required to undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, if found negative, they will not be required to serve a stay-home notice.

For more information on the travel and safety requirements and regulations please refer to the respective authorities.

 

Japan Eases Travel Restrictions to Australia, South Korea, and 7 other countries

Image Credit: Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash

Earlier today, 30 October, it has been reported that Japan will be easing travel curbs for Australia, South Korea, and seven other countries in the region. This is in line with their efforts to revive its economy in the midst of the global pandemic.

Japan has also lowered the infection risk advisory level for Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, New Zealand, Brunei, and Vietnam from level three to level two. This means that Japanese citizens are allowed but are told to avoid non-urgent and non-essential trips to the said countries. As opposed to a total ban on travel to a group of countries.

For more information on the travel and safety requirements and regulations please refer to the respective authorities.

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