Shanescape

This brings the number of cities approved for transit flights through Singapore to 19

Singapore Airlines has begun allowing transit passengers originating from select European cities since Monday (29 Jun).

The approved cities are: London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. The airline group has also approved Taipei earlier this month, for passengers travelling on Scoot to and from the Chinese city.

Singapore Airlines and Silkair customers travelling from these cities will now be able to connect through Singapore onwards to other destinations within the SIA, Silkair or Scoot network, if the tickets are booked on a single ticket.

In line with the existing policies, customers will only be able to book return tickets provided both the origin and destination cities are on the approved list of cities for transit flights.

For instance, if you are travelling between Sydney and Frankfurt, you can now book return tickets from either cities. However, if you are travelling from Frankfurt to Bangkok, you can only book a one-way ticket.

Latest list of approved cities for transit flights

As of 29 Jun, the following cities are approved for transit flights via Singapore:

As of 23 Jun, these are the approved cities of origin where passengers are allowed to transit via Changi:

Singapore Airlines and Silkair operations in July

Singapore Airlines and Silkair will be operating to 28 cities in July 2020, with some adjustments to frequencies to some cities.

Scoot has also commenced services to Taipei and Surabaya, adding on to the list of cities that the airline group is now serving.

Final thoughts

The expansion of approved list of countries for transit flights via Singapore is definitely an encouraging view, even as the world still approaches international travel cautiously given the coronavirus situation.

This will held to bring back some of the traffic through Singapore, as airlines wait this pandemic out and start positioning themselves for mass market travel down the road.

For now, it’s only a waiting game.

Passengers from China, Japan, and South Korea can now transit via Changi

In another good turn of events, Singapore Airlines announced on 22 Jun that customers from China, Japan and South Korea can now travel via Singapore to any points on the SIA network, including destinations served by Silkair or Scoot.

Singapore Airlines has earlier commenced transit facilities for passengers travelling from Australia and New Zealand since 11 Jun. 

Tickets for these new transit flights have been made on sale since 23 Jun (Tue) on the Singapore Airlines website.

Approved points of departure

As of 23 Jun, these are the approved cities of origin where passengers are allowed to transit via Changi:

Note that this list applies only for outbound journeys. For customers who wish to book return flights, both of the origin and destination must be on the approved list. For instance, customers who wish to fly from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur can only buy a one-way ticket, but customers who wish to fly from Sydney to Shanghai will be allowed to purchase return tickets.

The new Changi transit experience

In announcing the transit arrangements earlier in June for passengers from Australia and New Zealand, transit passengers will be herded to a transit holding area (THA) that is separate from passengers departing from Singapore.

In addition, Singapore Airlines is also seating transit passengers in a different zone on the aircraft from their point of origin, separate from other customers ending their journeys in Singapore.

Once in Singapore, transit passengers will disembark last, after all the other passengers leave the aircraft. This group of passengers will be escorted to the nearest THAs located near A21 or at gate C3, by ground staff. Transit passengers will not be allowed to visit any shops, restaurants, lounges and any amenities along the way.

If the transit time is 75 minutes or less, customers wil lbe escorted directly to the departing flight’s gate hold-room.

There will be a temperature screening area at the entrance of all the THAs, and only authorised passengers and staff will be allowed into the THAs. Transit passengers should also note that they are required to wear a mask at all times, except when they are eating, drinking or smoking.

Note that premium passengers will still not be able to access the SilverKris lounge for now and will have their own dedicated area at the THAs, with free refreshments.

Changi Airport has published a video outlining the experience, which you can watch here:

Transit hotel now open

Changi Airport’s transit hotel, Aerotel, located at Terminal 1 is now open for passengers with long layovers. Transit passengers who have made bookings should inform the Changi Experience Ambassador on duty for assistance, who will escort them to the hotel. 

Note that transit passengers who book a transit hotel room will be required to remain in their rooms the entire time of their stay, and will not be allowed to roam around the temrinal. Upon check-out, they will be escorted to either the THAs or their gates.

Final thoughts

CAAS has earlier told The Straits Times that “hundreds” of customers have transited via Changi Airport since transit traffic reopened to passengers in mid-June. With this expansion of the ‘white-list’ of countries, the number is expected to go up significantly, as global travel resumes in a steady fashion.

CAAS has also said that it is now assessing applications from other airlines on transit arrangements, so we can only hold our breathe and wait for other airlines to resume their flight via Changi Airport.

Of course, this transit arrangement is far from the original Changi experience, but in a time like this, being able to travel from point A to point B is certainly more essential than the transit experience. We will all yearn for the day where we can roam freely once again, but I guess we can only sit and wait for that day to arrive.