TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS DUE TO COVID-19 OUTBREAK

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TO SINGAPORE

The Singapore authorities have taken the following steps to further limit the risk of community spread in Singapore.

• All new visitors who have travelled to mainland China (not including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) within the last 14 days, will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore. This will include travellers who transit in mainland China to Singapore regardless of the duration and whether they had cleared immigration in China.
• Previously issued short-term and multiple-visit visas, as well as visa-free transit facilities for People’s Republic of China (PRC) passport-holders have been suspended. During this period of suspension, this group will not be allowed to enter Singapore.
• PRC passport holders (except for those with passports issued in Hubei) with no travel history to mainland China within the last 14 days may transit through Singapore.
• Returning residents (Singapore citizens and permanent residents) and long-term pass holders, including those with PRC passports issued in Hubei, who have travelled to mainland China within the last 14 days, will be allowed to enter Singapore. This group will be placed on a 14-day leave of absence from the day of their return from China. 
• From 2359 hours on 4 March 2020, all new visitors with recent travel history to Iran, northern Italy or the Republic of Korea within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter into or transit through Singapore.
• New visas and previously issued short-term and multiple-visit visas for Iranian passport-holders have been suspended. During this period of suspension, they will not be allowed to enter Singapore.
• Returning residents and long-term pass holders who have travelled to Iran, northern Italy, or the Republic of Korea within the last 14 days will be allowed entry into Singapore. However, this group will be issued with a Stay-Home Notice (SHN).
• From 2359 hours on 4 March 2020, travellers to Singapore who exhibit fever and/or other symptoms of respiratory illness, but who do not meet the clinical suspect case definition, may be required to undergo a Covid-19 swab test at the checkpoint. They may carry on with their journey after undergoing the test. Those with a positive result will be contacted and conveyed to the hospital.  
• Visitors who refuse to be tested will not be allowed to enter Singapore. Singapore permanent residents and long-term pass holders who refuse to be tested may have their immigration facilities and work pass privileges revoked or the validity shortened. All travellers, including Singapore citizens, who do not comply with the testing or who cannot be contacted subsequently may face penalties under Singapore law.

Singapore Airlines and SilkAir passengers who are affected by the entry restrictions will not be allowed to travel to Singapore.

Visitors affected by the above policy and need to visit Singapore due to extenuating reasons may appeal to Singapore’s Immigrations and Checkpoint Authority here: https://www.ica.gov.sg/news-and-publications/public-education/updates-on-border-control-measures

More information can be found here: https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/extension-of-precautionary-measures-to-minimise-risk-of-community-spread-in-singapore

TRAVEL WAIVER POLICY

CUSTOMERS TRAVELLING TO AND FROM MAINLAND CHINA, HONG KONG, MACAU, SOUTH KOREA AND NORTHERN ITALY

We will waive cancellation and change fees for customers with tickets issued on or before 4 March 2020 for travel to and from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea and northern Italy from 24 January 2020 to 30 April 2020. The new travel date must commence on or before 31 August 2020.

CUSTOMERS TRAVELLING TO AND FROM JAPAN 

Singapore Airlines will waive change fees for customers with tickets issued on or before 4 March 2020 for travel to and from Japan from 3 March 2020 to 30 April 2020. The new travel date must commence on or before 31 August 2020.

For cancellations, refunds would be in accordance with fare conditions of the ticket(s) purchased.

CUSTOMERS UNABLE TO TRAVEL DUE TO ENTRY OR TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS

We will waive all cancellation and change fees for customers with tickets issued on or before 3 March 2020 for travel on any Singapore Airlines or SilkAir operated flights from 3 March 2020 to 30 April 2020. The new travel date must commence on or before 31 August 2020.

Customers who booked their tickets through travel agencies are advised to contact their agents for assistance. Customers who booked their tickets directly through Singapore Airlines may contact our reservations team in Singapore at +65 6223 8888.

Customers may also contact our Singapore reservations team through our online form via singaporeair.com/request.form. Due to the high volume of requests, we seek your understanding as it may take longer than usual for our customer service agents to respond to you. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Travel agents who require assistance may wish to contact SIA’s local sales offices.

MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD CREW AND PASSENGERS

The safety of our crew and passengers is our highest priority.

We are working closely with the authorities to minimise the spread of Covid-19. This includes screening of passengers on the ground and the distribution of a health advisory notice by Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH). Inflight announcements regarding Covid-19 will also be made on all flights to and from mainland China.

We also have standard operating procedures to handle various inflight medical emergencies, including potentially infectious diseases. Any unwell passenger will be attended to by the relevant medical authorities immediately after the aircraft lands.

Passengers and crew who are feeling unwell are strongly advised to promptly seek medical attention and report their travel history.

As a precautionary measure, temporary changes have been made to our inflight service for flights to mainland China, Hong Kong and South Korea. These include, but are not limited to, pre-setting of inflight items where possible, double catering out of Singapore, removal of seatback literature and the temporary suspension of inflight sales. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. 

ENHANCED PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST COVID-19 AT CHANGI AIRPORT

Changi Airport is an important gateway connecting Singapore to the world and it is vital that the airport always remains operational, even with the evolving COVID-19 situation worldwide. 

To ensure this, Changi Airport has stepped up measures to safeguard and protect the health of airport workers, passengers and visitors, including introducing new measures and cleaning techniques. 

Increase in number of hand sanitizers

More than 1,200 hand sanitizers are now available for use across the whole airport and Jewel Changi Airport. A few hundred of these sanitizers use motion sensors, reducing the need for users to touch them.

Increased frequency in cleaning and disinfecting of high-contact areas

As part of the enhanced cleaning initiative at Changi Airport, the frequency of cleaning efforts in the four terminals and Jewel has at least doubled. In addition, disinfectants are now used instead of just general purpose cleaning solutions. 

The focus of the extra cleaning and disinfecting is on areas frequently used, including door knobs and handles, touchscreens, handrails (e.g. on travellators, escalators), counter tops, railings at taxi and bus queues, lift buttons, water coolers and play areas. These are cleaned and disinfected more frequently, up to four times a day. Tables at F&B outlets are cleaned and disinfected each time they are cleared.

There has also been an increase in the frequency of toilet cleaning, emptying of bins and wiping of sinks and counter tops across the airport and Jewel. Disinfectant is used for toilet flush buttons, door knobs, grab bars, toilet paper dispensers and seat sanitizer dispensers.

Coating frequently-touched surfaces with disinfectant

Touchscreen panels and other frequently-touched surfaces around the airport have been sprayed with an added protective disinfectant coating (quaternary ammonium chloride). With a single application, the compound used reduces the chances of viruses and bacteria staying on them for up to six months. Tested and approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the compound is eco-friendly and safe. 

Surfaces which have been treated with this coating include automated check-in kiosks and automated bag-drop machines, GST refund kiosks, immigration counters, lift buttons, escalator and travellator handrails, information counters and trolley handles. The attractions at Jewel’s Canopy Park, such as the Discovery Slides, have also been similarly coated.

Cleaning with ozone-infused water

Changi Airport is using, for the first time, ozone-infused water to disinfect toilet floors, toilet bowls and urinals in high-usage toilets. Ozone-infused water is a strong cleaner and disinfectant. Compared to chlorine, the most common liquid disinfectant chemical, ozone is a much stronger and faster disinfectant in destroying viruses and bacteria. 

Increased disinfection of floors and cleaning of carpets

A total of 26 automated cleaning machines make their rounds in Changi Airport scrubbing the hard floors while another two sweep the carpets daily. For more thorough cleaning, disinfectant is added to the machines scrubbing the hard floors. 

The carpets in the Departure Transit Hall are thoroughly vacuumed at least three times a week. Disinfectant is also applied after the vacuuming. This is supplemented by daily area vacuuming of high-traffic areas.

Temperature screening of passengers and staff as Changi Airport remains vigilant

Passengers on all arrival flights are subject to temperature screening. Guests entering Jewel’s Canopy Park, Changi Experience Studio, Changi Lounge, Shaw Theatre and YotelAir Singapore Changi Airport will also be screened.

For airport staff and visitors entering Changi Airport’s transit areas, they are required undergo temperature screening as well. Airport staffs are encouraged to observe good personal hygiene, take their own temperature twice a day and seek medical attention promptly if they feel unwell.

Souces: Singapore Airlines & Singapore Changi Airport