Until January 21, ticket sales for Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) programme have been put on hold for all flights. Flights on and after this day have seen a reduction in ticket sales. The decision was taken in response to the fast-spreading COVID-19 variant Omicron, which has been reached at least 65 cases in Singapore as of December 22.
There will be no new ticket sales for specified VTL flights for entrance into Singapore until January 21, according to Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Precisely, the bookings for flights until January 20 at 23:59 are covered by the suspension. This policy took effect from 23:59 Singapore Time on December 22.
After the blanket restriction is lifted, VTL ticket sales will be “temporarily reduced,” according to the government body. While the duration of the limits has not been determined, it is reasonable to expect that they will be tightened or relaxed if the epidemiological situation worsens or improves.
Travellers who already have VTL flight tickets will not be affected by the new restriction and will be able to enter Singapore under the VTL (Air) as intended, as long as the original conditions are followed.
The government will keep the option to apply for Vaccinated Travel Pass (Air) open, according to ICA.
Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane
The Vaccinated Travel Lane [VTL], which has been available since October, provides quarantine-free travel to Singapore by air from a restricted group of nations. VTL tourists must be completely vaccinated against COVID-19 using authorised vaccinations. This should be done at least two weeks before the passenger arrives in Singapore. The applicants must apply three days before the travel date to get VTL passes.
VTL booking suspension is implemented to reduce the spread of Omicron. As Omicron is significantly more contagious than the previous versions, countries worldwide have reimposed limitations to safeguard their healthcare systems from being overwhelmed.
“Our border measures will help to buy us time to study and understand the Omicron variant and to strengthen our defences, including enhancing our healthcare capacity and getting more people vaccinated and boosted,” said a statement from Singapore’s border agency.
