Singapore: Changi Airport transit bans to be lifted from 2 June

Currently, passengers are not permitted to transit through Singapore’s Changi Airport, but that will change as from 2 June

Background

Changi imposed bans on transit passengers from 24 March, as well as a ban on holidaymakers and other short term visitors to the island.

Transiting in Singapore’s Changi Airport

Don’t expect the usual duty free party. Transit passengers will be directed to designated separate facilities, so they won’t mix with other passengers. Expect to see airport staff all wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) as well as social distancing and temperature checks.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

The new transit arrangements should assist Singapore Airlines, which has been haemorrhaging cash, despite its access to the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek’s deep pockets. It will also benefit the many airlines that use Singapore as a transit point to Australia including British Airways, Qantas and others.