Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot stopped carrying transit passengers on their services from Singapore to Hong Kong even as the latter's planes were barred from landing due to new regulatory requirements in Hong Kong.
SIA's move took effect from Saturday, while Scoot will stop carrying transit passengers from Singapore from April 30 after serving its ban.
"From April 17, 2021 until further notice, Singapore Airlines will stop carrying transit passengers on our services from Singapore to Hong Kong due to new regulatory requirements in Hong Kong. Services from Hong Kong to Singapore remain unaffected, and passengers originating from Hong Kong will be allowed to transfer through Singapore Changi Airport en-route to their final destinations," said SIA, in response to media queries.
Customers may choose to rebook or seek a refund, added SIA.
The announcement came in a daily press release providing updates and COVID-19 case numbers for the territory.
The press release stated that a Scoot passenger flight (TR980), arriving from Singapore to Hong Kong, had two passengers who tested positive for COVID-19. One passenger had also failed to comply with requirements “specified under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)”.