Travellers will gradually be allowed to transit through Changi Airport from June 2, as Singapore begins to lift restrictions imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19. The country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAS) said the decision is part of the state’s strategy to reopen transport to meet the needs of the economy.
Currently, foreign passengers can only pass through Singapore if they are on repatriation flights organised by their respective governments.
Airlines will have to submit proposals for transfer lanes through the facility to CAAS. The plans will then be reviewed taking into account aviation safety, public health considerations and the health of passengers and crew.
“As a precaution, stringent measures will be instituted to ensure that the transit passengers remain in designated facilities in the transit area and do not mix with other passengers whilst at Changi Airport,” a statement from CAAS read.
In addition, airport staff will be required to wear personal protective equipment when interacting with passengers. Existing precautionary measures such as social distancing, temperature checking for travellers and staff will continue to be enforced.
Handling more than 68 million passengers in 2019, Changi is one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia and is also the world’s seventh busiest airport by international and cargo traffic.
