Singapore, Hong Kong 'in talks' with New Zealand over travel bubble

Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Ku.
Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Ku. Photo credit: Newshub (File)

A long-delayed travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore will begin on May 26, and could be extended to other countries including New Zealand, according to Singapore's Transport Minister.

Speaking to local media, Hong Kong's Commerce Secretary Edward Yau and Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Ku confirmed both Hong Kong and Singapore were in talks with New Zealand and Australia about future travel agreement, but wouldn't elaborate on any further details.

In March New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern didn't appear to be a big fan of the idea of opening Kiwis up to places like Singapore, and said any decision by Australia to open their borders to Singapore could put the Tasman travel bubble at risk.

"Australia is the country that most closely mirrors both our strategy and our management at the borders," Ardern told RNZ.

The new Hong Kong - Singapore flight schedule will be split between two airline companies, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.

Both aircraft will operate modern A350-900 aircraft on the route.

Singapore Airlines said it would increase its services to daily from June 9, while its budget subsidiary Scoot, would begin daily services around the same time.