Singapore’s Changi Airport Offers a Safer Journey

Changi Airport has started rolling out heightened safety measures as it prepares for travel to gradually resume.

New contactless and cleaning technology sit at the centre of the passenger experience, with automated kiosks and proximity sensors currently being installed to eliminate the need for travellers to touch electronic screens during check-in or bag drop-off.

Used for the first time in any airport, pioneering infrared sensors will enable passengers to select options and key in travel details by pointing their finger close to the screen without touching it. For those who need to check-in at manned counters, acrylic screens will provide a safe barrier between passengers and staff.

New contactless and cleaning technology sit at the centre of the passenger experience

The contactless experience will also extend to immigration. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority has upgraded the airport’s automated immigration lanes with a new biometric system that uses face and iris recognition technology as the main way to check identity. This replaces fingerprint scanning.

Technology is also being embraced to clean and disinfect the airport’s terminals. Cleaning robots have been upgraded with a nozzle that sprays a light disinfecting mist for added protection on carpets and floors.

As part of its measures, Changi Airport Group (CAG) is currently testing the use of ultraviolet-C LEDs to disinfect escalator and travellator handrails. A trial is also being carried out on the use of contactless infrared technology for lifts, where passengers hover their finger over a button to activate it.

These innovations are in addition to previously introduced measures that include temperature screening, use of masks by all passengers and staff, sensor-activated hand sanitiser throughout the airport and long-lasting antimicrobial spray on frequently touched surfaces.

Tan Lye Teck, CAG’s executive vice president for airport management, said: “Passengers will expect airports to deliver the highest standards of safety and hygiene to give them peace of mind during their journey, and we will rapidly bring on board new measures as we go into a new normal for air travel.”

Private Aviation Set to Soar in Post-Covid Travel

Demand for private aviation is on the rise as travellers seek safety and exclusivity in a post-covid world. This was the sentiment from a panel of industry experts speaking at TravMedia webinar, ‘Luxury Travel: Looking Beyond the Coronavirus Crisis’.

As border restrictions across the globe slowly start to ease and people seek to spread their wings after months of lockdown, the tourism industry has noted a huge uptick in interest for private aviation.

And it’s little wonder with health and safety remaining a top travel priority as coronavirus continues to plague the world, that demand for charter jets, planes and helicopters is on the rise.

“We’ve already seen, even with border restrictions, an increasing appetite for private travel, private jets and yachts,” says Kissa Castaneda, editor-in-chief at Tatler Asia.

While the commercial aviation industry remains mostly grounded by strict travel bans, the private industry is booming. Data from the Transportation Security Administration reveals passenger numbers started to climb throughout June for commercial flights. However, they still sit at about 75 percent off last year’s figures.

In stark contrast, private jet flights have recovered to 74 percent of 2019 passenger levels, according to WingX . “This [private aviation] will continue to boom and expand in the next few months and post-covid,” predicts Karishma Tulsidas, editor-in-chief at Robb Report Singapore.

After being declared Covid-19 free at the end of June, Fiji recently opened its borders – in particular to billionaires and VIPs.

In a Twee , Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said, “Say you’re a billionaire looking to fly your own jet, rent your own island and invest millions of dollars in Fiji in the process. If you’ve taken all the necessary health precautions and borne all associated costs, you may have a new home to escape the pandemic in paradise.”

Within days, Fiji welcomed its first fleet of private jets carrying billionaires and ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWI).

Adding to the appetite for private aviation is the uptick in interest in private member and aviation clubs. “This mode of transport offers a sense of security and greater guarantee of hygiene,” says Tara Loader-Wilkinson, editor-in-chief of Billionaire Magazine.

As Asia starts to open up and exclusivity becomes the new buzzword, chartering a helicopter or aircraft is slated to be the chosen mode of transport for those who can afford it. Adds Tulsidas, “UHNWI in Asia has pretty much weathered the effects of the pandemic, and they still have a huge appetite for luxury.”

The Maldives Gears Up to Welcome Tourists

After months of lockdowns across the world, restrictions are slowly being eased and hopes are being pinned on travel starting to resume.

Those seeking a slice of tropical island paradise away from the masses will be delighted to discover that the Maldives plans on easing all entry rules on July 1 as it attempts to re-boot tourism.

The re-opening of the country follows a tight lockdown put in place at the end of March. However, the Ministry of Tourism has announced after taking all the “necessary steps”, measures can start to be safely relaxed.

From July 1, international travellers can land in the Maldives without any restrictions or additional Covid-19 related costs. No prior coronavirus testing is required and visitors do not need to endure a 14-day quarantine.

Arriving passengers will need to fill out a health declaration form and undergo a health check before passing through immigration.

Once in the country, visitors must abide by strict social distancing rules of one metre and wear face masks in public. These form part of a set of guidelines issued by the Civil Aviation Department on June 14.

In a bid to instil visitor confidence, the country is issuing a “Safe Tourism License”. This will serve as a form of accreditation for tourist venues that adhere to government regulations and safety requirements. This includes having a certified medic on call and a good supply of personal protective equipment.

So, if you’re after a remote luxury getaway this summer, then the Maldives has it covered. Charter a private sea plane from the mainland and soak up the stunning seascapes as you fly to tropical island paradise.