Travel bubbles: How countries have set up safe, intl air corridors

Last update: May 13th, 2021.

With world economies still on their backs and struggling to recuperate after the vicious impact of COVID-19, multiple travel air bubbles are in the works and are set to be the first step in the recovery direction along with COVID pass certificates.

But, exactly what is an air or travel bubble? What countries are on board with this initiative?

What are travel bubbles and how do they work?

Many attempts have been made to get the system back on track. The latest effort sees countries agreeing to exclusive quarantine-free travel between their borders if they deem each other a low enough risk.

The agreements are known as travel bubbles, or travel corridors, and exist where countries have been able to contain the virus to a certain degree.

Although tourism is not the first priority at this stage, countries with air bubble arrangements are eager to jumpstart their aviation industries and welcome citizens and business travelers.

These COVID air bubbles will also eliminate the quarantine requirement and most will simply require a negative PCR test taken no longer than 72 hours before arrival.

Benefits of using air bubbles when traveling abroad

2020 was a devastating year for sectors across the board, but few felt the impact quite like the travel and tourism industry.

More than 100 million people have lost their jobs and the World Tourism Organization estimates a 74% decline in international arrivals.

The WTO has also released figures showing export revenue losses of over USD 1.3 trillion, culminating in the corporations and economies being on the verge of a total collapse.

Safe, international travel bubbles can be a rapid option to establish COVID-free air routes that provide a chance to boost tourism, business gatherings, and a restart for global economies.

Major air bubbles to restore international travel & tourism

Several countries have set up travel bubbles to allow freedom of movement during the pandemic outbreak.

Australia-New Zealand: Trans-Tasman air bubble has been set up

In the southern hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand have been applauded for their remarkable containment of the virus thanks to strict border control and lockdown measures.

The Trans-Tasman air-bubble was opened in late April 2021 and passengers can now travel quarantine-free between the two nations.

New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, says: “It is truly exciting to start quarantine-free travel with Australia. Be it returning family, friends, or holiday-makers, New Zealand says welcome and enjoy yourself.”

Both countries are also considering separate COVID-free travel corridors with other countries that pose a low risk. Many Pacific nations have been considered as they have some of the lowest infection rates in the world.

Hungary-Turkey: immunity travel agreement

After the government of Hungary launched its COVID health passport in early February, this EU country established a key alliance with Turkey. Residents of both countries now enjoy the benefits of a travel bubble thanks to the mutual recognition of their immunity certificates.

“Turkey will recognize Hungarian immunity certificated from Tuesday [May 11th],” said the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó.

At this time, Hungary holds valid immunity bilateral arrangements with Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Bahrain.

India: connected to the world via COVID-free travel corridors

India is leading the charge with the largest amount of COVID-free travel corridors. Benefits between airlines to and from India and its corresponding nations are reciprocated.

India is amongst the top 3 countries with the highest infection rate but they are also under the top 5 largest economies in the world. The following countries are part of India’s air bubble:

Singapore: A commercial & touristic nucleus with key travel bubbles

Singapore had a promising list of COVID-19 travel-approved countries, but as cases have spiked over time, they have suspended some of the arrangements. Recently suspended countries include Vietnam, Germany, and Japan.

A major arrangement that is in the pipeline is between Singapore and Hong Kong. These two business hubs would have opened their network by November 2020 but due to Hong Kong’s coronavirus infection increase, it was temporarily suspended.

Singaporean Minister for Transport, Ong Ye Kung, said in March 2021 that “[they] have received a proposal from Hong Kong to reopen borders safely” and that [they] are studying it and will be responding to Hong Kong shortly.” The new bubble agreement was scheduled for May 2021 but on 22 April Singapore postponed the announcement once again.

This air travel bubble (ATB) is one of the key networks that affect global commerce and all eyes are on this corner of Asia for further announcements.

More recently, on May 17th, Singapore’s Ministry of Transport, S Iswaran, said “in light of the recent increase in unlinked community cases, Singapore is unable to meet the criteria to start the Singapore-Hong Kong ATB“. More details should be announced on June 13th.

Tahiti-US: Quarantine-free flights for vaccinated travelers

Vaccine rollouts in the United States are steadily being implemented and this is opening more borders and travel opportunities for US citizens. France’s Covid-19 cases spiked again in January and all their borders remained shut, including those of overseas collectivity, French Polynesia.

As of the end of April 2021, quarantine-free flights from the USA to Tahiti are open for vaccinated citizens who can prove they have been in the US no less than one month before departure. Non-vaccinated travelers will however be required to undertake a mandatory 10-day quarantine.

Currently, different states of the US assess the idea of COVID pass certificates, and how would they work within their communities.

Taiwan-Palau: A travel corridor to track & trace visitors

This was the first official travel bubble in Asia and was met with great anticipation.

Palau has recorded zero coronavirus infections and poses no travel threat.

To keep their record low number, Taiwanese visitors are only allowed to join pre-approved tours with detailed itineraries. This will permit both countries to track and trace any possible patients and it will lower the unsupervised contact that citizens of the two nations have.

The European Union’s current travel air bubbles

Europe has seen all-time high COVID-19 numbers at the beginning of 2021 and countries are closing their borders routinely. The Union has however welcomed citizens from these countries to enter the Schengen Zone:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Thailand

Member States are also advised to re-open to citizens from Macau and Hong Kong, China’s special administrative regions. Subject to reciprocity, China could also be allowed back in soon.

Germany has recently confirmed that they will allow the aforementioned nations, except for Rwanda. EU citizens and travelers from Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland are also allowed into Germany.

The Netherlands: new three-way bubble proposal

The Dutch government might be working on a three-country travel bubble that includes them along with Belgium and Germany, two of the Netherlands’ key economic partners.

Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC) made the official recommendation in mid-May 2021 to boost the tourism industry. “German and Belgian visitors made up 40% of the total visitors, so they represent a serious interest and could also strongly contribute to the recovery that is really needed,” said NBTC Director Jos Vranken.

Besides this possible travel bubble, the local entity ANVR believes in a “coronavirus checking app between countries” that includes other key nations such as Italy to restore safe international travel.

UAE-Seychelles: mutual recognition for tourism

Quarantine-free travel is possible as of May 13th from the United Arab Emirates and Seychelles, and vice versa, thanks to a new air bubble agreement arranged between the two nations.

Travelers who are planning to take this route should learn they will be asked to show proof of full vaccination via a valid COVID-19 health certificate. The accord arrives just when the UAE assesses the idea of a COVID health passport that could be widely used by its citizens.

Travel bubbles & COVID passes: How they work together

Travel bubbles have proven to be a temporary fix as vaccine rollouts continue. In cases like the Hong Kong–Singapore bubble, a sudden resurgence in cases can instantly close the bubble.

COVID passes, or vaccine passports, on the other hand, should stabilize the bubbles in the future and allow the corridors to stay open for longer periods.

The system is susceptible to falsified vaccine certification but countries like Singapore or South Korea are looking to incorporate blockchain technology to prevent this.

Other nations like South Africa and Brazil have been red-listed and won’t soon be included in the major bubbles.

Slow vaccine rollouts, no immediate plans for COVID passes, and suspected mutated strains are placing many countries on the no-fly list for the foreseeable future.