Singapore and Hong Kong have delayed a travel bubble, according to people familiar with the matter.
East Asia continues to battle mutant virus strains and new waves of infections.
Authorities didn't elaborate on the delay, unidentified sources told Bloomberg News. But the cancellation was likely instigated by Singapore - which is currently in the grips of another outbreak.
"Singapore and Hong Kong have been in close consultation on the air-travel bubble. We have not fixed a date to announce the resumption of the bubble but will do so once we are ready - hopefully very soon," a representative of the Singaporean Ministry of Transport said.
After combating a rise in cases among migrant workers last year, the virus reappeared this week at an accommodation center for factory staff. Eleven workers at Westlite Woodlands dormitory tested positive for COVID Thursday.
The city eased quarantine requirements for Hong Kong visitors Wednesday - reducing 14 days of quarantine at a government-selected hotel to a week of home isolation.
Low-wage workers in Singapore live in cramped, segregated housing that in the past have been petri dishes for incubating viruses.
Once the pandemic is brought under control in both cities a travel bubble will be launched, Hong Kong tourism sector lawmaker Yiu Si-wing said on radio late Thursday. He believes the arrangement will begin next month.
One airline from each city, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and Singapore Airlines Ltd., have been selected to operate bubble flights which will see vaccinated passengers travel without quarantine.
The limited number of daily flights will do little to help the yearlong drought inflicted on tourism and transport businesses.
But for travel-starved residents, the bubble may offer a welcome break from their homes - even if it is a visit to a neighboring city only.
Earlier this week, Hong Kong banned flights from the Philippines, India and Pakistan for two weeks as a result of mutant-strain concerns. India is battling a virus variant affecting young people the hardest and has resulted in a serious oxygen shortage in hospitals across the country.
