Malaysia follows Singapore by blocking new VTL flight bookings for 4 weeks

Earlier today Singapore announced that it was freezing new bookings on Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights from 11.59pm today (22nd December 2021) for flights operating between 23rd December 2021 and 20th January 2022, due to the global spread of the Omicron variant.

While travellers who already have bookings on these flights are fully protected and will be able to fly under the existing VTL arrangements, anyone making a booking from midnight tonight will be restricted to VTL services bound for Singapore operating on or after 21st January 2022.

Malaysia follows suit

Of Singapore’s 24 VTL agreements, only two are bilateral, and only one of those (with Malaysia) requires travellers to take designated VTL flights from Singapore as well as on the journey to Singapore.

That means for travel from Singapore to every other VTL country you just need to take a direct flight to retain quarantine-free privileges on your trip home, but the travel lane with Kuala Lumpur (the only Malaysian VTL route on offer) is the exception to that rule.

Malaysia has now followed Singapore’s lead and imposed the new booking restriction for those seeking VTL flights from Changi to Kuala Lumpur over the same period.

You’ll therefore also need to lock in Singapore – Kuala Lumpur designated VTL flights operating during the 23rd December – 20th January window by midnight tonight, before they become unavailable for booking.

For most of our readers based here in Singapore this won’t be a major issue, since any trips to Malaysia over the next four weeks have probably been arranged with VTL flights in both directions secured already.

However, if you were thinking of travelling to Malaysia on a different VTL flight or date than you already booked, but still within the affected period, you’ll need to start locking in some alternative options in the coming hours.

Otherwise it may be a case of waiting until 21st January at the earliest to secure a spot on a quarantine-free flight.

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Singapore ⇄ Kuala Lumpur VTL flights

Here’s a full list of Singapore – Kuala Lumpur designated VTL flights, and vice-versa, which you’ll need to secure to have a quarantine-free arrival in both directions (click to expand).

Singapore  Kuala Lumpur

29th November 2021 - 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	3K683 A320
SIN 07:15		KUL 08:25
	SQ108 A350-900
SIN 08:30		KUL 09:30
	OD804 737-800
SIN 11:30		KUL 12:35
	AK710 A320
SIN 11:45		KUL 12:55
	MH606 A330
SIN 14:30		KUL 15:30
	SQ122 A350-900
SIN 17:30		KUL 18:40
	TR472 787-9
SIN 17:30		KUL 18:30

27th March 2022 - 28th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ106 A350-900
SIN 08:30		KUL 09:30
	SQ106 737-8 MAX
SIN 08:30		KUL 09:30
	AK710 A320
SIN 13:30		KUL 14:40
	SQ122 A350-900
SIN 16:40		KUL 17:40

Kuala Lumpur  Singapore

29th November 2021 - 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	3K684 A320
KUL 09:05		SIN 10:15
	OD803 737-800
KUL 09:25		SIN 10:30
	AK711 A320
KUL 10:05		SIN 11:05
	SQ107 A350-900
KUL 10:25		SIN 11:35
	MH603 A330
KUL 12:20		SIN 13:20
	SQ121 A350-900
KUL 19:30		SIN 20:35
	TR473 787-9
KUL 19:30		SIN 20:35

27th March 2022 - 28th October 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ105 A350-900
KUL 10:25		SIN 11:35
	SQ105 737-8 MAX
KUL 10:25		SIN 11:35
	AK711 A320
KUL 11:45		SIN 13:00
	SQ121 A350-900
KUL 18:40		SIN 19:50

In either direction, you will have to book by midnight tonight if your proposed travel dates fall in the 23rd December 2021 – 20th January 2022 window.

After midnight those VTL flights will disappear in both directions on this route, but those programmed from 21st January 2022 onwards will still be available to book as normal.

Remember if you already have a designated VTL flight booking on the Singapore – Kuala Lumpur route in either direction during the affected period, and you’re happy with the dates, there’s nothing you need to do.

(Cover Photo: Nazarizal Mohammad)