Websites crash in rush for travel bookings as Singapore opens up

A Singapore Airlines plane prepares to land at Changi International airport in Singapore. SIA said it has seen ‘very high demand’ for flights and may take longer to respond to queries from customers. — AFP

Singapore Airlines Ltd’s website was temporarily down over the weekend and travel agencies are seeing a surge in demand for flights after the city’s government announced a plan to start quarantine-free travel with more countries as early as next week.

Inquiries jumped more than five times the usual on Chan Brothers Travel’s website, according to the travel agent’s senior marketing communications manager Jeremiah Wong. South Korea and European countries are among the favorite destinations, he said.