Daily Briefing: Singapore, India not discussing air travel bubble: CAAS; EZ-Link launches account-based cards that allow top-ups through mobile app

And Thailand-based Drivehub bags Series A to expand to Singapore, others.

From ChannelNewsAsia:

Singapore is not discussing an air travel bubble arrangement with India as people here understand it to be, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on 28 January.

CAAS was responding to media queries regarding an interview with India's High Commissioner to Singapore P Kumaran, where he said negotiations were ongoing for an air travel bubble between the two countries.

“I think there is a fair amount of interest on both sides to try and enhance the connectivity, which we have enjoyed over the years,” said Kumaran in the interview.

There was a proposal to gradually restore such connectivity and a “draft under negotiation,” he said, without elaborating.

“Countries may have different understanding on what an air travel bubble is,” said CAAS air transport director Daniel Ng.

Read more here. 

From ChannelNewsAsia:

EZ-Link on 28 January rolled out new account-based cards that will allow commuters to make top-ups through a mobile application.

Commuters can also choose to update their existing cards and charms to the account-based ticketing system at various ticketing machines and TransitLink Offices islandwide, according to EZ-Link.

The new cards have a sticker on the back, indicating that the card is to be used with the EZ-Link app.

Existing cards that have been updated to the new system will not receive a sticker but the change will be automatically reflected in the app if the card is linked.

The account-based system saves commuters the hassle of queuing to top up at ticketing machines, or having insufficient value on their travel cards with no machines nearby, said the Land Transport Authority in a separate news release.

Read more here.

From e27:

Drivehub, a Thailand-based online car rental platform, announced today it has closed a “USD seven-figure” Series A funding round, co-led by Toyota Tsusho, CAC Capital, and KK Fund.

As per a press note, the fresh funds will be deployed to enhance Drivehub’s software and technological systems, as well as expand to new markets in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Launched in 2017, Drivehub is an online marketplace where users can “instantly” check vehicle availability, compare prices and quality and transact. The Bangkok-based startup claims it is able to do that through its “real-time” connection to the fleet of rental car companies.

Drivehub shared that it also offers different payment methods for car rentals on its platform.

Read more here.