Singapore and Malaysia expands bilateral air services agreement

Officials from Singapore and Malaysia met for air services consultations in Singapore earlier where they have agreed to expand the bilateral air services agreement between both countries.

 

The new agreement gives Low Cost Carriers of both countries the right to operate between Singapore and three cities in East Malaysia - Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Miri. With effect from 01-Nov-08, the Low Cost Carriers of Singapore would be allowed to operate a total of seven flights a week to each of the above cities. This would be increased to fourteen flights a week to each city with effect from 01-Mar-09. The same entitlements have been granted to the Low Cost Carriers of Malaysia.

BG (NS) Choi Shing Kwok, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Transport, who led the Singapore delegation in the consultations, said, “This is a significant step forward for Singapore and Malaysia, coming shortly after both countries have agreed to fully liberalise the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur sector from 1 December 2008 onwards. This new agreement helps to address the high demand for air travel between Singapore and East Malaysia.”

Officials from the two transport ministries have also agreed to meet again during the first quarter of 2009 to discuss the further expansion of air services between Singapore and Malaysia.

At present, Silkair and Malaysian Airlines operate eight and ten weekly flights respectively to Kota Kinabalu, and seven weekly flights each to Kuching.

(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 07-Oct-08

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