EXPANSION OF SINGAPORE’S BILATERAL AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MALAYSIA

Ministry of Transport, Singapore has reported on Monday that Following air services consultations held earlier today inKuching, East Malaysia, Singapore and Malaysia agreed to an expansion of the bilateral air services agreement between both countries. The Singapore delegation was led by Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Transport, Mr Choi Shing Kwok.

2. The new agreement gives carriers of both countries the right to operate passenger services between Singapore and six new destinations in Malaysia, namely Alor Setar, Bintulu, Labuan, Kerteh, Kota Bahru and Sibu. Singapore and Malaysia carriers will each have the traffic rights to operate 28 weekly passenger services to each of these destinations.

3. Under the new agreement, Singapore carriers will also have expanded traffic rights to operate 42 weekly passenger services each to Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Langkawi1 as well as 28 weekly passenger services each to Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Malacca,Miri, Sandakan and Tawau2. The same entitlements are accorded to the Malaysia carriers as well.

4. Singapore and Malaysia also discussed the exchange of cargo traffic rights. Carriers of both countries will also have unlimited rights to operate any number of cargo services to Kuala Lumpur, Penangand all the above-mentioned Malaysian points.

5. Delegation leader Mr Choi Shing Kwok, said, “We are pleased with the outcome of today’s air services consultations, especially following on the results achieved in the last two rounds of consultations. I am pleased to also note the breakthrough we achieved for cargo services. Enabling our cargo carriers to transfer cargo between both countries will improve the flow of goods and provide major economic benefits to both countries.”

1 To date, Singapore carriers can operate 21 weekly services to Ipoh, 38 weekly services to Kota Kinabalu, 35 weekly services to Kuching and 27 weekly passenger services to Langkawi.

2 To date, Singapore carriers can operate 14 weekly services each to Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Malacca, Miri, Sandakan and Tawau.