India and Singapore sign enhanced air services agreement

SINGAPORE: India and Singapore today signed an enhanced air services agreement to build on the existing 216 weekly flights and meet the growing demand for air connectivity between the two countries.

"As demand for air services between both countries continue to grow, the bilateral air services agreement was enhanced to include more capacity entitlements," a statement from Singapore's Transport Ministry said. "As part of the enhancement of the agreement, both countries also agreed to meet regularly to review air services matters," the Ministry said.

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and Singapore Transport Minister Liu Tuck Yew were present during the signing of the agreement. Singh, in Singapore from April 2 to 4, also exchanged views on air transport issues with Lui.

Singh would also discuss the importance of air connectivity in enhancing bilateral trade ties between India and Singapore, with S Iswaran, Singapore's Minister, Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Trade & Industry and Home Affairs. Singh, visiting Singapore on invitation, is accompanied by senior officials from the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation and Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Currently, Singapore is linked by air services to 12 Indian cities, having the most frequent flights to India out of Southeast Asia.
The agreement was a rationalisation of traffic entitlements for both countries, including aircrafts, Prabhat Kumar, Joint Secretary of the Civil Aviation Ministry, said.

Under the agreement, both sides have increased seats by 10 per cent. Indian airlines would have 29,300 seats per week and Singapore 28,600, which would mean using more flights. "We have also agreed to meet every two years to discuss matters related to air services," Kumar told PTI.