S'pore expands air services agreement with Malaysia
Posted: 14 April 2009 1839 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Singapore has expanded its bilateral air services agreement with Malaysia.

The new agreement gives carriers of both countries the right to operate between Singapore and six new destinations in Malaysia, namely Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Malacca, Sandakan and Tawau.

It also provides increased traffic rights to existing cities, namely Penang, Langkawi, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

The new agreement came after officials from Singapore and Malaysia met for air services consultations in Singapore on Tuesday.

Brigadier-General (NS) Choi Shing Kwok, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Transport, led the Singapore delegation in the consultations.

He said: "I am pleased with the outcome of the consultations. This new agreement is important for both countries, as the enhanced connectivity further boosts economic and tourism linkages between our two countries. This is especially important in the current economic climate."

Under the new agreement, Singapore carriers will have traffic rights to operate 21 weekly services to Ipoh and 14 weekly services each to Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Malacca, Sandakan and Tawau.

For existing routes, Singapore carriers will have increased traffic rights to operate a total of 70 services a week to Penang and 27 services a week to Langkawi.

Additionally, carriers of both countries are also allowed to operate an additional 14 weekly services between Singapore and each of the East Malaysian cities of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

All the new traffic rights will take effect from 1 June.

Currently, Singapore carriers operate 106 weekly services to Kuala Lumpur, 18 weekly services to Penang, six weekly services to Langkawi, 17 weekly services to Kota Kinabalu and 16 weekly services to Kuching.


- CNA/ir