Singapore seeking expanded air services deal with Japan

TOKYO — Singapore is seeking to expand its air services agreement with Japan, a move that would benefit both countries’ economies, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo. 

An expanded agreement would bring about more passenger services and greater flow of people, trade and investment, said Mrs Teo, who was at Monday’s (Sept 26) launch of Scoot’s flight from Singapore to Sapporo, Hokkaido. 

The inaugural flight takes place on Saturday. Sapporo is Scoot’s third destination in Japan, after Osaka and Tokyo. 

Mrs Teo, who is also Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, is part of the delegation accompanying Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on his official visit to Japan this week. 

The launch was also attended by Japan External Trade Organisation executive vice-president Yuri Sato, Scoot and Tigerair chief executive officer Lee Lik Hsin and IE Singapore deputy CEO Chua Taik Him. 

Noting that the bilateral air services agreement between Singapore and Japan has made Scoot’s Sapporo flights possible, Mrs Teo urged support for further expansion of the air services agreement between Singapore and Japan. 

“This will bring about even more passenger services, promote more flows of people, trade and investment, between and beyond our two countries. There is no doubt that the economies of both Singapore and Japan will benefit as a result.”

During a question-and-answer session with the media, Mrs Teo noted that there is growing demand for air services between Singapore and Japan, and therefore scope to upgrade the agreement.

Since the last update to the air services agreement between Singapore and Japan in 2012, the slot capacities at the airports in Japan have improved, Mrs Teo pointed out, citing the upgrading at Haneda airport in Tokyo as an example.

“That means that whether it is Haneda or Narita, there is scope for more flights to be mounted,” Mrs Teo said. “In particular, Narita is a very good airport for transit flights. For example, Singapore flies into Narita and onwards to Los Angeles. We believe there is scope to do more.”

Japanese airlines Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have seen good growth in the past five years, she added, reiterating that an enhanced agreement would benefit both Japan and Singapore.
She also cited Scoot’s Sapporo venture as an example of the benefits of bilateral air cooperation. 

For example, with the Hokkaido government encouraging its companies to export produce to overseas markets, Scoot’s new flights to Sapporo will support the effort. 

Singapore companies with good access and knowledge of overseas markets can work with Japanese companies on exporting Hokkaido produce, and can take advantage of the enhanced connectivity from the Scoot flights, Mrs Teo said. 

Responding to media queries, a Changi Airport Group spokesman said that by next month, there will be more than 320 weekly scheduled flights from Singapore to five cities in Japan: Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo and Sapporo. These are operated by Singapore Airlines, Jetstar, Scoot, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines and ANA. 

For the first eight months of the year, traffic between Singapore and Japan has risen by 5 per cent year-on-year to reach 1.86 million passenger movements, the spokesman added.

Clarification: An earlier version of this report quoted Mrs Josephine Teo saying Singapore flights go to Narita and onwards to San Francisco. The Transport Ministry has clarified that the Singapore flight heads to Los Angeles, from Narita.