Singapore has signed Air Services Agreements with Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Seychelles and Switzerland
The agreements were made at ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN) in Kuala Lumpur last month.
Air Services Agreements (ASA) are treaties that govern the rights of airlines to fly and land in each other's countries.
The ASA between Singapore and Cuba is new, while the ASA with Kazakhstan has been upgraded to allow airlines of both countries to carry passengers and cargo via any intermediate points and to any beyond points between the two countries. Previously, the agreement only allowed the airlines to carry passengers and cargo between the two countries.
Singapore also updated its ASAs with the Dominican Republic, Seychelles and Switzerland previously concluded in 2016, 2012 and 1969 respectively. The ASAs modernise the previous agreements, updating administrative procedures to remove outdated regulations and facilitate business opportunities. They also include provisions that allow airlines to engage in intermodal code-sharing arrangements with surface transport providers.
Singapore and Switzerland are connected via 14 weekly flights operated by Swiss International Air Lines and Singapore Airlines. While Singapore does not have direct flights with Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan and Seychelles currently, the ASAs signal the desire of the countries to enhance connectivity and put in place the enabling conditions for their airlines to mount flights when they are ready.
Singapore has to-date signed ASAs with over 140 countries and territories, with more than 80 of them being Open Skies Agreements. Singapore will continue to pursue liberalisation of air services agreements to facilitate air travel and strengthen Singapore's connectivity with the rest of the world.
Han Kok Juan, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said, "Singapore welcomes the signing of the air services agreements with Cuba, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Seychelles and Switzerland. They lay the foundation for better air connectivity and closer economic and people-to-people ties between Singapore and these five countries, and will further enhance Singapore's position as a global air hub."