Singapore, India strengthen air links

April 03, 2013 | 14:48
(0) user say
The enhancement to the Air Services Agreement (ASA) comes as the demand for air services between Singapore and India continues to grow.


India's Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ajit Singh (2nd-L), and Singapore's Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew (2nd-R) witnessing the signing of the enhanced Air Services Agreement between Singapore and India on 2 April 2013. (Photo: Singapore's Transport Ministry and Trade and Industry Ministry)

SINGAPORE: Singapore and India have agreed to further enhance air services between the two countries.

The enhancement will see airlines being able to offer more flights between India and Singapore.

Both countries also agreed to meet regularly to review air services matters.

The enhancement to the Air Services Agreement (ASA) was inked as the Indian Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ajit Singh is in Singapore for a three-day visit from 2-4 April at Singapore's invitation.

The Air Services Agreement with India was first signed in 1968 and last updated in 2011.

The enhancement comes as the demand for air services between the two countries continues to grow.

Currently, eight carriers operate over 430 flights every week between Singapore and 12 cities in India.

The carriers are Air India, Air India Express, Drukair, IndiGo, Jet Airways, SilkAir, Singapore Airlines, Tiger Airways.

They fly to Indian cities Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum and Visakhapatnam.

Over the last three years, passenger movements between the two countries have increased by more than 19 percent.

Among the 12 Indian cities connected to Changi's Airport, traffic on eight sectors also saw double-digit growth during the same period.

For example, demand to and from secondary cities such as Kochi and Trivandrum grew by more than 50%.

During his visit, Mr Singh met Singapore's Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew to exchange views on air transport issues.

Mr Singh and senior Indian officials will also meet Minister in Prime Minister's Office Mr S Iswaran.

They will discuss the importance of air connectivity in enhancing bilateral trade ties between India and Singapore.

AFP

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional