Singapore and India to expand air services

Singapore and India have signed an agreement to expand air services between both countries, the city-state said Wednesday. Officials concluded two days of discussions this week in New Delhi with the signing of a memorandum of understanding that will pave the way for carriers of both sides to increase the number of flights between Singapore and the Indian cities of Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi, a Ministry of Transport statement said. "There has been strong growth in demand for air travel between India and Singapore due to the increase in trade, investments, tourism and other economic relations between our two countries," Choi Shing Kwok, the Ministry of Transport's permanent secretary, was quoted as saying in the statement.

"This agreement is thus timely and will provide for further expansion to meet future demand on the Singapore-India sector," said Choy, who led the Singapore delegation in India during this week's consultations. The agreement also grants airlines from both countries additional "fifth freedom" traffic rights — or the ability to pick up passengers or cargo on each other's territory en route to other destinations — and makes possible the establishment of a new air link between the southern Indian city of Coimbatore and Singapore, the statement said. There are currently 142 weekly passenger flights between Singapore and India.

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