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Time to Increase Singapore-Malaysia Air Links
The republic`s transport minister Yeo Cheow Tong said that it is time to review Singapore-Malaysia air links in a Straits Times report on Saturday.
The number of flights between both countries has fallen behind links to other regional destinations, he added.
In a comparison of the number of weekly flights to and from Hong Kong (188) and Bangkok (over 380), with that between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (184), he told reporters: `Air links between our two cities have actually fallen behind quite a fair bit.`
He said that a review of the airlines is important especially in the context of a dynamic and very fast changing aviation environment.
The last time the 32-year old air services agreement between the two countries was reviewed was in 1980.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysia Airlines have a virtual monopoly on the fourth-busiest route in Asia, the one between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the local daily reported.
The two carriers operate eight out of 10 flights, or 154 of the 184 available a week and have kept round trip fares for a confirmed seat at $304.
Singapore 11/10/2004
