Singapore is seeking to jump-start air services liberalisation initiatives in Southeast Asia by urging its fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to accept multilateral “open skies” earlier than originally planned.
The city state’s transport minister, Yeo Cheow Tong, made the case for more aggressive liberalisation moves at a meeting of the transport ministers of ASEAN member countries in Vientiane, Laos. Under a loose plan agreed earlier, ASEAN member nations have pledged to allow unlimited flights between their capital cities by December 2008. They have also pledged to expand this to cover flights beyond capital cities from December 2010.
Yeo argued, however, that the timeframe for liberalisation should be accelerated. He says the December 2008 target should be brought forward two years and should cover all cities in the region rather than just capitals. He also says the December 2010 target for fifth-freedom rights beyond capitals should cover all cities.
“To speed up recovery in tourist arrivals to the region, we need a more open regional aviation regime that gives airlines full flexibility to adjust their flights to suit changes in travel demand,” says Yeo. “This would help sustain air travel demand to the region and position ASEAN as an attractive tourist destination to fast-growing markets such as Northeast Asia, India and Europe.”
Most observers doubt that the liberalisation plans will be accelerated but the fact that a transport minister from one of the ASEAN member states has called publicly for it is seen as significant and could lead to an easing of restrictive policies in other areas.
Meanwhile, China and Singapore have further liberalised their air services agreement, but for around two years Singaporean low-cost carriers will not be allowed to serve the country’s largest cities of Beijing or Shanghai. The Civil Aviation Administration of China says that otherwise the accord abolishes all restrictions on the points Singapore designated carriers may operate to China, allowing carriers to serve cities like Guangzhou. ■
Source: Airline Business
