Our liberal aviation policy of open skies has helped Singapore grow as a key air hub in the Asia-Pacific region. This policy is based on our fundamental belief in free and open competition in Singapore’s aviation sector.

We strive to provide an extensive and liberal framework for more air services and city links to Singapore, as this facilitates the growth in trade, investment and tourism flow between Singapore and other countries. It also provides greater choice and convenience for Singaporeans and visitors to Singapore.

We adopt a win-win approach in negotiating bilateral Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with other countries. Singapore currently, has ASAs with over 100 countries around the world.

Singapore is a party to a landmark multilateral Open Skies Agreement (OSA) to liberalise international air transport. Signed on 1 May 2001, this historic agreement marked the first multilateral OSA among countries from different geographical regions.

Within ASEAN, we are a party to the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services and the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services, both of which implement ASEAN’s Roadmap for Integration of Air Travel Sector (RIATS). Concluded in November 2008, the two Multilateral Agreements form the first significant step towards ASEAN Open Skies under the region’s vision of an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. The former allows for unlimited air cargo services within the region, while the latter provides for unlimited air passenger services among ASEAN capital cities.

While collaborating with the other ASEAN Member States to fully liberalise air services within ASEAN, we also actively participate in ASEAN’s efforts to establish liberal air services arrangements with the region’s strategic Dialogue Partners. Such liberal arrangements will boost the region’s air connectivity and open new vistas of economic growth for Singapore and ultimately all of ASEAN.