SINGAPORE : Singapore Airlines (SIA) strongly rejected
allegations by Australia's opposition Labour Party it had offered
free flights to Australian lawmakers as part of lobbying efforts to
gain access to lucrative Australia-US routes.
SIA spokesman Stephen Forshaw said the carrier had invited members
of the Australian Parliament's transport committee to visit
Singapore but only to be briefed on the airline's operations and
scale of its investments in Australia.
He said Singapore-Australia talks for an open-skies agreement
agreement were being held at a government-to-government level which
did not involve the transport committee members.
Australian Labor Party tourism spokesman Martin Ferguson yesterday
criticised SIA for offering an all expenses paid four-day trip to
Singapore to the 10 members of the House of Representatives'
transport and regional affairs committee.
Speaking on national radio, Ferguson linked the offer to SIA's
efforts to convince the Australian government to give it access to
the lucrative Australia-US routes now dominated by Australian flag
carrier Qantas.
The exchanges come ahead of a trip by Australian transport
minister, Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, to Singapore next
week for talks with his counterpart on the issue.
"We reject absolutely any suggestion from Martin Ferguson that the
visit is linked to the ongoing air services talks," SIA spokesman
Forshaw said in a statement.
He noted that that air negotiations are being held between the
Australian and Singaporean governments and that the parliamentary
committee is neither involved in the discussions nor does it
negotiate Australia's air rights.
"SIA is a major player in the Australian market. We fly over 4,300
flights a year into Australia and carry almost two million
passengers a year into and out of Australia.
"We invest hundreds of millions of dollars a year in the Australian
economy, train all our pilots in Australia and are the largest
overseas airline flying to and from Australia by passenger
numbers," Forshaw said.
"It is just a natural part of our place in the Australian market to
ensure that politicians and the wider community understand our
business, the size and scale of our operations in Australia and the
issues we face."
He described Ferguson's remarks as "part of what has become a very
bitter campaign being waged against SIA by those who seek to
maintain protection of Qantas on the US route, which is
unquestionably one of the most protected air routes in the
world."
SIA remains "resolutely focused" on providing travellers on
Australia-US routes a wider choice, he said.
Last month, SIA chief executive Chew Choon Seng said the
Australia-US routes are a market "crying out for additional supply
of capacity and (more) competition."
Singapore Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong said earlier this week
the city-state is aiming for a full open-skies agreement with
Australia within two years.
- AFP