(Todayonline) Malaysia said it may open the Kuala Lumpur to
Singapore air route to low-cost carriers before 2009.
"We cannot decide this issue unilaterally," Malaysian Transport
Minister Chan Kong Choy was quoted as saying by Bloomberg News
yesterday. "We are in discussions with Singapore."
AirAsia's CEO Tony Fernandes said that the carrier plans to start
with two flights a day if the route is approved.
Singapore and Malaysia have been in discussion on liberalising the
air services.
Travellers from both countries now pay a high return fare of over
$400, including taxes, for a confirmed flight of just under an
hour. This is because the national carriers dominate the route
under the terms of a 34-year-old deal.
In response to the report, a Singapore Ministry of Transport
spokesman said that Singapore was looking forward to meeting with
Malaysia to "work towards liberalising the air services between our
two countries".
In a statement to Today, the spokesman said: "Singapore hopes to be
able to liberalise our Air Services Agreement with Malaysia ahead
of Asean's commitment to lift all restrictions on passenger flights
between Asean capital cities by 2008." Daphne Chuah
Malaysia said it may open the Kuala Lumpur to Singapore air route
to low-cost carriers before 2009.
"We cannot decide this issue unilaterally," Malaysian Transport
Minister Chan Kong Choy was quoted as saying by Bloomberg News
yesterday. "We are in discussions with Singapore."
AirAsia's CEO Tony Fernandes said that the carrier plans to start
with two flights a day if the route is approved.
Singapore and Malaysia have been in discussion on liberalising the
air services.
Travellers from both countries now pay a high return fare of over
$400, including taxes, for a confirmed flight of just under an
hour. This is because the national carriers dominate the route
under the terms of a 34-year-old deal.
In response to the report, a Singapore Ministry of Transport
spokesman said that Singapore was looking forward to meeting with
Malaysia to "work towards liberalising the air services between our
two countries".
In a statement to Today, the spokesman said: "Singapore hopes to be
able to liberalise our Air Services Agreement with Malaysia ahead
of Asean's commitment to lift all restrictions on passenger flights
between Asean capital cities by 2008."