India and Singapore sign MoU to expand air services

Singapore, Jan 10 (UNI) India and Singapore have concluded a round of air services consultations with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the air services between both countries.

''This will pave the way for carriers of both sides to increase the number of services between the Indian metropolitan cities of Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi, and Singapore,'' said the Singapore Transport Ministry today.

A new air link between the Indian city of Coimbatore and Singapore is now also possible, it added, saying that there are additional fifth freedom traffic rights granted to the airlines of both India and Singapore under the MoU.

The air services consultations were held on January 8 and 9, 2007 in New Delhi, the Ministry said in a statement in Singapore.

The Indian delegation was led by Mr Ajay Prasad, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Singapore delegation was led by BG (NS) Choi Shing Kwok, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport.

''This latest MoU further strengthens the excellent civil aviation links between Singapore and India. There has been strong growth in demand for air travel between India and Singapore due to the increase in trade, investments, tourism and other economic relations between our two countries. This agreement is thus timely and will provide forfurther expansion to meet future demand on the Singapore-India sector,'' BG (NS) Choi said.

There are currently 142 weekly passenger services between Singapore and India.

UNI