The UK and Singapore have initialled a landmark aviation agreement on air services.
The new liberalising deal removes all restrictions on air services between the two countries. It opens access to each country's aviation market for the other country's airlines, including flights to onward destinations in other countries, and applies state aid rules to ensure fair competition. It also finalises a new treaty that liberalises arrangements on a wide range of further issues including codesharing, fair competition, and groundhandling.
Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"I am delighted by this new deal, which will be good for passengers and for the aviation industry both in the UK and Singapore. It is the most liberal agreement of its type, and I hope it will set the standard for other comparable agreements in the future. This is a major step towards extending the benefits of open aviation agreements that travellers already enjoy within Europe."
The new deal will allow the airlines of both sides to operate services between the other country and any third country. It is the first agreement that gives unfettered access to the London-US market to a non-EU or US airline.
The UK-Singapore deal will be put into effect from 30 March 2008.
