[Kabar-indonesia] Singapore seeks air liberalisation to defend hub status

[Joyo at aol.com]

Singapore seeks air liberalisation to defend hub
status

SINGAPORE, July 2 (AFP) -- Singapore is seeking to
further liberalise air services with its neighbours
including China and India to maintain the city-state's
Changi Airport as a regional aviation hub, former
prime minister Lee Kuan Yew said.

"The competition for Changi's hub position has grown
keener with newer, bigger airports around all with the
latest equipment," Lee said Saturday at a function to
celebrate the airport's 25th anniversary.

"Changi must continue its efforts to upgrade and
update its services and facilities in preparation for
the challenges ahead," said Lee, who holds the
influential position of minister mentor.

"We will also continue to liberalise our air services
agreements with China, India and ASEAN nations to
facilitate the growth of both Singapore and foreign
carriers at Changi."

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.

Changi Airport has invested heavily in recent years to
defend its position as the region's leading commercial
aviation transit point as other Asian cities step up
efforts to be an air hub.

The Singapore airport's third terminal costing 1.75
billion Singapore dollars (1.1 billion US) is due to
open in 2008 and will raise its passenger handling
capacity by another 20 million to 64 million.

In March, it opened a purpose-built terminal for
budget carriers to serve the booming demand for
low-cost travel in Asia.

Changi Airport serves 82 airlines offering flights to
more than 180 cities as of June and handled a record
32.4 million passengers in 2005, up seven percent from
the previous year.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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