UK and Singapore sign landmark air services agreement
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The UK government said it has signed an aviation agreement with Singapore which removes all remaining restrictions on air services between the two countries.
The deal, which is due to come into force from March 30, 2008, was finalised at talks last month. It was signed by the UK's secretary of state for transport, Ruth Kelly, and Singapore's minister for transport, Raymond Lim.
The accord opens access to each country's aviation market for the other country's airlines, including flights to any onward destinations. It is the first agreement that gives unfettered access to the London-US market to a non-EU or US airline.</u>
'I am delighted to sign this landmark deal, which will be good for passengers and for the aviation industry, both in the UK and Singapore. As the most liberal agreement of its kind to date, I hope it will set the standard for other comparable agreements in the future.</u> This is a major step forward in extending the benefits of open aviation agreements such as travellers already enjoy within Europe,' Kelly said in a statement.
Singapore Airlines aiming to go transatlantic
Singapore Airlines could soon be competing against British Airways and Virgin Atlantic on lucrative transatlantic routes from London after a new aviation agreement was signed this week.
A spokesman for Singapore Airlines hailed the deal, which gives unfettered access to London-United States routes to non-EU or US airlines for the first time, as "one of the most progressive air service agreements struck in years".
But Singapore Airlines admitted that a shortage of take-off and landing slots at Heathrow has prevented the airline from setting a date for the start of transatlantic flights</u>.
Further competition on the route could lead to lower fares and better service as airlines in Britain and the US are forced to compete with an airline that Telegraph readers have consistently chosen as their favourite carrier at the annual Travel Awards.
The signing of the "landmark" air services deal between Britain and Singapore also lifts restrictions on flights between the two countries, opening up the route to greater competition, according to the Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly.
Singapore Airlines was the first to employ the giant double-decker Airbus A380, launching a service between Singapore and Sydney last month. It plans to start an A380 London-Singapore service in February and thereafter possibly on transatlantic services, should the necessary slots become available.
The Daily Telegraph
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The UK government said it has signed an aviation agreement with Singapore which removes all remaining restrictions on air services between the two countries.
The deal, which is due to come into force from March 30, 2008, was finalised at talks last month. It was signed by the UK's secretary of state for transport, Ruth Kelly, and Singapore's minister for transport, Raymond Lim.
The accord opens access to each country's aviation market for the other country's airlines, including flights to any onward destinations. It is the first agreement that gives unfettered access to the London-US market to a non-EU or US airline.</u>
'I am delighted to sign this landmark deal, which will be good for passengers and for the aviation industry, both in the UK and Singapore. As the most liberal agreement of its kind to date, I hope it will set the standard for other comparable agreements in the future.</u> This is a major step forward in extending the benefits of open aviation agreements such as travellers already enjoy within Europe,' Kelly said in a statement.
Singapore Airlines aiming to go transatlantic
Singapore Airlines could soon be competing against British Airways and Virgin Atlantic on lucrative transatlantic routes from London after a new aviation agreement was signed this week.
A spokesman for Singapore Airlines hailed the deal, which gives unfettered access to London-United States routes to non-EU or US airlines for the first time, as "one of the most progressive air service agreements struck in years".
But Singapore Airlines admitted that a shortage of take-off and landing slots at Heathrow has prevented the airline from setting a date for the start of transatlantic flights</u>.
Further competition on the route could lead to lower fares and better service as airlines in Britain and the US are forced to compete with an airline that Telegraph readers have consistently chosen as their favourite carrier at the annual Travel Awards.
The signing of the "landmark" air services deal between Britain and Singapore also lifts restrictions on flights between the two countries, opening up the route to greater competition, according to the Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly.
Singapore Airlines was the first to employ the giant double-decker Airbus A380, launching a service between Singapore and Sydney last month. It plans to start an A380 London-Singapore service in February and thereafter possibly on transatlantic services, should the necessary slots become available.
The Daily Telegraph
