(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."
Of this is the case... who will want to pay the money to finance the new highspeed railway link?
hmmm.