Singapore has concluded an Open Skies Agreement (OSA) with Iceland giving airlines from Singapore and Iceland full flexibility to operate air services between and beyond both countries, as well as via intermediate points, without restrictions on capacity, frequency and aircraft type. The Singapore-Iceland OSA is also more liberal than conventional OSAs, as it allows for unlimited ¡°hubbing rights¡±, also known as ¡°7th freedom traffic rights¡±, for both passenger and cargo services. Singapore carriers may utilise these rights to base its aircraft in any point in Iceland and use the point as a hub for operations to third countries, without any restriction on destination, frequency or capacity. The same applies to Iceland carriers. ¡°Given the current economic downturn, it is even more imperative for governments to provide a liberal aviation framework for airlines to have full flexibility in capitalising on market opportunities,” said Lim Kim Choon, director general and CEO, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. Singapore and the Czech Republic also signed an OSA which gives Singapore carriers the right to operate any number of flights between Singapore and points in the Czech Republic, as well as beyond, to any other city in the world. Similarly, carriers from the Czech Republic will be able to operate any number of flights to and beyond Singapore. The OSA was signed on 19 January 2009 in Prague. Lim said: “The signing of the OSA reflects the warm bilateral ties between the two countries. This OSA is a testament of both countries’ strong commitment in establishing a fully liberal air services framework that enables our carriers to react quickly to market demand when the opportunities arise, although there are currently no direct flights between Singapore and the Czech Republic.” To date, Singapore has concluded more than 30 bilateral OSAs.