Singapore Airlines and Air France KLM are said to currently be in discussions around some form of commercial partnership, in a large part driven by the competitive pressure of the Middle East carriers on routes between Asia and Europe. A Singaporean delegation was recently in Paris for talks with Air France, according to a report in France’s La Tribune newspaper.

The outcome will be guided in a large part by the requirements of both carrier’s alliance obligations:The Star Alliance for Singapore Airlines and the SkyTeam alliance for Air France KLM.  It is expected that the negotiations, at minimum, would cover a code-sharing agreement on the Paris-Singapore route with one daily flight by the two carriers, possibility extending to connecting flights from Singapore and Paris.

The two carriers already have special prorate agreements (SPAs) on routes out the hubs at Paris Charles de Gaulle to Singapore Airlines and Changi for Air France (to some Southeast Asian destinations).

Shortly after announcing his departure from Air France-KLM as CEO, to lead the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Alexandre de Juniac told Reuters that the Franco-Dutch carrier hoped to conclude before summer a partnership with an Asian airline, without disclosing the name or the nature of the possible cooperation.