Singapore has signed Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with Cuba, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Seychelles and Switzerland at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN) 2024 which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 21 to 25 October 2024. ICAN is an annual international platform for civil aviation authorities around the world to come together and discuss air services agreements.

Singapore has signed a new ASA with Cuba, with whom we do not have a ASA previously. The new ASA with Cuba allows airlines of both countries to operate air services without restrictions on capacity, frequency, and routing.

Singapore has also upgraded our ASA with Kazakhstan to allow airlines of both countries to carry passengers and cargo via any intermediate points and to any beyond points between the two countries, without restrictions on aircraft type, capacity and routing. Previously, the agreement only allows the airlines to carry passengers and cargo between the two countries.

Singapore has also updated our ASAs with the Dominican Republic, Seychelles and Switzerland previously concluded in 2016, 2012 and 1969 respectively. The ASAs modernise the previous agreements to meet the current needs of the aviation industry, including updated administrative procedures to remove outdated regulations andfacilitate business opportunities. They also include provisions allowing airlines to engage in intermodal code-sharing arrangements with surface transport providers.

Singapore and Switzerland are connected via 14 weekly flights operated by Swiss International Air Lines and Singapore Airlines. While Singapore does not have direct flights with Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan and Seychelles currently, the ASAs signal the desire of the countries to enhance connectivity and put in place the enabling conditions for their airlines to mount flights when they are ready.

Singapore has to-date signed ASAs with over 140 countries and territories, with more than 80 of them being Open Skies Agreements. Singapore will continue to pursue liberalisation of air services agreements to facilitate air travel and strengthen Singapore’s connectivity with the rest of the world.

Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said, “Singapore welcomes the signing of the air services agreements with Cuba, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Seychelles and Switzerland. They lay the foundation for better air connectivity and closer economic and people-to-people ties between Singapore and these five countries, and will further enhance Singapore’s position as a global air hub.”