Singapore has signed new Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with five different countries, including its first ever with Cuba.
In a statement on October 28, 2024, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) confirmed that ASAs had been signed with Cuba, along with the Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Seychelles and Switzerland.
The agreements were formalized at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN), which took place in Kuala Lumpur from October 21 to October 25, 2024.
According to CAAS’ statement the ASA with Cuba “allows airlines of both countries to operate air services without restrictions on capacity, frequency, and routing”.
Meanwhile, an existing agreement with Kazakhstan has been upgraded, in order 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 allowed airlines to carry passengers and cargo between the two countries.
ASAs signed with the Dominican Republic in 2016, Seychelles in 2012 and Switzerland in 1969 have also been updated.
On the three updates, CASS said: “The ASAs modernise the previous agreements to meet the current needs of the aviation industry, including updated administrative procedures to remove outdated regulations and facilitate business opportunities. They also include provisions allowing airlines to engage in intermodal code-sharing arrangements with surface transport providers.”
While Singapore does not currently operate direct flights to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan and Seychelles, CASS said that 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”.
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.”
Singapore and Switzerland are connected via 14 weekly flights operated by Swiss and Singapore Airlines.
Singapore has signed ASAs with over 140 countries and territories, more than 80 of them being Open Skies Agreements.