S'pore, Aussie eyes open skies pact

S'pore, Aussie eyes open skies pact

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Australian aviation officials began talks here Wednesday on an open-skies pact, aimed at giving their flag carriers Singapore Airlines and Qantas unrestricted access between the two countries.

Such an agreement, which would appear to hold more benefits for Singapore than Australia, is seen as a trade-off for the Qantas proposal to take a 22.5 percent stake in Air New Zealand, reducing competition on some regional routes.

"The one-day talks are informal. It is unlikely there will be any statement at the end of the day," a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore told AFP.

It is the second time in two years Singapore and Australia have explored an open-skies agreement, with the first round of talks in September 2000 being stalled by disagreements on the advantages of a pact.

If the open skies agreement goes through, Singapore Airlines and Qantas will have unrestricted access between the two countries and beyond, eliminating restrictions on the number of flights and prices charged. -- AFP