S'pore prods Australia to let SIA fly on to U.S.

S'pore prods Australia to let SIA fly on to U.S.

Singapore wants Canberra to grant it unrestricted air rights, which would allow national carrier Singapore Airlines to fly on to the United States after stopping in Australia, the city- state's transport minister said on Monday.

Currently, airlines from both countries aren't allowed to fly beyond each other's borders.

"We are engaging our Australian counterparts on realizing a full open skies agreement," Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong told Parliament in Singapore.

"The Australian public will also have more choices of airlines to choose from on the trans-Pacific route to the United States," he said.

Yeo was responding to lawmakers' queries on Australian carrier Qantas' announcement that it will launch a new Singapore-based, no-frills airline. The Singapore government holds a 19 percent stake in the as-of-yet unnamed airline.

Singapore has said it would aggressively seek to protect its status as a regional hub, amid growing competition from Bangkok, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. -- AP