Calls to speed up opening of ASEAN’s skies
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
Opening the ASEAN (association of Southeast Asian Nations) Transport Ministers Meeting yesterday, Lee Hsien Loong said they need to take bold steps to achieve the goal of a single aviation market by 2015.
“Such bold steps will put ASEAN in a strong position to benefit from the rapid growth in air travel around the region. It will also show the world that ASEAN can take decisive action to transform its plans into concrete outcomes.”
Lee said that if necessary, those who are ready should move even faster, putting in place market and consumer-friendly liberalisation measures such as Open
Skies Agreements.
The Prime Minister said the end of 2008 should see free access between ASEAN capital cities.
In the midst of this, Singapore and Malaysia are holding talks to free up the restricted route between their capitals earlier than scheduled.
Earlier in the week, the International Air Transport Association said the region lagged far behind Europe in deregulating the aviation sector.
Liberalisation is seen as a way to boost travel within the region. Last year saw more than 27 million people travelling within the region, a fifth more than in the previous year.
Comments are closed.