S'pore to restore air links with China in 'careful, calibrated' way

Applications to operate more flights will be progressively approved: Iswaran 

- Kok Yufeng

Singapore will continue to maintain a "careful and calibrated" approach towards reopening its borders and restoring air connectivity with China, even as airlines from both sides have applied to operate more flights between the two countries.

Transport Minister S. Iswaran told Parliament on Monday that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is evaluating these applications, and will progressively approve them.

But as with other countries previously, this will be done while considering the prevailing public health assessment, Changi Airport's capacity and its ability to ensure efficient operations.

This approach is being taken despite there being significant scope to restore air connectivity between China and Singapore, with the number of flights and volume of passengers between the two countries currently at less than 10 percent of pre-Covid-19 levels, Mr Iswaran noted.

"All indications are that there will be strong demand... But in the near term, if you ask me, will there be a surge? I think unlikely. But neither will we be at a standstill," he said.

"Our desire is really to do this in a systematic, calibrated manner," he added, declining to provide a timeline of when passenger volumes between both countries are likely to return to pre-pandemic levels when asked by Ms Ng Ling Ling (Ang Mo Kio GRC).