By Karamjit Kaur, Aviation Correspondent
SINGAPORE and Philippine carriers have the official nod to mount more flights between the two countries.
Following air talks that ended on Thursday, the two governments have decided to grant airlines on each side up to 14 more flights a week between Singapore and Manila.
Carriers will also have greater access to other Philippine cities including Clark, Cebu and Davao.
Extra flights should bring better choices and lower fares for consumers, experts said. The liberalisation comes at an opportune time of growth not just within the Singapore-Philippine air travel market but across the region as well, said Singapore's Transport Ministry in making the announcement of the expanded air deal Friday.
Last year, passenger traffic between the two countries grew 10 per cent year-on-year despite it being a slow year for the general aviation industry.
Currently, Singapore Airlines flies 28 times a week to Manila while Jetstar Asia operates 10 weekly flights to the capital city. Tiger Airways flies to nearby Clark, nine times a week. SIA subsidiary SilkAir also operates a total of seven flights a week to Cebu and Davao
