Singapore, Australia loosen restrictions on bilateral aviation

Singapore, Australia loosen restrictions on bilateral aviation    Singapore and Australia signed an agreement Tuesday that both governments said would significantly open up each other's aviation markets.
   Effective immediately, airlines of both countries will be permitted to fly between the Australia and Singapore, as well as most intermediate points between the two countries, without restrictions on aircraft capacity or frequency of flights.
   Talks on full aviation liberalization 'will be held when there is greater stability in the global aviation environment,' a Singapore government statement said.
   Singapore Airlines and Singapore Airlines Cargo operate 70 weekly services to five Australian cities, while Qantas and Australian Airlines operate 51 weekly passenger flights to Singapore.
   According to Air Transport World Online, the memorandum of understanding failed to grant Singapore airlines the right to provide service to the United States from Australia. The omission is seen as benefiting Qantas, which sought to protect its U.S. routes from direct competition while it recovers from the airline industry downturn in Asia.
   During the past five years, air freight volume between Singapore and Australia has grown at a compound annual rate of 7 percent, according to Singapore government figures.