Singapore Airlines is expected to renew its push for access to flights to the US from Australia, citing the recent announcement that Jetstar will make a major push into its home market.
”It’s just a matter of principle. I don’t think the Australian government can say that Singapore has not provided Australian carriers maximum access,” the airline’s regional vice president Subhas Menon told The Age.
”We hope that it will not be too long into the future before Singapore will be allowed to fly under fifth-freedom rights out of Australia and the US.”
Singapore Airlines has long been pushing for access to the once lucrative trans-Pacific route but has been blocked by the Australian government. This position does not appear set to change, with the recent Aviation White Paper noting that it would only open up the Pacific route in return for allowing Australian carriers to access similarly profitable routes elsewhere. Nevertheless, it maintains that Australia is committed to pursuing more liberal air services agreements.
