Singapore committed to working with Changi Airport's partners
Singapore committed to working with Changi Airport's partners
16:11, November 20, 2009 
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A Singapore official on Friday reiterated Singapore's continued commitment to working with Singapore's Changi Airport's partners to climb to a higher altitude.
Speaking at the 53rd Assembly of the Presidents of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, Singapore's Minister in Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Finance and Transport, Lim Hwee Hua said that to help the aviation industry cope with the financial crisis, in January this year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) expanded the budget for its Air Hub Development Fund to 130 million Singapore dollars (90.9 million U.S. dollars).
This was used to fund a 15 percent rebate on office and airline lounge rentals, and a 25 percent rebate on landing fees for 2009, she said, adding that a further 70 million Singapore dollars (48.95 million U.S. dollars) relief package was added to fund other rental rebates for retail, services and food and beverage concessionaires at Changi Airport.
Lim also reiterated Singapore's full subscription to the principle of unfettered market access for all economic players, revealing that with the signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations'(ASEAN) Roadmap for Integration of Air Travel Sector(RIATS), which provides for liberalization of passenger air services amongst ASEAN capitals.
Beyond ASEAN, the region would then be well-positioned to engage as a bloc, to liberalize the air services regime with major economic powerhouses such as China and India.
This, coupled with the renewed commitment by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) economies to further liberalize trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific, will put airlines and other aviation industry stakeholders in this region in an advantageous position to seize new opportunities when the global economic recovery finally takes off, she said.
Source: Xinhua
Speaking at the 53rd Assembly of the Presidents of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, Singapore's Minister in Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Finance and Transport, Lim Hwee Hua said that to help the aviation industry cope with the financial crisis, in January this year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) expanded the budget for its Air Hub Development Fund to 130 million Singapore dollars (90.9 million U.S. dollars).
This was used to fund a 15 percent rebate on office and airline lounge rentals, and a 25 percent rebate on landing fees for 2009, she said, adding that a further 70 million Singapore dollars (48.95 million U.S. dollars) relief package was added to fund other rental rebates for retail, services and food and beverage concessionaires at Changi Airport.
Lim also reiterated Singapore's full subscription to the principle of unfettered market access for all economic players, revealing that with the signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations'(ASEAN) Roadmap for Integration of Air Travel Sector(RIATS), which provides for liberalization of passenger air services amongst ASEAN capitals.
Beyond ASEAN, the region would then be well-positioned to engage as a bloc, to liberalize the air services regime with major economic powerhouses such as China and India.
This, coupled with the renewed commitment by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) economies to further liberalize trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific, will put airlines and other aviation industry stakeholders in this region in an advantageous position to seize new opportunities when the global economic recovery finally takes off, she said.
Source: Xinhua
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