Singapore – India Air Pact might improve frequency of flights and reduce airfares

Business Standard reports on the latest India – Singapore air pact. Looks like there will be no impact on the SIN-MAA sector.

With no restriction on the type of aircraft to be used, carriers from Singapore will be able to operate smaller planes to small Indian cities, depending on traffic. Most of these cities are expected to have twice-a-week flights to Singapore.

Singapore Airlines, which flies twice a week out of Mumbai and daily from Delhi, would have liked more flights to connect these two cities.

The official reason for opening up Delhi and Mumbai is the lack of capacity at the two airports and that the two cities are already well covered. However, civil aviation ministry officials say the two cities are likely to be covered in the next round of negotiations.

According to sources, Singapore wanted over 200 additional flights to India. The Indian side apparently thought that a sudden spurt would jeopardise the prospects of Indian carriers.