Oman signs open skies agreement with Singapore

Oman and Singapore have signed an Open Skies Agreement to allow for full flexibility for air services operated by carriers of both countries. The agreement was reached during the air services consultations that took place in Singapore on 19 and 20 January 2009.

(From left) Mr Tan Lye Teck, Deputy Director-General (Development), CAAS, shaking hands with H.E. Mohamed Bin Sakhar Al-Amri, Undersecretary for Civil Aviation Affairs, Oman, at the signing.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services was signed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore's Deputy Director-General (Development), Mr Tan Lye Teck, and H.E. Mohamed Bin Sakhar Al-Amri, Undersecretary for Civil Aviation Affairs, Oman.

The agreement between Singapore and Oman allows Singapore carriers to operate any number of passenger and cargo flights between Singapore and points in Oman, as well as beyond Oman to any other city in the world.

Likewise, carriers of Oman may operate any number of flights to and beyond Singapore. Singapore already has open skies agreements with other GCC countries including, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"I am glad that both Singapore and Oman have concluded an open skies agreement, allowing carriers of both countries to take advantage of the immense growth opportunities in air travel between Singapore and the Middle East," said Mr Lim Kim Choon, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, CAAS. He added that, "In 2008, passenger traffic between Singapore and the Middle East grew significantly by 15% compared to the previous year.

Indeed, the Middle East is a region where we continue to see increases in air services even during such economically challenging times."