Singapore transport minister: ASEAN-EU air pact talks progressing

Progress is being made toward reaching a comprehensive agreement between the ASEAN and the EU on an air services accord that would create a massive liberalised commercial aviation market, according to Singapore infrastructure and transport minister Khaw Boon Wan. Singapore has been a key player in pushing for the pact, which would create a liberalised air transport market between two regions with a combined population of 1.1b people. Khaw indicated that Qatar could also be included in an ASEAN-EU air services agreement, which would be the EU’s first bloc-to-bloc liberalised air transport accord. Khaw praised the ASEAN Single Aviation Market, but said its potential has been stifled by poor coordination between air navigation service providers in Southeast Asia. <br/>