Singapore: Additional $187m support for hard-hit aviation sector

An additional $187m will be pumped into Singapore's hard-hit aviation sector, as part of efforts to extend aid under the enhanced aviation support package till March next year. This will provide cost relief for airlines, ground handlers, cargo agents and airport tenants in a sector that has borne the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic, Deputy PM Heng Swee Keat said in a ministerial statement Monday. It will also help local carriers regain air connectivity to the world. Heng unveiled this as part of a strategy to further support the hardest-hit sectors - aerospace, aviation and tourism. The move will help these sectors retain core capabilities and position them for an eventual recovery, he said. "These sectors are important parts of our economy, and they are multipliers for other sectors." In particular, the Republic's position as a global business node depends on its connectivity as an air hub, he stressed. The Changi air hub and its adjacent industries contribute to more than 5% of the country's GDP and employ over 190,000 people. The extended financial relief for airlines, ground handlers, cargo agents and other partners at Changi Airport and Seletar Airport would be provided through landing, parking and rental rebates. Story has details.<br/>