Singapore and The Philippines further liberalise international air services to improve air connectivity between and beyond both countries

Singapore and the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to upgrade and further liberalise international air services between both countries. The MOU was signed by Mr Yee Ping Yi, Singapore’s Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Mr Enrique Antonio J. Esquivel III, the Philippines’ Assistant Secretary for Aviation and Airports on 9 May 2024.

The MOU upgrades the bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA), which was signed in 2010 and last amended in 2015. It allows Singapore and Philippine airlines to offer up to 150 weekly codeshare services to carry passengers between Singapore and Manila, with airlines from third countries as codeshare partners. This is a significant increase from the current limit of 35 weekly codeshare services. The new limit of 150 weekly codeshare services will double by end-March 2026, and will be fully lifted by end-March 2027.

In addition, there will be no limit on codeshare services between Singapore and other points in the Philippines, as well as between Singapore and any points in the Philippines involving airlines from ASEAN or the European Union.

The upgraded ASA also allows Philippine airlines that are fully owned or controlled by nationals of other countries to access the traffic rights exchanged in the ASA, as long as their principal place of business is in the Philippines. Previously, only airlines that were substantially owned and effectively controlled by Philippine nationals could do so.

Mr Yee Ping Yi, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Transport said: “It is important to provide a favourable regulatory environment so that our carriers can capitalise on new business opportunities. This MOU will facilitate improved air connectivity between and beyond both countries and is a win-win outcome for both countries.”