Singapore denies demand for 'open skies'

Singapore has denied news reports that it demanded an open skies policy in the Philippines before any new negotiation on landing rights can take place between the two countries.

Cebu Pacific executive Peggy Vera had recently told a House committee hearing that Singapore International Airlines wanted open skies in the Philippines when Cebu Pacific tried to open negotiations with Singapore aviation authorities.

Cebu Pacific backed off, thinking that the demand was a price too high.

"We note that there have been newspaper articles reporting recently that Singapore has demanded an open skies policy in the Philippines before any new negotiation on landing rights can take place between the two countries. Another article reported that Singapore had hitherto denied Cebu Pacific's application to operate to Singapore," a statement from the Singapore Embassy said.

"To date, Singapore has not received any application concerning Cebu Pacific's operations to Singapore. Singapore has also not demanded an open skies policy in the Philippines before any new negotiation on landing rights can take place between the two countries."

The Singaporean Embassy said that, under the Singapore-Philippines air agreement, the two countries' respective aviation authorities must first designate airlines before the carriers can operate between the two countries.

"In the case of the Singapore-Philippines Air Services Agreement, the Philippines has not designated Cebu Pacific."

It said that Singapore "will consider applications from any designated Philippine carriers to operate to Singapore, in accordance with the provisions in the Singapore-Philippines Air Services Agreement."