No limits on flights between KL, Singapore

PETALING JAYA: The number of flights between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore can be increased with no limits on the number of frequencies as both countries are part of the Asean Multilateral Agreement on Air Services, said an aviation source.
The source said it will be up to the airlines to operate extra flights depending on demand and operational realities.
"Factors such as aircraft and crew availability as well as the procurement of airport slots at both KLIA and Changi International Airport are necessary before such increase are possible.
"Airlines also have the option of operating larger aircraft with more seats instead of increasing overall frequencies on the route," the source said.
The source pointed out that the Kul-Sin route is the busiest international route in terms of frequencies per week.
The source added that was borne out by OAG Worldwide, an air travel intelligence company, in May 2018 with 30,537 frequencies within a 12 month period.
The report by OAG stated that Hong Kong-Taipei (HKG-TPE, 28,887 flights) was second, with Jakarta-Singapore (CGK-SIN, 23,704) third, Hong Kong-Shanghai Pudong (HKG-PVG, 21,888) fourth, and Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur (CGK-KUL, 19,849) completing an all-Asian top five.
It added that low-cost carriers penetration of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore was at 43%.
The source said as of 12 months up to April 2018 saw 4.2 million passengers flying between the route with a load factor of 79.4%.
"This may change in the future as the population of both countries increase in size wealth and propensity for travel," the source said.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia economics department head Prof Dr Nor Ghani Mohd Nor said the question of the alternative to the High-Speed Rail Link should not arise as air travel is currently an available option.
He said airlines can increase flights easily between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur without costing the government a sen, besides contributing taxes to its coffers.
Malaysian Future Foundation founder Datuk Mohd Radzi Abd Latif said more studies should be conducted on the matter and the merits of the project should not be based on cost-savings alone.
He said the impact on KLIA's competitiveness as a regional aviation hub needs to be studied as KLIA could lose out to Changi as travellers could easily land in Singapore and connect to Kuala Lumpur via HSR.