SIA Cargo will operate direct Brussels-US flights under landmark agreement

Singapore and Belgium have concluded a landmark revision to the air services agreement for cargo services, under which SIA Cargo will operate flights between third countries without originating from, or returning to, Singapore, utilising seventh freedom traffic rights.

With the revised agreement in place, Singapore Airlines Cargo will commence B747-400 freighter services from November 1, 2007, operating once weekly between Brussels and Chicago, and twice weekly circular routings from Brussels to Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Brussels.

Goh Choon Phong, president of SIA Cargo, said these new seventh freedom traffic rights would enable Singapore Airlines Cargo to more effectively serve the Europe-US freight market. "Specifically, we can now operate more frequencies between these markets without having to increase frequencies between Singapore and Europe," he said.

Phong also said that the adoption of such liberal agreements was good for the airfreight industry, as it allowed carriers to match capacity to markets where the demand for exports exists. Airlines can thus be more responsive to the market needs and also utilise aircraft resources more efficiently.

SIA Cargo now flies to 74 cities in 39 countries.