Clearing the air: Singapore and Malaysia end flight route row days before leaders meet

But water woes remain, with supply and maritime border both on agenda at Monday’s summit in Kuala Lumpur

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Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on May 19, 2018 in Putrajaya. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:40pm, 6 Apr 2019Updated: 10:29pm, 6 Apr 2019

Malaysia and Singapore have finally ended a squabble over airspace, warming ties just a day before Lion City Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrives in Kuala Lumpur for a leaders’ retreat.

The neighbouring nations’ decision effectively removes two contentious issues over airspace that had both sides trading tough words over the past year while low-cost airline Firefly had to stop flying to Singapore because of restrictions.

Seletar Airport’s passenger terminal in July 2018. Photo: Handout

In a statement, the two countries’ transport ministers said Singapore agreed to stop using an instrument landing system (ILS) at Seletar Airport. The radar system would have required planes to fly over the southernmost tip of Malaysia’s Johor state during their final approach.

In turn, Malaysia pledged to indefinitely suspend its restrictions over the industrial area of Pasir Gudang, which would prevent Singapore from accessing Malaysian airspace. Malaysia’s initial problems with the ILS, it said in December, was flights would inconvenience residents and limit industrial development.

The agreement on Friday between the civil aviation authorities of both countries means Firefly can resume flights to Seletar from this month.

Clearing the air: Singapore and Malaysia end flight route row days before leaders meet

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}But water woes remain, with supply and maritime border both on agenda at Monday’s summit in Kuala Lumpur

But water woes remain, with supply and maritime border both on agenda at Monday’s summit in Kuala Lumpur