SG, Japan boost aviation ties to meet rising air travel demand

The partners will focus on aviation safety, sustainability, and boosting capacity.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) will expand their aviation ties to enhance air travel between the two countries.

Focus areas include air connectivity and traffic management, sustainable aviation, aviation safety and innovation, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and advanced air mobility (AAM).

Under the partnership, CAAS and JCAB will contribute to the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the expansion of the supply of CORSIA Eligible Fuels (CEF) and explore hydrogen fuel as a pathway to decarbonisation.

The partners have also agreed to enhance capacity to meet the rising demand for air travel. On 10 November, Narita Airport signed a Joinder Agreement to join CAAS’s International Aviation Lab, which seeks to develop innovative solutions for transforming airport operations globally.

To address aviation safety, both parties will utilise technology to prevent potential runway incursions, implement a runway safety action plan, and boost collaboration amongst stakeholders.

Japan also introduced the Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS) Landing System (GLS) to enhance the safety and efficiency of aircraft landings using satellite-based guidance information.

In addition, CAAS and JCAB will work together to regulate and facilitate the safe integration of UAS and AAM operations with conventional aviation in the Asia-Pacific region.

CAAS and JCAB expect air travel between the two countries to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2025. Currently, there are 165 weekly flights between the two countries.