Singapore approves AirAsia Indonesia Surabaya-Singapore flight

In a joint statement today, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Changi Airport Group (CAG) said before an airline can launch a service between two points, its flight schedules need to obtain separate approvals from the respective civil aviation authorities at both ends of the flight route, Bernama reported.

The airline's application will be considered by each civil aviation authority, taking into account the air traffic rights available under the relevant air services agreements (ASA) and the availability of airport takeoff and landing slots from the respective slot coordinators.

On the Singapore end, AirAsia Indonesia had applied to operate a daily flight between Surabaya and Singapore for the northern winter season from Oct 26, 2014 to March 28, 2015, arriving at Changi Airport at 8.30am and departing for Surabaya at 2.10pm.

These daily flights were approved as there were available air traffic rights under the bilateral ASA and the slots at Changi Airport were available, the report said.

Earlier today, it was reported that Flight QZ8501 might have been flying on an unauthorised schedule, prompting the Indonesia transport ministry (Kemenhub) to call for a probe into all AirAsia Indonesia flight schedules.

Kemenhub acting general director for air navigation, Djoko Murjatmodjo had said the probe, which will strictly focus on flight schedules, might start next Monday.

He, however, did not discount the possibility of AirAsia's license in Indonesia being revoked.