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Singapore and Japan Deepen Collaboration in Safety, Sustainability and Innovation to Meet Rising Air Travel Demand

  • 20 Nov 2024

The 3rd Singapore-Japan Dialogue on Aviation Collaboration was held in Kansai, Japan on November 14-15, 2024. Co-chaired by Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), and Mr Onuma Toshiyuki, Senior Deputy Director-General of the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), both authorities agreed to enhance cooperation in key areas including air connectivity, sustainable aviation, aviation safety, air traffic management, aviation innovation, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and advanced air mobility (AAM). 

This collaboration aims to address the increasing demand for global air travel, which is expected to at least double within the next two decades. The annual dialogue follows the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in 2022, which established a strategic framework for civil aviation collaboration between Singapore and Japan. 

Air travel between Singapore and Japan has seen strong recovery over the last year. As of November 2024, the weekly flights between the two countries – 165 passenger services operated by seven airlines – reached almost 90% of pre-COVID levels, compared to 70% a year ago. CAAS and JCAB anticipate a full recovery of air travel between the two countries by 2025 and have agreed to collaborate to enhance air connectivity and improve flight punctuality and efficiency.

SIA aircraft taking off. Photo: Jeffry S.S, Pexels

Runway incursions pose a significant and ongoing threat to aviation safety. According to a Dec 2023 statement by the Flight Safety Foundation, the risk of runway incursion is expected to rise alongside increasing air traffic, unless strong and coordinated safety measures are put in place.

Therefore, with the anticipated growth of air travel volume, a key area of collaboration raised between both authorities was on aviation safety – particularly runway safety. This focus stems from lessons learned following the Haneda runway collision incident earlier this year. CAAS and JCAB will implement measures leveraging on technology to avert potential runway incursions, executing a comprehensive runway safety action plan, and enhancing cooperation among all key stakeholders that influence runway safety, including airlines, airport operators, ground handling companies, and air navigation service providers.

On the sustainability front, both authorities will be exploring ways to open more sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) feedstocks and production pathways for the region, as well as expanding the supply of CORSIA Eligible Fuels (CEF). Besides SAF, CAAS and JCAB plans to initiate discussions for future collaborations on hydrogen as a complementary decarbonisation pathway, such as information sharing on the use of hydrogen-powered airside vehicles. 

In the areas of air traffic management and innovation, CAAS and JCAB will promote and encourage the use of the User Preferred Route (UPR) in the region. This would allow pilots to choose more efficient and direct flight paths to their destinations, hence reducing flight times and carbon emissions. Both authorities also agreed to work together to leverage on technology to increase capacity and productivity, in order to meet the rising air travel demand. On 10 November 2024, Narita Airport has also signed a Joinder Agreement to join the International Aviation Lab to develop innovative solutions for the transformation of airport operations around the world. 

The International Aviation Lab was set up by the CAAS in September this year, collaborating partners include Airbus, Boeing, Changi Airport Group (CAG), International Airlines Group (IAG), International Centre for Aviation Innovation (ICAI), SATS Ltd, Singapore Airlines and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). 

Mr Han said that the 3rd Singapore-Japan Dialogue marks a significant milestone in Singapore’s civil aviation partnership with Japan. And as major air hubs in the Asia Pacific region, there is a shared commitment for Singapore and Japan “to work together to share expertise to position for growth and meet rising demand for air travel.”

Mr Toshiyuki also expressed his satisfaction with the progress made in collaborative efforts to address challenges. He also conveyed his desire to continue this cooperative action further with Singapore.

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