CCCS Approves Proposed Commercial Cooperation between Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines After Accepting Commitments

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1.    The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”) has granted conditional approval of the Proposed Cooperation^[1] between Singapore Airlines Limited (“Singapore Airlines”) and Malaysia Airlines Berhad (“Malaysia Airlines”) after accepting commitments from the Applicants^[2].

Background

2.    On 24 March 2023, CCCS received an Application^[3] from the Applicants whether the Proposed Cooperation would be an anti-competitive agreement under the Competition Act 2004 (the “Act”).^[4] Subsequently on 3 November 2023, CCCS received a further submission from the Applicants that the scope of the Proposed Cooperation would be limited to the Applicant’s full-service airlines, namely Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.^[5]

CCCS’s Assessment and Commitments

3.    CCCS found that the price and capacity coordination between the Applicants arising from the Proposed Cooperation would restrict competition on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur (and vice versa) route (“SIN-KUL vv”).

4.    To address CCCS’s competition concerns, the Applicants provided a set of Proposed Commitments^[6] to:

a)    each maintain its weekly seat capacity levels at existing levels prior to the Proposed Cooperation;

b)    propose an increase in capacity levels upon meeting certain performance targets;

c)    report operation data of their LCCs on the SIN-KUL vv route annually; and

d)    appoint an independent auditor to monitor their compliance with the commitments.

5.    For further details on the Proposed Commitments, please refer to Annex A.

CCCS’s Assessment of the Applicant’s Commitments

6.    From 11 February 2025 to 4 March 2025, CCCS consulted industry stakeholders whether the Proposed Commitments sufficiently addresses the competition concerns arising from the Proposed Cooperation; no concerns were raised.

7.    Taking market developments into account, including the impending permanent cessation by Jetstar Asia Airways Pte Ltd, CCCS accepted the Proposed Commitments as being sufficient to address its competition concerns arising from the Proposed Cooperation.

Conclusion

8.    CCCS approved the Proposed Cooperation on 7 July 2025, subject to the accepted commitments.

9.    Chief Executive of CCCS, Mr. Alvin Koh said: "As Singapore becomes increasingly integrated with the global economy in a post Covid-19 world, competition in Singapore's aviation industry has intensified, with recent entries and exits in the market. Nevertheless, the JV can lead to airlines coming together to offer better connectivity and options for consumers. The Proposed Commitments offered by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines allows for flexibility to react to market developments and ensure that more flights will be added along the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route as travel demand increases, which would translate to more travel options and better prices for passengers in the long run. CCCS will continue to monitor developments in this sector to ensure that competition can yield good outcomes for consumers."

10. More information can be found on the CCCS website at www.cccs.gov.sg under “Public Register”.

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About the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”) is a statutory board of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Our mission is to make markets work well to create opportunities and choices for businesses and consumers in Singapore.

CCCS administers and enforces the Competition Act 2004 and the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act 2003, to guard against anti-competitive activities and unfair trade practices. Additionally, CCCS ensures that businesses observe fair trade measurement practices by administering the Weights and Measures Act 1975, and ensures the supply of safe consumer goods by enforcing and implementing the Consumer Protection (Trade Descriptions and Safety Requirements) Act 1975 and its associated Regulations.

For more information, please visit www.cccs.gov.sg.

^[1] Proposed Cooperation refers to the “Proposed commercial cooperation between Singapore Airlines Limited and Malaysia Airlines Berhad”, pursuant to which Singapore Airlines Limited and Malaysia Airlines Berhad agree to cooperate in relation to, among other things, scheduling, pricing, sales and marketing, and other commercial areas (including expanded codesharing and special prorate arrangements) to bring about a metal-neutral alliance in respect of services between Singapore and Malaysia.

^[2] Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines are collectively referred to as the “Applicants”.

^[3] Application refers to the “joint application by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines on whether the Proposed Cooperation would contravene section 34 of the Competition Act 2004”.

^[4] The Applicants had submitted an earlier joint application for CCCS’s decision on 30 October 2019, which was conditionally cleared on 10 May 2022. The Application is filed in accordance with the conditions set out in CCCS’s prior approval of the Proposed Cooperation, where the Applicants are obligated to file a new application for CCCS’s review once the market has sufficiently recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.

^[5] Proposed cooperation would not extend to the Applicants’ affiliated low-cost carriers (“LCCs”) namely, Scoot Tigerair Private Limited and Firefly Sdn Bhd.

^[6] The Proposed Commitments pertains to scheduled air passenger transport services on the SIN-KUL vv route.