Singapore and Japan Collaborate to Meet Rising Demand for Air Travel
26 May 2025
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) will deepen collaboration to meet rising demand for air travel between Singapore and Japan, in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. At the 4th Singapore-Japan Dialogue on Aviation Collaboration held in Singapore on 22 and 23 May 2025, Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS and Ms Nakayama Rieko, Assistant Vice-Minister for International Aviation of Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism discussed collaboration across six areas: a) air connectivity, b) aviation safety, c) airport innovation and technology, d) sustainable aviation, e) air traffic management (ATM), and f) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM).
Air Connectivity
2 Air travel demand between Singapore and Japan remains strong and is expected to further increase in 2025 and coming years. In the first quarter of 2025, air passenger volume between the two countries was 118% of the volume recorded in the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic and constituted the highest increase amongst all Singapore’s key passenger markets. Eight airlines now operate a combined total of 173 weekly passenger services between Singapore and six Japanese cities.
3 Many Singaporeans travel to Japan and Japanese to Singapore today; CAAS and JCAB will work with airlines to make travel more convenient and accessible and enhance passenger and cargo flows.
Airport Innovation and Technology
4 Both Singapore and Japan are expanding airport capacities to meet rising demand for air travel and to create new business and employment opportunities. Singapore is developing Changi East, which will include the upcoming Changi Airport Terminal Five, the Changi East Industrial Zone and a new Changi East Urban District. Japan is likewise expanding the capacity of Narita Airport with a new passenger terminal, cargo area and airport city.
5 CAAS and JCAB will deepen collaboration in airport innovation and technology together with their respective aviation stakeholders and industry players, particularly in the areas of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. Singapore and Japan are already working together on the International Aviation Lab which has been set up to develop new airport solutions. Singapore Changi Airport and Japan Narita Airport are the two airport operators involved in the project; the other partners are CAAS, Boeing, Airbus, SIA, International Airlines Group, SATS, International Centre for Aviation Innovation and the Singapore University of Technology and Design. CAAS and JCAB will also work together on aviation meteorology, involving their respective meteorology agencies, to drive new research and development in new tools and concepts, including the use of AI to support better forecasting, to address operational challenges during inclement weather.
Air Traffic Management
6 As both Singapore and Japan grow airport capacities on the ground, CAAS and JCAB will also work together to expand capacities in the skies, through jointly developing the next-generation Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) and better data sharing and data analytics to optimise air traffic at the regional level.
Aviation Safety
7 As air travel grows, CAAS and JCAB are deeply committed to ensuring aviation safety, especially in view of the various major safety incidents around the world. CAAS and JCAB have continually worked closely together to exchange experiences and best practices and will step up engagement in areas such as runway safety and fatigue risk management.
Sustainable Aviation
8 Singapore and Japan are committed to sustainable aviation and to achieving net zero aviation emissions by 2050. CAAS and JCAB will continually explore opportunities to work on opening up more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstocks and production pathways for the Asia-Pacific region and contribute to expanding the supply of Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation Eligible Fuels. CAAS and JCAB will examine the possibility of sharing information on feedstocks, production pathways and certification for regionally produced SAF and joint projects and joint capacity-building efforts for the region. These could cover areas such as sustainable aviation policy research, SAF accounting and sustainable aviation financing.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility
9 With the rapid growth of UAS and electric vertical take-off landing (eVTOL) aircraft technologies, CAAS and JCAB have been collaborating closely on the regulatory requirements and concept of operations for the safe integration of these technologies. Singapore and Japan are working with 22 other Asia-Pacific States and Administrations to develop the Asia-Pacific Reference Materials to facilitate AAM Operations, which is expected to be published in July 2025.
10 The annual Singapore-Japan Dialogue on Aviation Collaboration follows the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in 2022 which established a strategic framework for civil aviation collaboration between Singapore and Japan.
11 Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS said, “As two major air hubs in the Asia-Pacific region, Singapore and Japan are like-minded, with complementary expertise and many shared interests. CAAS and JCAB will serve as a bridge to bring our aviation eco-systems and industries even closer together, to build new capacities and capabilities and to meet rising demand for air travel.”
12 Ms Nakayama Rieko, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Assistant Vice-Minister for International Aviation said, “A lot of the progress of cooperation have been made between two authorities at experts level in aviation areas. I believe that this dialogue led by the high level of both authorities would strengthen the cooperative relationship and encourage officials and experts of both authorities to work together for new challenges.”
About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caas.gov.sg.
About the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau
The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) is one of the bureaus of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), consisting of the Aviation Network Department, Aviation Safety and Security Department, and Air Navigation Department. JCAB is responsible for the maintenance of airports, the safety of air transportation and the improvement of user convenience, and the development of the air transportation industry. For more information, please visit the MLIT website https://www.mlit.go.jp.
For media queries, please contact:
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Email: caas_corporate_communications@caas.gov.sg
Japan Civil Aviation Bureau
International Air Transport Division
Aviation Network Department
Contact: +81 3 5253 8702