SINGAPORE and Japan have agreed to allow for more flights between the two countries.

A new air deal following talks held on Wednesday and Thursday, will almost double the number of flights that Singapore carriers can operate to the capital city of Tokyo from 2010.

With immediate effect, all other restrictions will also be lifted to allow Singapore and Japanese carriers to operate an unlimited number of passenger and cargo flights between Singapore and all other cities in Japan.

Under the expanded agreement, Singapore carriers may operate four daily flights between Singapore and Tokyo's Haneda Airport and increase the number of flights between Singapore and Tokyo's Narita Airport in 2010.

The expansion also allows Singapore carriers to operate passenger flights beyond Osaka and Nagoya to the United States, while Japanese carriers can operate passenger flights beyond Singapore to India and the Middle East.

CAAS director-general and chief executive officer Lim Kim Choon said: 'This significant expansion of the air services agreement is a testament to the warm relations between Singapore and Japan, and a strong reflection of our mutual commitment to provide a liberal framework that will facilitate greater trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.'

Eight airlines currently operate 288 weekly scheduled flights between Singapore and nine cities in Japan.