At the third Singapore-Japan Aviation Cooperation Dialogue, co-chaired by Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) Director General Han Kok Juan and Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) Senior Deputy Director General Onuma Toshiyuki, held in Kansai, Japan, on 14 and 15 November, the two civil aviation authorities agreed to deepen their collaboration in air connectivity, sustainable aviation, air safety, Air Traffic Management (ATM), aviation innovation, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), to meet the growing demand for global air travel which is expected to double at least in the next 20 years.

Among other things, the cooperation is intensified and aimed at implementing advanced technologies for preventing runway incursions and enhancing airport safety. This initiative follows the growing concern for the safety of runway operations, which was triggered by a serious accident that occurred on January 2, 2024 at Haneda Airport. During the event, a Japan Airlines Airbus A-350 collided with a Japan Coast Guard airplane due to a communication error, resulting in five fatalities on the smaller aircraft. Fortunately, the 379 passengers and crew of the A-350 were unharmed.

In addition to safety efforts, CAAS and JCAB also aim to strengthen air connectivity between the two countries. Current weekly flights between Singapore and Japan have reached 89% of pre-pandemic levels, with full recovery expected by 2025. This increase is driven by growing demand and joint work to ensure greater punctuality and efficiency in air connections. The two authorities, to achieve these goals, underline the importance of extensive collaboration involving aircraft operators, airport managers, handling personnel and air navigation service providers.

Furthermore, on sustainable aviation, recognising the important contribution of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) towards achieving net zero emissions from aviation by 2050, CAAS and JCAB will explore opportunities to contribute to the expansion of production and supply of fuels eligible for the international Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). In addition to SAF fuels, the two will also engage in conversations for future collaborative activities on hydrogen as a complementary pathway to decarbonisation, such as sharing information on the deployment of hydrogen-powered airside vehicles.

As part of the discussion, Jcab hosted Caas for tours of hydrogen refueling stations for hydrogen fuel cell-powered ground support vehicles at Osaka International Airport and Kansai International Airport.