A NEW air deal between Singapore and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will now allow any number of air services to operate between the Republic and Dammam.

Carriers may operate up to 14 services between Singapore and other points in Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah and Riyadh.

Airlines of both countries have also been granted permission to operate services between the other country and selected cities in third countries with 5th freedom traffic rights.

Under the previous agreement, carriers were only allowed to operate three weekly services between Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

Singapore Airlines currently operates three weekly services from Singapore to Jeddah via Abu Dhabi.

Saudi Arabian Airlines operates two weekly services from Jeddah to Singapore, via Riyadh.

The new deal to expand air services comes following air services consultations between the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia and the Singapore's Ministry of Transport, held between Aug 21-22.

BG(NS) Choi Shing Kwok, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Transport, said in a statement on Friday: 'Increased air services would encourage greater people-to-people interaction and support the growth of economic linkages between the two countries.'