SINGAPORE Airlines is pumping capacity into the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur sector, ahead of market liberalisation in December.

A week after low-cost carriers Tiger Airways, Jetstar Asia and AirAsia said they would increase Singapore-KL flights from Dec 1, SIA announced on Tuesday that that it will operate the sector eight times a day from Dec 1.

Four of the flights will be operated by its sister airline SilkAir. The parent company will do another four.

This means two more daily flights, up from the six a day that SIA does now.

Because of a code-share agreement with Malaysia Airlines, a traveller holding an SIA or SilkAir ticket will also be able to take a MAS flight, and vice-versa.

It means travellers have a choice of up to 15 daily flights.

Between them, the low-cost carriers will operate up to 14 flights a day.

SIA executive vice-president for marketing and the regions, Huang Cheng Eng said: 'With the spread of services and a frequency of up to 15 flights a day offered jointly by Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Malaysia Airlines, customers will be spoilt for choice!'

Chief executive of SilkAir Chin Yau Seng said: 'This is the first time we will have flown to Kuala Lumpur, and we are excited about the prospects for this new route.'