The country's aviation watchdog launched a new website on Wednesday that promises to scour the Internet for the lowest prices on airline tickets and hotels, among other things.

Unlike other popular search engines, ViaSingapore.com can search the databases of low-cost carriers like Jetstar Asia and Cebu Pacific.

Created by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), officials said it scans the websites of 100 airlines and other online travel services like Asiarooms.com

The website works a lot like other travel portals. Visitors type in their country of origin, destination and travel dates. The websites returns a list of options and travellers are then directed to a airline's website, for example, where direct bookings are made.

However, it is good only for flights that touchdown in Singapore, including connections.

A Straits Times' comparison of ViaSingapore against three other online portals found it turned up lower fares.

The lowest price listed for a flight to Kuala Lumpur in November, for example, was a $103 on Jetstar Asia. The lowest fares for the same trip on other sites were about $150 on carriers like Japan Airlines.

While the results on ViaSingapore take about 10 seconds longer to come up, travellers do not seem to be deterred.

'Ten seconds is a short time. It is less than the time I will take to go to the other websites individually,' said Mr Simon Tay, 53, who travels for leisure at least twice a year. 'I always prefer one-stop shops.'

Although it makes bookings easier for travellers like Mr Tan, the main function of the website is to encourage tourists to stopover in Singapore, said CAAS spokesman Esther Ee.

Officials are hoping to 'enhance Changi Airport's position as the preferred air hub', he said.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.