Travellers can soon expect more flight options between Singapore to Japan.

The two countries have reached an expanded agreement that will in 2010, nearly double the number of passenger flights that Singapore carriers can operate to Tokyo, announced the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in a news release.

In addition, Singapore and Japanese carriers can, with immediate effect, operate unlimited passenger and cargo flights between Singapore and all other cities in Japan.

With the scheduled completion of a runway at Haneda Airport in October 2010, local carriers can operate four daily flights between Singapore and Tokyo during the late night and early morning hours (10pm to 7am).

Moreover, Singapore carriers may increase the number of flights between Singapore and Tokyo's Narita Airport in March 2010, following the completion of runway expansion works at the airport.

The expansion also allows local airlines 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, said CAAS.

The new agreement was reached after air services consultations between both countries on September 17 to 18.

Photo: Signatories of the expanded Singapore-Japan Air Services Agreement. From left to right - Mr Keiji Takiguchi, Deputy Director-General from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan and Mr Lim Kim Choon, Director-General & Chief Executive Officer, CAAS