The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has announced a further S$70 million (US$46.2 million) relief package to help airlines and airport partners cope with the economic crisis. The new package is in addition to the S$130 million Air Hub Development Fund (AHDF) that CAAS had already extended to airlines and airport partners.
Included in the relief package are enhancements to the AHDF to establish a Cargo Incentive Scheme. Under this scheme, CAAS’ warehouse and office tenants in Cargo Agent Buildings C, D, E and Megaplex within the Changi Airfreight Centre will receive, on a quarterly basis, cash payouts of S$10 per tonne of cargo handled in that quarter, up to an amount equivalent to 15 per cent of their warehouse and office rent for that quarter.
The new package comprises rental rebates worth S$43 million and a newly set up ‘Promotions Development Fund’ amounting to S$20 million for retail, food & beverage and services concessionaires at Changi Airport, as well as another S$7 million in rental rebates for other airport partners.
These relief measures are effective from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009.
“We understand the increasingly tough business environment that our airport partners are currently going through,” said CAAS director-general and CEO, Lim Kim Choon.
“We are working very closely with them and are committed to providing the necessary assistance to improve their businesses. The relief package that we are providing will help to alleviate their financial burden in this difficult economic climate.”